EASTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: 18 November 2022
The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad leads 105th anniversary celebrations of Dormition Church in Pennsylvania

On Saturday and Sunday, 12-13 November, 2022, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York paid an archpastoral visit to Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in McKeesport, PA. The visit of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad coincided with the celebrations of the 105th anniversary of the parish’s founding.

On Saturday evening, parish rector Archpriest Dimitri Ermakov officiated all-night vigil, co-served by visiting clergy. Metropolitan Nicholas prayed in the altar and anointed the faithful. A light meal was offered after the service.

On Sunday morning, Metropolitan Nicholas was greeted by parish warden Robert Barron with the traditional bread and salt, along with kind words of welcome.

His Eminence then celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by: Fr Dimitri, Archpriest Andrei Alexiev (cleric of the Mid-American Diocese; retired), Archpriest Andrew Nelko (OCA cleric; retired), Archpriest Leonid Kalinin (cleric of the Moscow Patriarchate), Priest Joseph Romanchak (Rector of St Basil the Great Church in Belle Vernon, PA), and Deacon Andrei Garine and Deacon Andrew Temple (cleric of Christ the Savior Church in Wayne, WV). Praying in the altar was Archpriest Michael Hatrak (OCA cleric; retired).

The Hours were read by Reader Luke Kwasniewski. At the Sixth Hour, Reader Nicholas Petrochko was ordained a subdeacon, and parish altar server Dimitri Ermakov II was tonsured a reader.

At the Little Entrance, Deacon Andrei Garine was elevated to the rank of protodeacon.

The parish choir sang beautifully and prayerfully under the direction of choir director Nicholas Kloszewski.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas addressed the faithful with warm words of greeting and congratulatory remarks. His Eminence presented the parish with a beautiful icon of the Archangel Gabriel, which belonged to his predecessor, Metropolitan Hilarion of blessed memory. He asked all of the parishioners to remember Metropolitan Hilarion in their daily prayers for the departed.

Fr Dimitri and Matushka Natalia were then presented with a diocesan gramota for their dedicated service to the parish and the Holy Orthodox Church.

A grand banquet was held in the afternoon and was attended by many parishioners and friends of the parish. Master of Ceremonies Stephen Tomkowitz reflected on some of the highlights of parish history. He noted that the parish had been blessed to have a very stable parish life and said that, since 1935 to the present, the parish has had only three rectors (Archpriest Peter Kreta 1935-1970, Archpriest Dimitri H. Ermakov 1970-1999, and Archpriest Dimitri D. Ermakov 1999-present).

At the end of the festivities, Metropolitan Nicholas presented Fr Dimitri a beautiful jeweled cross commemorating the centennial of ROCOR (1920-2020).