ARCHPASTORAL VISIT OF BISHOP NICHOLAS

On Saturday, the 28th, and on Sunday, November 29, the vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, paid an archpastoral visit to the church of St. Nicholas. Joseph of Optina Mountains. Virginia Beach, Virginia. His Grace brought the great shrine of the Orthodox world ‒ the miraculous Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign” for the worship of the faithful.

On the eve of November 28, an akathist was served at the All-Night Vigil in front of the icon. Bishop Nicholas addressed the parishioners with instructive words and told about the history of the icon and its miracles, after which everyone could worship the icon, and everyone received a list of the miraculous image of the Virgin as a gift from the bishop.
The next morning, on November 29, a meeting of His Grace and the icon was held by the rector of the church, Priest Sergiy Kosov. Vladyka presided over the Divine Liturgy, at which he was concelebrated: Prot. Victor Potapov (dean of the Fifth Deanery District), Fr. Sergius, and Deacon. Grigory Trubetskoy (cleric of St. John the Baptist Cathedral of the Mountains. Washington, Colombia).

At the small entrance, Fr. Sergius was awarded the right to wear a loincloth.
Believers from the nearest states prayed at the Liturgy: Zap. Virginia, Sev. The Carolinas and Christians of local Orthodox parishes attended the divine service to worship and offer prayers to the miraculous image. Most of them confessed and took communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ. During the service, the parish choir, led by the Regent of St. Nicholas, sang prayerfully. Trinity Temple of the Mountains. Meban, pc. by S.K. Andrey Semyanko.
At the end of the service, His Eminence addressed the parishioners with an archpastoral word. In turn, the rector thanked the diocesan vicar and the clergy for the visit and joint prayers. The sisterhood of the church arranged a meal in the parish hall, at which the clergy and believers continued to communicate.