On June 15, the First Sunday after Pentecost, that of All Saints, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to St. Luke the Blessed Surgeon Church in Pompano Beach, FL, where he officiated the final divine services at the parish’s current location.

Serving alongside the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were: Archimandrite Maximos (Weimar; abbot of St. Panteleimon Skete in Coconut Creek, FL), Archpriest Vasily Zelenyuk (rector of Our Lady "Unexpected Joy" Church on Staten Island, NY) and Deacon Stefan Stoyanov (parish cleric).

The Metropolitan brought with him the revered Harbin Icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" ‒ a wonderworking icon that is kept in the lower St. Sergius Chapel in the Synodal Headquarters in New York City. At the Hours, His Eminence tonsured George Anderson and John Covell (altar servers of St. Luke Church) and George George (altar server of St. Panteleimon Skete), readers.

The parish choir sang marvelously. Many parishioners prayed in the church and received Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas delivered a sermon. He also then presented Synodal gramotas and commemorative gifts to a number of parish workers and benefactors.

A festal luncheon was held in the parish hall during which a presentation was made by the warden, Alexis V. Lukianov, on the progress of the construction of the Holy Resurrection Cathedral.

A concert of Paschal hymns was then held in the afternoon by the parish choir.

Services will now be held temporarily at Paideia Classical Academy, 2370 Hammock Boulevard in Coconut Creek, while parishioners continue construction on Holy Resurrection Cathedral. To learn more about the project and to donate, visit the website here.