Diocesan Photo Gallery

Photo Galleries of the Various Institutions and Ministries of the Diocese

St. Basil Academy Retreat

Pilgrimage in honor of the Theotokos and the Most Precious and Life Giving Cross at St. Basil Academy, September 21-22, 2002
The faithful come forward to be blessed with Holy Water at the end of Saturday Night's Great Vespers service which marked the beginning of the Pilgrimage.
Following Vespers a candlelight procession took place from the St. Basil Chapel to the banks of the Hudson River. The first stopping point on the procession was at the Shrine to St. Dionysios.
The faithful in attendance at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.
"Your Cross We Adore!" was solemnly sung by the faithful at the conclusion of the Saturday night procession. The Cross, enveloped by a cloud of incense in the darkness of early evening and illuminated by candlelight, was reverently venerated by the pilgrims. Ironically, the Cross, our defense in time of calamity was planted directly accross the Hudson River from West Point Military Academy - a prominent training center for many who are called to defend our country from hostile attacks.
The Grace Divine Which Fills That Which is Imperfect... Subdeacon Daniel Mahler is ordained to the Holy Diaconate through the laying on of hands by His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas.
Nearly all of the 130 in attendance received the Holy Body and Blood of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ at the Hierarchical Liturgy.
The clergy process to the outdoor sanctuary for the Sunday Hierarchical Liturgy.
The Very Rev. Protopresbyter Michael Rosco, assisted by Protodeacon Gregory Benc, serve the afternoon Paraklis Service to the Birthgiver-of-God. Responses were sung by clergy of the New York, New Jersey and New England Deaneries.
His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas poses with some of the choir members from St. Gregory of Nyssa Parish (Seaford, NY). This small, but truly magnificent choir, under the capable direction of Pani Kathleen Pehanich, led the choral and plain chant responses to the Hierarchical Liturgy.
His Eminence delivers the homily after the reading of the Gospel.
Those who heeded the invitation of His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, to participate in the pilgrimage truly enjoyed a weekend of spiritual refreshment and peace. The beautiful views of the majestic Hudson River and Bear Mountain certainly reminded those present of the majesty of the Lord and the beauty of His Creation.