On the evening of the Fifth Sunday of Lent, St. George’s Rector, Archpriest Igor Tarasov and parish Warden, Olga Roussanow went to Garfield, NJ to pray at Vespers service held at Three Saints Church. On that day Three Saints Church was visited by His Grace, Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk. The Lenten “Mission” vespers have been a longstanding tradition within the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA. It allows parishioners from various parishes to be joined in common prayer before the Great Feast of the Resurrection of Christ. 

The Vespers service was led by the Dean of the Eastern States, Archpriest Mikhail Kapchits. Fr. Michael was co-served by a number of clergy from our Patriarchal Parishes, as well as one priest from the OCA. 

Our Rector, Archpriest Igor Tarasov was asked and blessed by Bishop John to preach at this Vespers. Thus after the singing of the Great Prokimenon he delivered a sermon on the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt. 

At the conclusion of the Vespers Service, Bishop John greeted the assembled clergy and faithful, and wished them God’s blessings as we complete Great Lent.