On Friday evening, November 10, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church in Norwich, CT, accompanied by the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

At the church, His Eminence officiated a moleben and akathist, co-served by Archpriest Michael Crowley (dean of New England), Priest Stephen Kaznica (cleric of Sts. Peter & Paul Patriarchal Cathedral in Passaic, NJ), Protodeacon Nicholas Drobot (parish cleric), Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric, accompanying the First Hierarch), and Deacons Cyril Gregoire (parish cleric) and Eugene Utnyukhin (cleric of Presentation of Christ in the Temple Church in Stratford, CT).

Upon conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Nicholas delivered a brief sermon on the importance of fleeing to the protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in our prayers.

Parish rector Priest John Malcom was recently released to help at Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple Church in Jamesville (Syracuse), NY. Metropolitan Nicholas has assumed temporary rectorship of the parish.