On Saturday 4 January and Sunday 5 January we had services for the Twenty-Eighth Sunday after Pentecost and the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ.  On this day, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Fathers, all the righteous men and women who pleased God from the days of Adam down to Joseph, the betrothed husband of the Mother of God.  All-night vigil was served on Saturday evening and the Hours and Divine Liturgy were served on Sunday morning.  At Divine Liturgy our parish choir sang beautifully under the direction of Nikolai Morozow and prayers were offered for Orthodox unity, peace in Ukraine, and peace in the Holy Land.  A great many people confessed and received Holy Communion.  At the end of the service a prayer of blessing was read over new icons of Saint Savva of Serbia and of All Saints of Saint Petersburg, both gifts to our parish from the Douriaguine family.