On March 30, the fourth Sunday of Great Lent, dedicated to Venerable John Climacus, the clergy and faithful of the New Jersey Deanery gathered at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ for Divine Liturgy and later, after a fellowship luncheon, to receive the Sacrament of Holy Unction.

Celebrating Liturgy and officiating Holy Unction was cathedral rector and New Jersey dean Archpriest Serge Lukianov, co-served by cathedral clergy: Archpriests Vasily Andrejuk and Boris Slootsky, Priest Anthony Williams, Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski, and Deacons Alexandre Sarandinaki and Dimitry Lisan, joined by Archpriests Zoran Radovic (rector of St. George Serbian Church in Elizabeth, NJ), Leonid Goferman (rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in New Brunswick, NJ), and Nikolai Manduke (cleric of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ).

At the beginning of the service, Fr. Serge delivered a sermon in which he explained the importance of the Sacrament of Holy Unction and how this service helps in the cleansing of past forgotten sins. He asked the faithful to concentrate on the prayers, and on the Epistle and Gospel readings, keeping always in mind the image of the publican in prayer, as he reached far down into his soul and asked God to forgive him, a sinner.

Over 200 people participated in the Sacrament.