Metropolitan Nicholas Officiates 40th Anniversary Pilgrimage Weekend at Holy Cross Monastery
On Friday, October 2, 2026, Metropolitan Nicholas arrived at Holy Cross Monastery to lead its annual Pilgrimage Weekend celebrations, held yearly on the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the founding of the monastery in House Springs, Missouri in 1986 before moving to West Virginia in 2000. At the request of Abbot Gabriel and the brotherhood, His Eminence brought with him the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.
Greeted by vested clergy, incense, and the ringing of the bells upon their arrival, Vladyka Nicholas and the Icon were led into the church temple, where a short moleben was served before beginning Vespers. At the conclusion of the service and trapeza afterwards, Vladyka gave the first of many edifying and consoling words to the brotherhood and pilgrims who had already begun gathering for the weekend.
On Saturday, pilgrims from over a dozen states, representing a wide variety of jurisdictions, continued to arrive in increasing numbers throughout the day. Vladyka Nicholas was unsparing of his time, greeting pilgrims and graciously giving blessings, as well as taking the time to meet privately with two groups of Orthodox Christian Fellowship college student groups who had come for the festivities.
The first formal event was the 2:30pm moleben to the Kursk Root Icon with anointing. A buffet supper was served thereafter. The Icon remained in the church, giving the faithful the opportunity to venerate and pray before Her.
The Hierarchal Vigil was served Saturday evening for the Resurrection and the Leave-taking of the Exaltation, with a festive reception for the clergy and pilgrims following the service.
On Sunday, His Eminence was greeted at the church by Abbot Gabriel and monastery clergy, as well as by esteemed visiting clergy: Archpriests Daniel Marshall and George Lardas, Priest Paul Akmolin, and Protodeacon Alexander Petrovsky of St. George’s Parish in Cincinnati, OH; Archpriest Jonah Campbell, Priest Vincent Drangini, and Deacon Joshua Duncan of Christ the Savior Parish in Wayne, WV; Priest Jeremiah Davis of St. Matrona’s Mission in Winchester, KY; and Deacon Peter Longan.
During the Sixth Hour, Monk Ambrose was tonsured as a reader and ordained as a subdeacon. At the Little Entrance, Metropolitan Nicholas awarded Abbot Gabriel the right to wear the palitsa; Hieromonk Macarius (deputy dean of the monastery) was awarded the right to wear the gold cross; and Hieromonk Isaac (cleric of the monastery) was awarded the right to wear the nabedrennik.
The faithful were communed from five chalices that day, and after the Prayer Behind the Ambon, Vladyka Nicholas gave a homily to all those present. He clearly proclaimed that it requires effort to prepare to receive the grace of God in the Sacraments and in the spiritual life, and that it is easy to lose the grace of Holy Communion. Nevertheless, this has been done continuously for the last 2,000 years by the faithful of the Church. To explain how, Vladyka pointed to the Cross and the Kursk Root Icon located in the middle of the church temple: if we deny ourselves and take up our cross, then with the help of the Mother of God we will not be fooled by the fleeting pleasures of the world, but will find true happiness both on earth and in eternity.
His Eminence concluded by congratulating the brotherhood on the 40th anniversary of its founding. He also congratulated Igumen Andrew and Archdeacon Sergius of the monastery on the 20th anniversary of their ordinations by Metropolitan Laurus (Skurla) of blessed memory at Pilgrimage Weekend 2006.
After the Dismissal, a group photo was taken, followed by the singing of Before Thy Cross / Krestu Tvoyemu by Vladyka, clergy, monastics, and all the faithful.
After the Divine Services, a festal banquet was held downstairs in trapeza, which extended onto the brick plaza in front of the church. Abbot Gabriel and Hieromonk Macarius gave a brief word on the next project at Holy Cross: the construction of a new monastic dormitory. This building will allow many more men seeking to serve Christ in the monastic life the opportunity to pursue their vocation at Holy Cross Monastery.
On Monday morning after the early services, with hearts full of gratitude, Abbot Gabriel and his brotherhood bade farewell to Metropolitan Nicholas and the Kursk Root Icon.
Many years, Master!
O Most Holy Theotokos, save us!
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