May 21, 2018 Churaevka, Connecticut:
The 150th anniversary of the birth of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas is celebrated in a renowned Russian village in the USA

On Saturday, May 19, 2018, the feast day of St Job the Much-Suffering and the birthday of Tsar Nicholas the Passion-Bearer, His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Deputy Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of St Sergei of Radonezh in the village of Churaevka, CT, the renowned Russian settlement established by Ilya Tolstoy and George Grebenshchikoff with the goal of uniting cultural and artistic figures, scholars and sociologist émigrés.

Stunned by the destruction of Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russian refugees of the 1930’s in this area built the chapel in honor of the Abbot of the Russian Land, hoping for the resurrection of the Church and their Fatherland. Among those who loved to perform in this town was Sergei Rachmaninoff, who died 75 years ago.

Bishop Nicholas was joined by the chapel’s Rector, Protopriest Konstantin Semyanko, who is also the spiritual father of the Camp NORR Russian summer camp for children, along with neighboring clergy. Irene Stepanoff, choir director of nearby Entrance Into the Temple Church in Stratford, led the singers.

In his sermon, Vladyka Nicholas expressed the joy over the divine service celebrated on this historic day in the beautiful yet small chapel, and reminded the worshipers about how the Royal Family likewise celebrated the great feast days modestly during the days of their arrest leading up to their martyrdom.

An abundant trapeza luncheon was then offered to all the worshipers.