On Saturday, October 21, the feast of Venerable Pelagia the Penitent, at the invitation of His Grace Matthew, Bishop of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA & Canada, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, celebrated Divine Liturgy in Three Hierarchs Church in Garfield, NJ on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of parish’s founding in 1898.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were:

• Archpriest Basil Micek (rector of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Scranton, PA)
• Archpriest George Konyev (parish rector)
• Archpriest Mark Burachek (rector of Our Lady of Kazan Church in Newark, NJ)
• Archpriest Michael Lepa (acting rector of St. Nicholas Church in Wilkes Barre, PA)
• Archpriest John Vass (rector of Holy Trinity Church in Baltimore, MD)
• Abbot Nicodemus (Balyasnikov; Acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA)
• Priest Gregory Winsky (rector of St. Michael Church in Philadelphia, PA)
• Priest Stephen Kaznica (rector of Sts. Peter & Paul Cathedral in Passaic, NJ)
• Priest Mark Rashkov (rector of St. John the Baptist Church in Little Falls, NJ)
• Priest Andrew Massey (rector of Elevation of the Cross Church in Hackettstown, NJ)
• Priest Nicholas DeGraaff (parish cleric)
• Priest Daniel Meyer (acting rector of St. Nicholas Church in Reading, PA)
• Deacon Alexis Golubov (cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City)
• Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; cleric of the Eastern American Diocese)
• Deacon Pavel Roudenko (parish cleric), and
• Deacon Alexey Ozerov (parish cleric).

Before the start of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas tonsured Basil Carr, Rodion Zaam, and Christopher Pandorf readers, then ordained them subdeacons.

At the Little Entrance, His Eminence presented awards on behalf His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia: to parish rector Archpriest George Konyev – the right to celebrate Liturgy with open Royal Doors until the Cherubic Hymn, and to Priest Gregory Winsky – the jeweled cross.

Many parishioners and guests from neighboring parishes came to pray at the service. The parish choir sang marvelously under the direction of Reader George Konyev.

After the Eucharistic Canon, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad ordained Subdeacon Basil Carr to the diaconate. The newly ordained Deacon Basil will fulfill his service at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Manchester, NH.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas congratulated the clergy and parishioners with the momentous occasion in the life of the parish. In honor of the service that day, he presented the rector with a copy of the Jerusalem Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.

A formal banquet was held next door in the parish cultural center, where numerous congratulatory addresses were delivered, and interaction continued well through the afternoon.

Photos: Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese, G. Levitsky; T. Danelia