On Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th of December, during the Afterfeast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, Bishop Luke of Syracuse, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, paid an archpastoral visit to St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ, where he officiated the divine services.

Serving alongside His Grace at the All-Night Vigil on Saturday evening and Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning were: Archpriests Vasily Andrejuk (cathedral cleric), Serge Lukianov (cathedral rector), Serge Kotar (cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY), Boris Slootsky (cathedral cleric), Abbot Arseny (Manko; cleric of the Mid-American Diocese), Archpriest Leonid Goferman (rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in New Brunswick, NJ), Priest Anthony Williams, Protodeacons Paul Drozdowski (cathedral clerics) and Seraphim Komleski (cleric of St. Elizabeth Church in Rocky Hill, NJ), Archdeacon Paisios (Levakov), Protodeacons Michael Pavuk (clerics of Holy Trinity Monastery) and Alexander Sarandinaki, and Deacon Dumitru Lişan (cathedral clerics).

The Holy Trinity Seminary Choir, under the direction of Deacon Nicholas Kotar, sang beautifully during the divine services.

To the joy of the faithful, the wonderworking copy of the Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God was brought to the church from Jordanville. The faithful were able to venerate the icon throughout all of the services.

Following Liturgy, Bishop Luke addressed the parishioners with a sermon, in which he emphasized the importance of firmly resolving to change one’s lifestyle. He called on everyone to stop obsessing over cell phones, which distract us from focusing on the spiritual life. We face the daily challenge of preparing our souls for eternity, while simultaneously helping our family and friends. His Grace cited the example of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine. She had beauty, social standing, wealth, and all the material necessities of life, but she renounced them for the sake of Christ and received her incorruptible crown in the Kingdom of Heaven. Each of us faces a similar choice, but to make the right decision, we must change ourselves and work seriously on our passions.

The parish’s Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov (+2018) Memorial Fund donated $21,000 to the seminary, and the new Protodeacon Nicholas Lukianov (+2021) Memorial Fund donated a $10,000 stipend for distance learning for seminarians. The parish’s Entry of the Theotokos Sisterhood, led by Matushka Lubov Lukianov, organized a bountiful lenten meal for the clergy and faithful in the renovated refectory beneath the cathedral. The parish presented gift bags to all of the seminarians and clergy.

After the luncheon, Bishop Luke held a spiritual talk with all the newly baptized and those preparing to receive Holy Baptism. All present were encouraged by His Grace’s words and received his archpastoral blessing.

Before departing for Holy Trinity Monastery, the seminarians sang " Memory Eternal " at Fr. Valery’s graveside.