Diocese of Eastern America & New York: 28 July 2008 
New Parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Dedicated to Saint John of Shanghai & San Francisco, Opened in the Framingham, Massachusetts, Area

With the blessing of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, at the decision of the Diocesan Council, a directive, dated 15 February 2008, was received authorizing the inauguration of a new parish and the building of a new church, dedicated to Saint John of Shanghai & San Francisco, in the town of Framingham. 

The Directive reads, in part: "We believe that our decision will be beneficial to the Russian Orthodox community…" 

With God's help, a wonderful plot of land was found (house included), and over the course of a month, through the labors of the parishioners, the renovation of the ground floor was accomplished.  Attention was first devoted, of course, to providing a temporary church: the iconostasis was constructed, the altar-table… 

The parishioners' common labor, glory to God, brought everyone together into a friendly church family.  On July 4th, the feast-day of St. John of Shanghai & San Francisco, with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, a joyous event took place: the consecration of the temporary church was performed by Hieromonk Roman (Krassovsky) and the vigil service was served. 

The following morning (July 5th), the Divine Liturgy was celebrated, followed by a service of supplication and a church procession. 

About forty parishioners attended the Divine Liturgy, half of whom, some twenty individuals, received Holy Communion. 

Father Roman preached a sermon rich in content and spiritually beneficial, sincerely congratulated the parishioners on the remarkable occasion, and expressed his thanks to all who had made their contributions toward the construction work on the church and his desire that love and mutual understanding thrive within the parish. 

The celebration concluded with a festal meal.