On the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt, April 20-21, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, paid an archpastoral visit to the national’s capital and led the divine services in St. John the Baptist Cathedral. With the blessing of the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, His Eminence Justinian, Archbishop of Naro-Fominsk, the relics of St. Luke, Surgeon of Simferopol were to visit St. John’s Cathedral for the weekend. Bishop Jerome accompanied the relics to Washington from New York City.

His Grace departed from Synod Headquarters on Saturday, reaching St. John’s during the English-language Vigil service. The serving clergy met the icon and relics of St. Luke in procession, after which the relics remained in the church. Bishop Jerome led the second, Slavonic, All-Night Vigil. Also praying in church was His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen; former Primate of the Orthodox Church in America). After the Vigil, a dinner was held for the guests at the home of the rector.

The following morning, the usual two Divine Liturgies (English and Slavonic) were combined into one, and the church was tightly packed. During the Sixth Hour, parishioners Gregory Trubetskoy and Peter Gardiner were ordained readers, while Reader Vitaly Permiakov (professor of Liturgical Theology at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, who was accompanying His Grace) was awarded the orarion.

Bishop Jerome delivered a sermon in Russian on the request of the Apostles to sit on the right and left of the Savior in His Kingdom, and on how our natural tendency to look out for our own interests can help us in dealing with others charitably, if we "love our neighbor as ourselves," as well as a sermon in English on Redemption.

After the Liturgy, a luncheon was served in the parish refectory. The church hall filled to capacity, and tables had to be set up outside. After the meal, the relics were taken to Holy Apostles Church in Beltsville, MD.

That evening, the Sacrament of Holy Unction was held. His Grace led the rite, co-served by six priests from among parish and visiting clergy. The service was well-attended, with almost 400 of the faithful came to be anointed at Unction.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese

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