On April 26, the 3rd Sunday of Pascha, that of the Myrrh-bearing Women, His Grace, Bishop Jerome (Shaw), paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy. The visit to the Nyack parish on this weekend has become an annual tradition for the retired diocesan vicar.

Concelebrating with His Grace at Liturgy were: Archpriests Stefan Pavlenko (cleric of the Western American Diocese) and Elias Gorsky (parish rector), Priest Andrew Podymow, and Deacons Nicholas Ilyin (parish clerics) and Konstantin Aleshin (cleric of Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY).

Bishop Jerome delivered two sermons: the first, in Russian, on the Epistle reading (Acts 6:1-7 – "There arose a murmuring…") and how God’s Grace can be either a plus or a minus, depending on how we treat it; the second, in English, on the Gospel reading (Mark 15:43-16:8, regarding the Myrrhbearers at the Tomb) and how we must all be myrrh-bearers, and not bearers of ill will.

Memory Eternal was intoned for Bishop Daniel (Alexandrow; +2010) on the anniversary of his blessed repose. The Polychronion was sung for the hierarchy, sisterhood, and namesday celebrants.

The parish brotherhood organized a Paschal luncheon, during which Fr. Stefan shared some memories of life at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY.