On September 28, the Saturday after the Elevation of the Cross, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA visited St. Nicholas Church in Bayonne, NJ where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy.

Bishop Matthew was co-served by parish rector Archpriest Mikhail Kapchits, Archpriest Alexey Bocharnikov, rector of St. Nicholas Church in Chester; Spiritual Father to the Cossack Congress of the United States, parish cleric Priest Dimitry Sukhorukhov and clerics of St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York City.

Before the Liturgy, Bishop Matthew tonsured Nikolai Arabidze (altar server of St. Nicholas Church in Bayonne) and Hilarion Svanidze (altar server of St. Nicholas Church in Chester), readers.

After Holy Communion, the clegy and faitful venerated the Holy Cross after which the hierarch addressed those gathered with a sermon. In recognition of their diligent labors to the parish, numerous parishioners were presented with Archpastoral Gramotas by Bishop Matthew.

Bishop Matthew was greeted by Archpriest Mikhail who expressed his heartfelt joy on behalf of the clergy and parishioners who were able to share in the joy of common prayer with their archpastor.

Interaction between the hierarch, clergy and parishioners continued during a festal luncheon.