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. Concelebrating with His Grace were cathedral dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff (cathedral cleric), and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric).

Praying and confessing parishioners at the service was Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada. The Synodal choir sang beautifully under the direction of conductor Vadim S. Gan.

A multitude of cathedral parishioners and faithful from other churches gathered to pray at the divine services in these difficult days. Many parishioners confessed their sins and communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of Liturgy, Bishop Nicholas called on everyone to prepare for Great Lent, and read aloud a word of instruction delivered at the beginning of the last century on the eve of Great Lent by Bishop Bessarion (Nechaev; +1905).

His Grace then served a litia for long-time cathedral warden Prince Vladimir Galitzine and the newly departed Archpriest Pablo Wolkov (rector of Holy Dormition Church in Caracas, Venezuela), and after the litia served a moleben before an ancient copy of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, asking for the speedy resumption of peace and for aid to all those currently suffering.

The sisterhood prepared a traditional Meatfare luncheon with bliny in the cathedral hall.