On Sunday, October 18, the feast of the Holy Hierarchs of Moscow, His
Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhattan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in this
lower church, being unable to be present on the feast of the Protection
itself. 

His Grace was greeted with the ringing of bells, a welcoming speech by John
Petrovsky, and the scattering of flowers by the children of the parish.
During the Sixth Hour, Reader Paul Drozdowski was elevated to the rank
of Subdeacon by His Grace. Co-serving with His Grace were the rector of
the English mission Archpriest Philip Petrovsky, Priest Serge
Ledkovsky, and Deacon Dimitry Temidis. Also present was Archpriest
Boris Kizenko.  The choir sang prayerfully under the
direction of Alexandra Kulinyi. Bishop Jerome gave a homily in two
languages on the importance of being fervent in the Orthodox faith.
The service concluded with a moleben combined with the blessing of the
new altar frescoes, recently completed by Subdeacon Paul Drozdowski,
depicting the Protection of the Theotokos and Sts. Job and Amfilokhiy
of Pochaev. Memory Eternal was then sung for Archbishops Vitaly and
Nikon whose remains both repose in the lower church. 

Before the faithful venerated the cross, Father Serge Ledkovsky presented a
blue miter to Bishop Jerome. This miter was a gift from Metropolitan
Yuvenaliy of Kursk and was entrusted to Father Serge to present to His
Grace. Father Phillip then presented a framed copy of Archbishop
Vitaly’s address at the laying of the cornerstone of St.
Vladimir’s church in 1938. 

A festal meal was prepared by the ladies of the English Mission,
followed by a meeting of the Board of Directors of the St. Vladimir
Society led by His Grace, Bishop Jerome.
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