« Bishop Matthew officiates Great Vespers in St. John the Baptist Church in Little Falls, NJ »
08-04-2025 
On Saturday evening, April 5, 2025, the eve of the 5th Sunday of Great Lent and the forefeast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, and the feast of St. Tikhon, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA & Canada, officiated Great Vespers in St. John the Baptist Church in Little Falls, NJ. In commemoration of the beginning of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the repose of St. Tikhon, the archpastor brought to the church an icon of the saint with a particle of his holy relics for veneration of the faithful.
His Grace was co-served by parish rector & Vice-Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes, Priest Mark Rashkov, Priest Anthony Kurakevich, Hieromonk Seraphim (Balagtas; cleric of Sts. Peter & Paul Cathedral in Passaic, NJ), Hieromonk Stephen (Bushman), Deacon Alexis Golubov (cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City) and Deacon Stephen Boyd (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky OCA Cathedral in Pittsburgh, PA. The parish choir sung the responses under the direction of Alla Kerko.
At the end of the service, the archpastor was warmly greeted by the rector of the church, Father Mark, who, on behalf of all the parishioners, thanked Bishop Matthew for visiting the parish and for the opportunity to glorify Saint Tikhon with the icon containing a particle of his holy relics. In turn, the bishop addressed the parishioners with a sermon and also expressed gratitude to the rector, the parish president and the parish council, benefactors, the choirmaster and singers, volunteers and all the parishioners for their work for the good of the Church and love for their parish.
The archpastor presented all the participants of the service with an icon of the Iveron icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. After the sermon, the bishop served a short moleben to Saint Tikhon and read a prayer to the saint before his holy icon.
Interaction continued over a fraternal meal in the parish hall, prepared by the parish sisterhood.
Mospatusa.com/Sourozh.org