On Sunday, September 21, the day of the great feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, parishioners, pilgrims, and guests of the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY, solemnly celebrated the monastery’s patronal feast.

Concelebrating with His Grace, Bishop Jerome (Shaw), at the festal Divine Liturgy in the Nativity of the Mother of God Church were Archpriests Alexander Donchenko (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Poughkeepsie, NY) and George Temidis (parish rector), Protodeacon Serguei Mikhailov, and parish Deacons Konstantin Aleshin and Theodotus Conrad.

The choir sang triumphally under the direction of conductor Elizabeth Pnev, joined by singers from Poughkeepsie and Holy Virgin Protection Parish in Nyack, NY.

Bishop Jerome delivered two sermons: the first, in Russian, was on the Nativity of the Theotokos, the Roman dogma of the Immaculate Conception, and the question of "predestination"; the second, in English, for the Sunday before the Exaltation of the Cross, was on those who hate the Cross, how we must be defined not by what we hate, but by what we love, and how – by loving Christ and God’s plan for us – we are always "on the winning side."

The clergy and pilgrims went in a solemn procession around the church, carrying the Mahopac copy of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. A golden cross shone in the sunlight on the new dome of the church in the bright blue sky.

For the feast, a large blue dome with gold stars was commissioned and erected for the church, replacing the smaller one, which was moved to the summer chapel. An icon of an Angel, restored by Ekaterina Piskareva after a fire in 1994, was installed on the north deacon’s door, and a new icon of an Angel, painted to match the original, was installed on the south deacon’s door. The gold carvings on the iconostasis were regilded by Tatyana Olferieff.

Parishioners and guests congratulated Fr. George on the tenth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Congratulations were conveyed from His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, who was unable to attend due to his officiating the services in Albany.

All were invited to a traditional Mahopac luncheon. People joyfully sat and interacted for a long time in the hall and outdoors, recalling days of old and thinking hopefully about the future, watching a cheerful group of children seeing off the last days of summer with shouts and merriment.