NEW YORK: 16 October, 2024
On the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, Metropolitan Nicholas officiates at the feast-day celebrations of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack

On Monday, October 14, 2024, the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, visited Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY. His Eminence was co-served by the rector, Archpriest Elias Gorsky, parish and visiting clergy.

During the service, a special commemoration was made of the late rectors of the parish: Archpriest Seraphim Slobodskoy and Archpriest George Larin, who reposed in July of this year.

During the sermon delivered by His Eminence on "Be the Name of the Lord...", Metropolitan Nicholas noted that just as then the Most-Blessed Lady Mother of God, appearing to Blessed Andrew, spread Her sovereign Protection over those praying in the Blachernae Church in Constantinople for salvation from invaders, so now the Theotokos invisibly covers those who pray in church and use all the Church's means for our sanctification and renewal. His Eminence also touched upon the memory of Fr George Larin, who gave all the years of his service to the Church at Holy Virgin Protection Parish in Nyack, inheriting the rectorship from Fr Seraphim of blessed memory.

Today's patronal feast day of Holy Virgin Protection Parish is the first without Fr George, but we believe that he is prayerfully with us, continuing to care for this piece of American Russia and the people who have found spiritual refuge here, the First Hierarch noted. In response, Archpriest Elias Gorsky expressed his deep gratitude to Metropolitan Nicholas for his special care of the Protection Parish.

The interaction between the archpastor, clergy and parishioners continued over a magnificent prepared luncheon hosted by the Sisterhood in the great hall of Holy Protection Parish.