Our hearts responded with acute pain to the news that, on May 16 of this year, the day of commemoration of Venerable Theodosius, Abbot of the Kiev Caves, and the eve of the 15th anniversary of the re-establishment of liturgical communion within the Russian Orthodox Church,

On Saturday, May 21, the feast of the Holy Apostle & Evangelist John the Theologian, the monastic funeral of the newly reposed First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad ‒ His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York ‒ was held in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On Saturday, May 21, the feast of Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, His Eminence Mark, Metropolitan of Berlin & Germany, will officiate Divine Liturgy at 7:30 AM with the participation of archpastors, clergymen, and representatives of other Local Orthodox Churches

On Monday, May 16, the feast of Venerable Theodosius of the Kiev Caves, following a lengthy illness, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, reposed in the Lord in a New York City hospital.

We were deeply moved when we heard of the repose of our beloved brother and concelebrant, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion. We knew him to be a man of faith, integrity, and principle.

The tragic news of the repose of His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, who is deeply revered and respected by all, has been met with deep sorrow in our hearts.

In the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, the clergy continue to serve panihidas for the newly reposed primate of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion. On Tuesday evening, May 17, Metropolitan Mark of Berlin & Germany, recently arrived from Germany, officiated the panihida in the cathedral.

It was with great sorrow that I received the news of the repose of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York. I express my deepest condolences for your loss.

The members of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad announced with great sorrow that on May 3/16, the feast day of Venerable Theodosius, Abbot of the Kiev Caves, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, reposed in the Lord.

It is with great sorrow that I learned of the repose of our dear and beloved brother, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion.

On Monday evening, May 16, the first panihida for the newly reposed Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, was served in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On Monday, May 16, the feast of Venerable Theodosius of the Kiev Caves, at 2:00 PM New York time, following a lengthy illness, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, reposed in the Lord in a New York City hospital.

On May 15, the 4th Sunday of Pascha, of the Paralytic, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. 

On May 8, the 3rd Sunday of Pascha, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Harrisonburg, VA and officiated the divine services there for the parish’s patronal feast day.

On May 8, the 3rd Sunday of Pascha, the feast of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women, Bishop Luke of Syracuse celebrated Divine Liturgy in the lower church of Venerable Job of Pochaev at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.

On May 8, the 3rd Sunday of Pascha, dedicated to the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women, His Grace, Bishop Jerome, paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy. The visit to the Nyack parish on this weekend has become an annual tradition for the retired diocesan vicar.

On May 1, the 2nd Sunday of Pascha, dedicated to the Holy Apostle Thomas, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, celebrated Divine Liturgy in St. Seraphim Cathedral of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY.

On Friday, May 6, when the Holy Church honors the memory of the Holy Great-Martyr and Trophy-Bearer George, the Cossack parish of the same name in Howell, NJ, celebrated its patronal feast

On the 3rd Sunday of Pascha, the Orthodox Church glorifies the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women. This year, Sunday, May 8, was also Mother’s Day in many countries around the world.

On Thomas Sunday, May 1, the feast of Antipascha, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Priest Živojin Jakovljević (cleric of the Serbian Church in the USA), Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff (cathedral cleric), and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric).

On May 1, the Second Sunday of Pascha, clergy and faithful of central New Jersey gathered in St. Vladimir Cemetery in Jackson, NJ to bring the joyous news of the Resurrection of Christ to those entombed there.

On Bright Saturday, April 30, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan paid an archpastoral visit to St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy.

NEW PHOTOGRAPHS 05/03! The Diocesan Media Office will publish photo-reports of Holy Week & the Feast of feasts – the Lord’s Pascha in the parishes and monasteries of the Eastern American Diocese on the diocesan website. 

On Bright Monday, April 25, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan paid an archpastoral visit to St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Howell, NJ, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy.

On the night of Sunday, April 24, the clergy and parishioners of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City joyously celebrated the principal Christian feast of Christ’s Resurrection.

Addressing you with these life-affirming words, I extend to all of you my heartfelt greetings on the great and world-saving feast of Pascha. On this chosen and holy day, so overwhelming is our spiritual joy and profound gratitude to God and so distinct is the feeling of the might and depth of the Creator’s love for human beings

With a sense of jubilation in the Lord, the Victor over evil, hell, and death, I greet you all on this luminous night of the Lord’s Matins and Paschal Liturgy, this "feast of faith," which the great Chrysostom exhorts us to relish! Greetings on the Glorious Resurrection of Christ!

On Great & Holy Friday, April 22, when the Holy Church commemorates the holy, salvific, terrible suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, divine services in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City

On Great Thursday, April 21, His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Manhattan, celebrated the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City

On Great and Holy Wednesday, April 20, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated the final Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts for this year in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On the great feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan officiated the All-Night Vigil on Saturday the 16th and celebrated Divine Liturgy on Sunday the 17th of April in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On April 16, the feast of the Raising of the Righteous Lazarus, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY, and celebrated Divine Liturgy there.

On Sunday, April 10, the Sacrament of Holy Unction was performed in St. Luke the Blessed Surgeon Church in Pompano Beach, FL. For the first time in many years, the Sacrament was officiated by a hierarch – Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan.

On Friday, April 15, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan officiated the Sacrament of Holy Unction in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th of April, the feast of Venerable Mary of Egypt, His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Manhattan, paid an archpastoral visit to St. Mary of Egypt Church in Roswell (Atlanta), GA, and led the divine services on the occasion of its patronal feast day.

On Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th of April, after two years of being unable to visit Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY due to COVID, the parish school of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY was finally able to organize a small pilgrimage to the holy site.

On Wednesday, April 13, the Southern Lenten Diocesan Clergy Retreat concluded with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts in St. Mary of Egypt Church in Roswell (Atlanta), GA.

On Tuesday, April 12, priests and deacons carrying out their pastoral ministry in the southern half of the Eastern American Diocese arrived in Roswell (Atlanta), GA for the start of the Lenten Clergy Retreat held in St. Mary of Egypt Church.

On Saturday, March 26, His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Manhattan, paid a visit to the parish school of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY, in order to spend the school day with the students and teachers, taking part in the everyday life of the school.

On Saturday, April 9 – the feast of the Laudation of the Mother of God – Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Annunciation Church in Flushing,

St. Martin of Tours Mission in Montgomery, AL, has seen 19 baptisms since it was established. Of the 19 baptisms, five were infants and 14 were adult converts, 11 in the past six months alone. The names of the 11 are: Michael, Sophia, Hope, Charity, Catherine, Cyprian, Leo, Emily, Maxim, Sergius, and Lydia.

On Sunday the 20th and Friday the 25th of March, members of the Yale Russian Chorus (YRC), in Florida for spring break, paid a visit to Three Hierarchs Church in Hollywood and St. Luke the Blessed Surgeon Church in Pompano Beach, where they sang at the divine services of Great and Holy Lent.

On Wednesday, April 6, the clergy and parishioners of Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Harrisonburg, VA marked another milestone as they work to construct a new temple. Parish rector Priest Gabriel Weller blessed the new cupola and cross before a crane placed them atop the future church.

According to the typicon of the Lenten Triodion, on the Saturday of the Fifth Week of Great Lent, the Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos is chanted as part of the Matins service. As usual, His Grace Bishop Luke, served the Akathist Hymn, along with the brethren of the monastery.

On Wednesday the 6th and Thursday the 7th of April, the great feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan officiated All-Night Vigil and celebrate Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

The end of March and beginning of April were a spiritually rich period in the parish life of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC: many Lenten divine services were held, cathedral clergy took part in the Lenten Clergy Retreat at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY...

On Thursday, April 7, the great feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Luke of Syracuse celebrated Divine Liturgy in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.

On Saturday the 2nd and Sunday the 3rd, the fourth Sunday of Great Lent, dedicated to Venerable John Climacus, for the first time ever, Archimandrite Seraphim (Voepel) and the brethren of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV joyfully hosted a visit by the wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God "Quick to Hear" from St. Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, PA.

The clergy and faithful of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC decided to place the relics of the saints of the Kiev Caves – a remarkable gift from Metropolitan Vladimir, former Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – in the middle of the church and conduct special prayer services before them each Sunday

On April 3, the fourth Sunday of Great Lent, dedicated to Venerable John Climacus, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Concelebrating with His Eminence was cathedral dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer.

On the evening April 3, the fourth Sunday of Great Lent, dedicated to Venerable John Climacus, clergy of the New Jersey Deanery gathered at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ to perform the Sacrament of Holy Unction.

On Wednesday, March 30, the Northern Lenten Diocesan Clergy Retreat concluded with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.

On Tuesday, March 29, clergy from across the Eastern American Diocese flocked to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY for the start of the annual Lenten Clergy Retreat. The clergy, donned in winter riassas, braved the freezing temperatures and snow of Central New York State to be warmed by the affectionate greeting of their brother clergy, many seeing each other for the first time in three years.

On March 27, the Sunday of the Cross, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan led the Sacrament of Holy Unction in Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Brooklyn, NY.

On March 27, the third Sunday of Great Lent, dedicated to the Holy Cross, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City

On Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th of March, the Second Sunday of Great Lent – dedicated to the Holy Hierarch Gregory Palamas – His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Manhattan, paid an archpastoral visit to Protection of the Mother of God Church in Rochester, NY.

On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, March 13, the Misión Ortodoxa San Juan Clímaco in San Germán, PR, welcomed eight students from across the United States as part of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship’s (OCF) Real Break ministry. The Mission was chosen as one of this year’s service and pilgrimage locations.

On Thursday, March 24, the Chancery of the Synod of Bishops published a statement in connection with rumors that had spread "of the discontinuance of commemoration of His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia, in some parishes of the Russian Church Abroad:"

On Tuesday, March 22, when the Holy Church commemorated the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, the clergy and faithful of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ also marked the namesday of the ever-memorable Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov, the cathedral’s builder and long-time rector.

On March 20, the second Sunday of Great Lent, dedicated to the Holy Hierarch Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On March 20, the Sunday of Holy Hierarch Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, the Sacrament of Holy Unction was served in the Church of the Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia in Brooklyn, NY.

After the first week of Great Lent, one of strict fasting and long and penitential services, the brethren of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY celebrated the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the triumph over the heresy of iconoclasm.

On March 12, the first Saturday of Great Lent and the feast of the Holy Great-Martyr Theodore the Tyro, Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) celebrated Divine Liturgy in St. Herman of Alaska Church in Stafford, VA.

Wednesday, March 16, marks fourteen years since the repose of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus – the fifth First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

On March 13, the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, Bishop Irenei of London & Western Europe celebrated Divine Liturgy and performed the Rite of Orthodoxy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, co-served by Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan.

On Sunday, March 13, the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada paid an archpastoral visit to St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ.

During the first week of Great Lent, March 7-11, the full cycle of divine services was held in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. Leading the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the evenings, as well as the Divine Liturgies of the Presanctified Gifts, was Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Luke of Syracuse.

With the start of Great Lent, the divine services with the reading of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete were held in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. On Monday the 7th and Thursday the 10th of March, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan officiated Great Compline e with the reading of the Great Canon

On March 6, Cheesefare (Forgiveness) Sunday, the commemoration of Adam’s expulsion from Paradise, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

Online registration for the 2022 Lenten Retreat for clergy of the Eastern American Diocese has opened on the diocesan website. 

On February 27 – Meatfare Sunday, or the Sunday of the Dread Judgement – Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On the threshold of Great Lent, this salvific time of augmented prayer and self-correction, and in connection with events unfolding in the Ukrainian land, I turn to all with a heartfelt plea: refraining from excesses in watching television, following newspapers and the internet

On February 19-20, the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada, paid an archpastoral visit to St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ, where he officiated the divine services.

On Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th of February, the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord, Bishop Luke of Syracuse officiated the divine services in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. His Grace was co-served by monastery clergy.

On Wednesday, February 16, when the Holy Church honors the memory of the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Nicholas of Japan, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated Divine Liturgy on the occasion of his namesday in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan officiated the All-Night Vigil on Monday the 14th and celebrated Divine Liturgy on  Tuesday the 15th of February.

On Tuesday, February 15, the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord, His Grace, Bishop Jerome, celebrated Divine Liturgy in Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY.

On Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th of February, the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord, Holy Presentation Church in Stratford, CT, celebrated its patronal feast day.

On Saturday, February 12, the feast of the Synaxis of the Three Holy Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John of Chrysostom was celebrated in the eponymous church in Hollywood, FL.

On Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th of February, His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Manhattan, visited the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America.

On Saturday, February 12, the Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of the Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom. These three great hierarchs and luminaries of the Church are considered patrons of every Orthodox seminary, and therefore this feast is recognized as the patronal feast of Holy Trinity Seminary.

On Wednesday, February 9, a delegation from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by Their Graces, Bishops Victor of Baryshevka and Dionysius of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky, visited the Synodal Residence of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in New York City.

On Sunday, February 6, the feast of the Synaxis of the Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of the Russian Church, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, celebrated Divine Liturgy in St. Luke the Blessed Surgeon Church in Pompano Beach, FL, co-served by vicars of the Kiev Metropolia: Bishops Victor of Baryshevka and Dionysius of Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky (Ukrainian Orthodox Church).

On Sunday, February 6, when the Holy Church honors the memory of the Synaxis of the Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada celebrated Divine Liturgy in honor of the patronal feast day of the eponymous church in Brooklyn, NY.

On Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd of January, His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Manhattan, paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Epiphany Church in Roslindale (Boston), MA to officiate the 50th anniversary celebrations of the church’s consecration. The visit was timed near the parish’s patronal feast – the great feast of the Theophany of the Lord, January 6/19.

On Sunday, February 6, the clergy and parishioners of Our Lady of Pochaev Church in North Port, FL celebrated the memory of the Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of the Russian Church. The rector, Archimandrite Stefan (Khilchuk), celebrated Divine Liturgy.

On January 30, the 32nd Sunday after Pentecost, and the date when the Holy Church honors the memory of Venerable Anthony the Great, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

The Youth Department of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is proud to debut its newest project: the All North American Youth Conference. Due to the pandemic, there has not yet been an opportunity to organize an All-Diaspora Youth Conference

Festal celebrations were held in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City on the great feast of the Theophany of the Lord. On Tuesday, January 18, the Eve of Theophany, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great and officiated the festal All-Night Vigil.

On Saturday, January 15, the commemoration of the repose and second finding of the relics of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan visited Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY, on the occasion of the patronal feast day of its St. Seraphim Cathedral, and celebrated the festal Divine Liturgy.

A festal concert dedicated to Christ’s Nativity took place at St. Joseph of Optina Church in Virginia Beach, VA on Sunday, January 9. The Nativity concert started with a common prayer led by parish rector Priest Serge Kosov, who also addressed the audience with congratulations and good wishes. The sisterhood arranged a fine table for all of the guests.

On Friday, January 7, the clergy and faithful of the ROCOR Mission in Nicaragua came together at Monasterio de San Antonio el Grande in Río Negro, Boaco, to joyously greet the great feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

On Tuesday afternoon, January 11, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan arrived at St. Nicholas Church in Endicott, NY, to officiate the funeral of Archpriest Stavros Rousos, who reposed in the Lord on January 3.

The celebration of Christ’s Radiant Nativity continues. On January 9, the Sunday after Nativity, of the Holy Ancestors of God, when the Church also celebrates the memory of the Holy Righteous Joseph the Betrothed, David the King, and the Apostle James, Brother of the Lord, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

NEW! The Diocesan Media Office has begun publishing photo-reports of the Nativity of our Lord in parishes and monasteries of the Eastern American Diocese on the diocesan website. 

The clergy and faithful of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City celebrated the great feast of the Nativity of Christ. Officiating the festal All-Night Vigil on Thursday the 6th and celebrating Divine Liturgy on Friday the 7th of January was Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan.

Beloved in the Lord archpastors, reverend presbyters and deacons, God-loving monks and nuns, dear brothers and sisters!

It is with profound gladness that I greet my Eminent fellow archpastors, reverend fathers, monastics, parishioners, and worshippers of our churches, scattered throughout the world, on the feasts of the Nativity of Christ, the Theophany of the Lord, and the New Year!

On Monday, January 3, Archpriest Stavros Rousos (retired cleric of St. Nicholas Church in Endicott, NY), reposed in the Lord after complications from the Coronavirus. He was 68 years old.

Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated the first Divine Liturgy of the New Year in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City on January 2, the Sunday before Christ’s Nativity, of the Holy Fathers.