On Friday evening, March 8, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York arrived in Costa Rica to officiate the 30th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of Our Lady of Vladimir Church in Coronado, not far from the capital, San José.

Early Saturday morning, March 9, His Eminence and accompanying clergy were given a tour of the country’s national parks and attractions. Later in the day, the First Hierarch was greeted at Our Lady of Vladimir Church to the peal of bells. Adorned with fresh flowers, the church was in immaculate condition to greet the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. Metropolitan Nicholas then officiated the resurrectional All-Night Vigil.

On March 10, the Sunday of the Last Judgement, parishioners and pilgrims began arriving early for the service. Metropolitan Nicholas was greeted at the doors of the church by the parish schoolchildren, after which he was vested and the Hours were read, and he then celebrated Divine Liturgy. Serving alongside His Eminence were: Schema-Archimandrite Nektariy (Haji-Petropoulos; abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Mexico City, Mexico), Archpriest Ignacio Miranda (cleric of the Serbian Orthodox Church), parish rector Priest George Kaplanov, Priest Daniel Valle (rector of St. John of Shanghai Mission in Matagalpa, Nicaragua), and Protodeacon Leonid Roschko (cleric of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ).

The church was filled with local parishioners and pilgrims from North & Central America, with many praying outside on the portico. Practically all approached to receive Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

At the conclusion of Liturgy, the First Hierarch delivered a sermon on the Gospel reading and wished all a spiritually fortifying upcoming Great Lent. He also expressed his deep thanks to Frs. George & Ignacio for their pastoral labors in the building up of the parish. His Eminence presented them icons commemorating the event. Fr. George then expressed his gratitude to Metropolitan Nicholas for his archpastoral attention and care to the southernmost parish of the diocese and congratulated his parishioners on their 30th anniversary. He presented icons of St. John of Shanghai to notable members of the community, including Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Costa Rica, Yury V. Bedzhanyan.

A group photo was taken, after which a sumptuous meal was held on the parish grounds.

The Kursk Icon and Metropolitan Nicholas departed for New York City early on Monday, March 11.