Bulgarian Bishop Leads Pro-Life Prayer Service in Freezing NYC Cold

Source: Orthodox Christians Pro-Life/Facebook

BROOKLYN — On Saturday, January 31, His Grace Bishop Clement, auxiliary bishop of the Bulgarian Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia, led a trilingual moleben (prayer service) for the end of abortion outside the Advanced OB-GYN clinic in Midwood, Brooklyn. 

Despite subzero temperatures, members of the St. John the Forerunner Orthodox Pro-Life Society gathered to pray at the facilityl. The clinic advertises its services in local Russian-language media, which targeting the area's large Russian-speaking immigrant community.

The service incorporated Church Slavonic and Greek as well as English. 

This event marked the society's fifth anniversary of monthly prayer vigils in New York City, which began on January 12, 2021—coincidentally, the birthday of modern martyr Fr. Daniel Sysoev, whose call for a total ban on abortion inspires the movement.

The group focuses on facilities advertising to immigrant communities, following precedents like services led by Abp. Michael of New York (OCA) and ROCOR priest Fr. Alexander Revyuk. A milestone came in 2025 with the permanent closure of a Manhattan Planned Parenthood location.

Recently, volunteers received encouragement from a woman the Society assisted three years ago. She credited their support for her son’s birth in 2023, calling him "the best thing that ever happened to me."

The vigil underscored the power of persistent witness, crediting decades of activism for Roe v. Wade's 2022 overturning and subsequent state protections. Volunteers stress ongoing education via signs depicting preborn children, even in abortion-protective states like New York.

The recent service, just after the national March for Life in Washington, D.C., highlighted growing Orthodox jurisdictional involvement in the pro-life cause.

Those interested in participating in future events hosted by the St. John the Forerunner Orthodox Pro-Life Society may call 917-428-3560 or email info@orthodoxchristiansprolife.org.

The UOJ recently reported that Bp. Vasily of San Francisco (OCA) gave the invocation at the SFC March for Life.

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