On June 11, the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost, and the date when the Holy Church honors the member of the Holy Martyrs and Unmercenary Physicians Cyrus and John, as well as Venerable Sergius and Herman, Wonderworkers of Valaam, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Catehdral of the Sign in New York City.

Concelebrating with His Grace were: cathedral dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Archpriest Edward Chervinsky and Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff (cathedral clerics), Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric). Praying in the altar was Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

The Synodal choir sang prayerfully under the direction of conductor Vadim S. Gan. The service was held under the aegis of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. Parishioners who had come to pray communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of Liturgy, Bishop Nicholas addressed the faithful with a sermon on the feast in which, in part, he spoke about the life of the Holy Martyrs Cyrus and John, who died as martyrs in the persecution of Christians in the 4th century. Cyrus was a renowned doctor in Alexandria, and treated people free of charge. With time, he went off into the Arabian Desert. The soldier John hear about him, found him in the desert, and how they began to pray together and help everyone in need, healing the sick, and together they received the martyr’s crown.

His Grace then turned to the Gospel reading of the day, reminding faithful of the words of the Savor: "seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," and called on them to think about the spiritual life, and the salvation of their souls and those of their neighbors.

A luncheon was served for the clergy and parishioners in the cathedral hall.