EASTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: 17 September 2025
The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad leads St Alexander Nevsky feast-day celebrations in New Jersey

On September 11-12, 2025, on the feast day of St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York paid an archpastoral visit to the parish to officiate the celebrations in honor of the Translation of the Relics of the Holy Right-Believing Great Prince Alexander Nevsky. The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia brought with him the main holy icon of the Russian Diaspora – the Wonderworking Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God.

Also there to share in the solemn divine service with the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, and the following day, His Grace Bishop Kliment of Levski (Bulgarian Orthodox Church) and His Grace Bishop Jerome (Shaw) arrived at the church for Liturgy.

Before the all-night vigil, to the peal of bells, the clergy triumphally greeted the Kursk Root Icon and the Myrrh-streaming Iveron "Hawaiian" Icon of the Mother of God, which was accompanied by its guardian – the Rector of the eponymous church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Hawaii – Priest Nectarios Yangson. The icons were placed on specially prepared and decorated analogia next to the icon of St Alexander Nevsky, containing a particle of his relics.

A multitude of believers from other states of the country came to the church to pray at the festal services and to venerate the miraculous icons.

On Friday morning, before Liturgy, the clergy greeted Metropolitan Nicholas. Cathedral Dean Archpriest Serge Lukianov addressed the First Hierarch with words of welcome and a request for their joint prayers. Concelebrating with the hierarchs were cathedral and visiting clergy.

The parish male choir under the direction of Alexandra Lukianov sang during at Vigil, while the full choir sang under the direction of Andrei Roudenko at Liturgy.

After Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas addressed the faithful with a sermon, in which he noted, in part, how important it is to always remember the words "wondrous is God in His saints" and to be, like St Alexander Nevsky, faithful to God, to imitate his life, to keep purity in our hearts, and to establish peace within our families and throughout the world.

A moleben was then served, followed by a procession of the cross around the cathedral.

Fr Serge Lukianov thanked the hierarchs and clergy for their shared service. On behalf of the cathedral, Metropolitan Nicholas was presented a set of golden vestments, Archbishop Gabriel – a cross and panaghia, and Bishop Kliment and Bishop Jerome – icons of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky, painted by cathedral Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski.

On behalf of the parish, the rector also presented an icon of St Alexander with an inscription to the brethren of Our Lady of Pochaev Monastery in North Port, FL.

An icon of Venerable Herman of Alaska with a piece of the saint’s relics was presented to Fr. Peter Perekrestov.

On behalf of the parish, Metropolitan Nicholas was presented with a check for $25,000 for the repair of the Synodal Residence in New York City. Fr Serge expressed his hope that other parishes will follow the example of the clergy and parishioners of the Cathedral and make their contribution to this much-needed, God-pleasing work.

Among the namesday celebrants, cathedral Protodeacon Alexander Sarandinaki was congratulated and presented with a gift. The protodeacons intoned the Polychronion to the hierarchs, cathedral clergy, and namesday celebrants.

All were then invited to a festal meal in the renovated church hall, where the fraternal interaction of the clergy and parishioners continued and the film "The Fragrance of Holiness" about St John of Shanghai was shown. The movie was presented by its creator – the Dean of the Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral in San Francisco, Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, the author of numerous books and publications about the life and spiritual labors of St John.

eadiocese.org