On Bright Monday, April 21, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy. Upon entering the cathedral, His Eminence was greeted by rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov.

Accompanying the metropolitan was the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God ‒ which brought special joy to the clergy and faithful of the cathedral.

At Liturgy, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was co-served by Bishop Kliment of Levski (vicar of the Bulgarian Diocese in the USA, Canada & Australia), as well as Fr. Serge Lukianov and parish and diocesan clergy: Archpriests Vasily Andrejuk (cathedral cleric), Vasily Zelenyuk (rector of Our Lady "Unexpected Joy" Church in Staten Island, NY), Zoran Radovic (rector of St. George Serbian Church in Elizabeth, NJ), Leonid Goferman (rector of Holy Protection Church in New Brunswick, NJ), Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ), Nikolai Manduke (cleric of St. Vladimir Memorial Church), Priest Anthony Williams, Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski, and Deacons Alexandre Sarandinaki and Dimitri Lisan (cathedral clerics).

Numerous parishioners of the cathedral and guests from neighboring churches gathered to pray during the service. Almost all those present received Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Before the service began, Fr. Serge presented Metropolitan Nicholas with a panagia and cross set.

For their service to the Holy Church and their labors in the parish, the following clergy and altar servers were awarded: Priest Anthony Williams was awarded the right to wear the gold pectoral cross, Deacon Alexandre Sarandinaki was elevated to the rank of protodeacon, Reader Alexander Kallaur was ordained a subdeacon, and acolyte Stelian Lisan was awarded the right to wear the orarion. It is noteworthy that the gold cross Fr. Anthony was awarded had previously belonged to the first rector of the cathedral, Protopresbyter Valery Lukyanov, as well as to Fr. Serge himself.

At the end of the service, the clergy, faithful, and children walked in a procession around the cathedral carrying holy icons.

Metropolitan Nicholas congratulated everyone on the feast of the Holy Resurrection of Christ and greeted Bishop Kliment , expressing hope for further liturgical fellowship. His Eminence also thanked Fr. Serge for the warm welcome and joint prayer.

Fr. Serge cordially thanked the hierarchs for their service. In memory of the visit, Fr. Serge presented Bishop Kliment with a cross and panagia.

In the parish hall, the sisterhood prepared a wonderful Paschal meal for the clergy and parishioners.

On the same day, an egg hunt was organized for the children.