EASTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: 29 May 2026
The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad performs the great consecration of Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women Church

On Monday morning, May 25, 2026, a monumental occasion in the life of Holy Myrrh-Bearers Church in Mt Crawford, VA, took place. His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, led the great consecration of the church and celebrated Divine Liturgy on the newly-sanctified altar.

On May 23-24, the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, Metropolitan Nicholas made an archpastoral visit to the parish, praying in the altar during the all-night vigil on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning.

After a festal luncheon on Sunday, vigil was served outside the iconostasis, as is appointed on the eve of a consecration.

On Monday, the overcast and rainy morning slowly gave way to sunshine over the rolling hills and farmland surrounding the countryside church, as the First Hierarch arrived and was greeted at the main doors of the church with the traditional bread and salt by the parish warden, entered the temple, and was vested.

Serving alongside His Eminence were parish and visiting clergy.

Within the closed altar, the clergy read special prayers, assembled the new altar table, washed it in holy water and wine, and vested it in the linen katasarkion, representing Christ’s burial shroud, which was tied with special cords, representing the bonds with which Christ’s hands were tied during His Passion. The entire altar table was then covered with a beautiful carved façade. This was followed by the blessing of the antimension.

In the altar, a male choir of local and visiting singers chanted prayerfully under the direction of Reader Konstantine Ogora, who traveled from the Washington, DC, cathedral for the event. At Liturgy, Reader Konstantine would conduct an expanded mixed choir on kliros.

At the conclusion of the Great Consecration, a procession was held with the relics of the saints that were then encased in the altar table and the newly blessed antimension. Among the relics included were those of the Holy Apostle Andrew, the Martyrs at St Sabbas Monastery, Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow, and the New Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth.

The hours were then read, followed by Divine Liturgy. The church was filled to capacity, including families of many young children. Virtually all in attendance communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas congratulated the clergy and parishioners with the auspicious occasion in the life of their parish. In honor of the event, he presented the parish with a beautiful new chalice set.

An especially emotional moment came with the presentation of a diocesan gramota to Matushka Alexandra Moses who, together with her husband, Archpriest John Moses of blessed memory, founded this Orthodox community in their native Shenandoah Valley.

After the service, a delicious catered BBQ banquet was held outside on the grounds for all in attendance.