On May 19, the Sunday of the Paralytic, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, co-served by Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan.

Concelebrating with the hierarchs were cathedral dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Abbot Tikhon (Gayfudinov; rector of Holy Protection Skete in Buena, NJ), Protodeacons Nicolas Mokhoff (cathedral cleric), Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), Dimitri Temidis (cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY), and Vadim Gan, Deacon Pavel Roudenko (cathedral clerics), and Hierodeacon Ambrose (Sitalo; cleric of St. George Mission in Grenada), as well as a visiting clergy. Singing at the service was the Synodal choir under the direction of Reader Adrian Fekula.

Praying at Liturgy was a multitude of parishioners of the cathedral and other New York churches. Many of them received Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Metropolitan Hilarion ordained Hierodeacon Ambrose to the priesthood. Hieromonk Ambrose will continue his service in the Orthodox mission in the capital city of St. George’s on the island nation of Grenada in the Caribbean Sea. The majority of the mission consists of Syrian immigrants, who came to Grenada in the 1960s. Among the members of the mission are Greeks and Russians, who teach and study in the local university, as well as Ukrainians who live on the other side of the island. In the capital, there are future plans to construct a church. Currently, services are held in Arabic and English.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion delivered a sermon on the meaning of the Sunday of the Paralytic and wished all many years.

The cathedral clergy and sisterhood organized a banquet in the cathedral hall in honor of Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff, celebrating the 45th anniversary of his diaconal service this year. Fr. Nicolas’ family attended the banquet. Many congratulatory words were addressed to Fr. Nicolas, reminiscing on their shared. At the conclusion of the banquet, the Polychronion was intoned for the Protodeacon.