On Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th of October, the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, Bishop Jerome (Shaw) paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Virgin Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY, where he officiated the divine services on the occasion of the parish’s patronal feast.

On Sunday evening, His Grace officiated All-Night Vigil, co-served by: Archimandrite Siluan (Lembei; cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY), Archpriests Serafim Gan (chancellor of the Synod of Bishops), Vasily Zelenyuk (rector of Our Lady "Unexpected Joy" Church in Staten Island, NY), Alexandre Antchoutine (parish rector), and Ion Arama (rector of Holy Annunciation Church in Flushing, NY), Protodeacons Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY) and Serguei Mikhailov, and Deacon Andrei Antchoutine (parish clerics).

Litia was served around the church in the lovely autumn weather.

After Vigil, the hierarch and clergy attended a dinner and spoke about various Church matters, also reminiscing about now-departed hierarchs of blessed memory.

The following morning, Bishop Jerome celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by: Fr. Alexandre Antchoutine, Abbot Arseny (Manko; diocesan cleric), Abbot Siluan (Justiniano; cleric of St. Dionysios the Areopagite Monastery in St. James, NY), Hieromonk Vasileios (Willard; abbot of the same), and Frs. Serguei and Andrei.

The church was filled with worshippers from various parishes, all of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

His Grace delivered a sermon about the history of the feast, about the devotion of the Holy Prince Andrew Bogolyubsky to his patron saint ‒ the Blessed Fool-for-Christ Andrew mentioned in the service of the Protection. While the Greeks rarely observe this feast, the Orthodox Slavs all keep it as a major feast day, which has brought them many blessings, and it behooves us to do the same. He also announced shared Metropolitan Nicholas’ greetings and congratulations on the parish feast.

After Liturgy, the clergy served a moleben before the icon of the Mother of God.

A group photo was then taken, and a luncheon was provided for all in the parish hall.