On Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st of April, the feast of the Laudation of the Most Holy Theotokos and the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to the eponymous church in Roswell (Atlanta), GA, where he officiated the divine services on the occasion of the parish’s patronal feast.

Joining the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad at the divine services were:

• Archimandrite John (Townsend; parish rector)
• Archpriest Thomas Alessandroni (OCA cleric; retired)
• Archpriest Mathew Williams (rector of St. Tikhon Church in Blountville, TN)
• Archpriest Mark Tyson (rector of St. Thomas the Apostle Mission in Tobaccoville, NC)
• Priest Eugene Antonov (rector of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Cumming, GA)
• Priest David Prestridge (rector of St. Bartholomew Church in Chattanooga, TN)
• Priest Daniel Iliev (parish cleric)
• Priest Mikhail Beliakov (parish cleric)
• Priest Elias Crowder (rector of St. Martin of Tours Mission in Montgomery, AL)
• Priest Isaac Atalla (rector of Christ the Savior Mission in Chattanooga, TN)
• Hieromonk Gabriel (Davis; parish cleric)
• Hieromonk Daniel (Justiniano; parish cleric)
• Priest Theodore Foley (cleric of St. Elizabeth the New-Martyr Mission in Cullman, AL)
• Protodeacon Dimitri Temidis (cleric of St. Elizabeth the New-Martyr Church in Columbia, SC)
• Deacon Jude Rountree (parish cleric)
• Deacon Anton Kouznetsov (cleric of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Cumming)
  Deacon Peter Epstein (parish cleric), and
• Deacon Joseph Sefchick (cleric of St. Tikhon Church in Blountville).

Praying in the altar were Abbot Tryphon (Parsons; abbot of All-Merciful Saviour Monastery on Vashon Island, WA), Archpriest Dimitri Oselinsky (parish cleric), and Priest Gabriel Aldridge (rector of St. John the Wonderworker Church OCA in Atlanta).

Prior to the start of Liturgy on Saturday, Metropolitan Nicholas tonsured Nikolai Beliakov a reader and ordained to the rank of subdeacon:

• Monk-Subdeacon James (Ashjazadeh)
• Subdeacon Seraphim Pavone, and
• Subdeacon Isaac Weaver.

At the Little Entrance, Fr. Jude Rountree was awarded the right to wear the double orarion.

After the Great Entrance, Fr. Joseph Sefchick was ordained to the priesthood. The newly ordained Priest Joseph will continue his service at St. Tikhon Church in Blountville. After the Eucharistic Canon, Subdeacon Isaac Weaver was ordained to the diaconate. The newly ordained Deacon Isaac will fulfill his service at St. Mary of Egypt Church.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, the First Hierarch delivered a sermon on the feast of the Laudation, underscoring that the Most Holy Theotokos is the common Mother of all Orthodox Christians, to whom we must always turn in prayer, and who will always intercede for us before her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

A festal meal followed. That evening, All-Night Vigil was served in the church.

On Sunday morning, Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated Divine Liturgy once more.

At the Little Entrance, His Eminence bestowed the following awards:

• Priest Daniel Iliev ‒ kamilavka
• Priest Mikhail Beliakov ‒ kamilavka, and
• Hieromonk Gabriel (Davis) ‒ nabedrennik. 

After the Great Entrance, Fr. Isaac Weaver was ordained to the priesthood.

Dedicating his sermon to Venerable Mary of Egypt, His Eminence reassured the faithful that there is always hope for salvation and repentance, regardless of the darkness in the world.

After the service, the First Hierarch greeted Fr. John, the clergy, and parishioners, on the occasion of their patronal feast. He likewise congratulated the newly ordained Priests Joseph and Isaac, wishing them many years of prayerful service to our Lord.

On Monday, April 22, Metropolitan Nicholas, accompanied by parish clergy, traveled to Glorious Ascension Monastery in Resaca, GA, where he served a panihida for Hieromonk Alexander (Lisnichuk), who reposed in the Lord on December 28, 2023.