Metr. Nicholas Visits ROCOR Mission Parish in Sosúa
Metr. Nicholas’ visit underscored ROCOR’s growing missionary presence and institutional development in the Dominican Republic.
SOSÚA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — His Eminence Metr. Nicholas of Eastern America and New York made a pastoral visit over the weekend to the mission parish of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Sosúa.
Founded in 2008 in Puerto Plata by Fr. Rafael Martinez-Gonzalez and relocated to Sosúa in 2020, the parish currently worships in a rented facility. The community serves Russian-speaking immigrants from former Soviet republics, Dominican converts, and members of the Russian-Dominican Center for Science and Culture.
Metr. Nicholas was joined by clergy from New Jersey and Puerto Rico and was formally received by parish leadership and faithful. During Saturday Vespers, he consecrated new liturgical vessels and presented books and icons to the parish. On Sunday, two men were tonsured as readers for Latin American missions, while Fr. Rafael was elevated to archpriest. The hierarch also reviewed nearby property under consideration for future parish development.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the Kursk Root Icon had visited South Carolina for an archpastoral visit.
