On Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th of July, the feast of the Nativity of the Holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord John, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Mayfield, PA, where he officiated the divine services in honor of the parish’s patronal feast day.

The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad led the All-Night Vigil on Thursday evening, co-served by Archpriest John Sorochka (cathedral rector), Priests Vincent Dranginis (rector of St. Stephen Church in Old Forge, PA) and George Sharonoff (rector of St. John the Wonderworker Mission in Lewisburg, PA), Priest Michael Fiocca and Protodeacon Stephen Howanetz (cathedral clerics), Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric), and Deacons Nathaniel Sorochka, Dimitri Krenitsky (cathedral clerics), and David Dutkanicz (cleric of St. Nicholas Church in Stratford, CT).

The Mayfield parish was proud to unveil a new memorial display case, honoring Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral; +2022) of blessed memory, in time for the feast. The case features the hierarchal mantle, vestments, cross and double panagia set, and dikerion-trikerion candlesticks that the parish would keep for the Metropolitan’s visits, as well as a portrait of the late First Hierarch. A prayer rope included in the display was a gift from Metropolitan Hilarion to Fr. John Sorochka. Metropolitan Nicholas also presented the parish with Metropolitan Hilarion’s white klobuk. This display matches two already extant memorials in the cathedral, to Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla; +2008) and Archbishop Kiprian (Borisevich; +1980).

The following morning, Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated Divine Liturgy, where the above-mentioned clergy were joined by Archpriests David Hritcko (rector of St. Basil Church in Simpson, PA), Michael Lepa (Interim rector of St. Nicholas Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA), and David Straut (rector of St. Elizabeth the New-Martyr Church in Rocky Hill, NJ), Priest Matthew Smith (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Endicott, NY), and Deacon Paul Siewers (cleric of St. John the Wonderworker Mission).

Praying in the altar was Archpriest Basil Micek (rector of Sts. Peter & Paul Church, in Scranton, PA).

The cathedral choir sang beautifully for the feast, directed at Vigil by Matushka Larissa Sorochka and at Liturgy by Alexandra Pavuk.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, His Eminence delivered a sermon on the feast, in which he said, in part:

"Out of all of the prophets, St. John is the one that saw Jesus. The others foretold of the Savior’s coming, of a virgin giving birth to a Child. They did not completely understand this, but they received the word of God and believed this, and wrote, and preached about it. And here St. John, being on this earth, preparing the way for the light of Christ, for His preaching, for His commandments of the New Testament. He is the one who saw the Savior, spoke with Him, baptized Him in the River Jordan… Just as St. John prepared himself and those around him to receive Christ the Savior, we also need to prepare ourselves daily for our time to meet the Savior. We must think about our sins and what we have yet to learn to benefit our soul and prepare it for eternal life ‒ praying, fasting, and partaking of Holy Communion. What can be greater than receiving Christ?"

Fr. John thanked the Metropolitan for his archpastoral visit, and the visiting clergy, parishioners, and guests for their shared prayers. He presented the First Hierarch with an icon of St. Edward the Martyr of England, containing a relic of the saint, for the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

After the service, all were invited to the parish hall for a festal luncheon and fellowship.