On Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th of October, the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, Bishop Jerome led the divine services for the patronal feast day of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY.

On Friday evening, His Grace led the All-Night Vigil, co-served by parish clergy: pastor emeritus Archpriest George Larin, rector Archpriest Ilya Gorsky, Priest Ignatius Green, Protodeacon Dimitri Temidis, and Deacon Andrew Podymow, as well as Deacon Alexey Pnev (cleric of Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY). Praying in the altar was Archpriest George Konyev (cleric of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA). Following Vigil, a supper was held for the clergy in the home of Fr. George Larin, with warm fellowship and discussions of Orthodox pastoral concerns.

The following morning, Bishop Jerome celebrated Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating were the above-mentioned clergy, as well as Priest Alexey Paranyuk (rector of St. John the Baptist Patriarchal Church in Little Falls, NJ), Priest George Temidis (deputy rector of New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac), Protodeacons Serge Arlievsky (cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY) and Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), as well as clergy visiting from abroad.

Two choirs sang, one on each kliros: the parish choir on the right side, and a visiting male choir from Russia on the left.

Bishop Jerome delivered two sermons: the first, in Russian, on the theme of the Epistle, "The First Tabernacle," and our calling as Christians to be tabernacles of the Holy Spirit; and the second, in English, on the Gospel theme, "Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it."

Upon completion of Liturgy, a procession was held around the church, and after the Polychronion, Fr. Dimitri Temidis was presented a Synodal Gramota on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of his ordination.

There followed an abundant luncheon for all in the parish hall. The many joyous worshippers were in no hurry to break up, and the gathering did not depart until it was time to go return to church for the Sunday All-Night Vigil.