EASTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: 27 January 2023
Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York visits Boston's Epiphany Church

On Saturday and Sunday, 21-22 January, 2023, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Epiphany Church in Roslindale (Boston), MA, where he officiated the festal divine services. His Eminence’s visit followed the parish’s patronal feast day – the great feast of the Lord’s Theophany, which had been celebrated three days prior.

Serving alongside the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia at all-night vigil on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning were:

• Archpriest Victor Boldewskul (parish rector)
  
• Archpriest Thomas Reske (parish cleric)
  
• Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk (parish cleric)
  
• Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY; accompanying His Eminence)
  
• Protodeacon Victor Ganson (parish cleric)
  
• Protodeacon Alexander Kurenkov (parish cleric), and
  
• Deacon Alexander Doohovskoy (cleric of St. Xenia Church in Methuen, MA).

The services were held under the aegis of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God - which had accompanied Metropolitan Nicholas from New York City. The faithful venerated the wonderworking icon throughout both services.

The church was filled with worshipers, virtually all of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of the service, the First Hierarch awarded two diocesan gramotas to Ilia Jarostchuk for his many years of service at the parish, including property maintenance, assisting in the parish school, and participation in divine services; and to Peter Paar, for his many years of service at the parish in property maintenance.

His Eminence greeted the clergy and parishioners on their recent patronal feast, and thanked them for their invitation to visit and their joint prayers. He presented the parish with a portrait of the Holy Royal Martyrs, which had once hung in the office of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral), in honor of his blessed memory.

A festal banquet was held at St John Syrian Orthodox Church parish hall. Archpriest Michael Crowley (Dean of New England) joined the festivities there. During the banquet, children – students of the parish Russian school – put on a festal play.

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