This year marks the 65th anniversary of one of the most remarkable and ancient icons of Orthodox Russia – the Kursk Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" – abiding in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, which was specially designed and named in its honor. This year, the celebration of the cathedral’s patronal feast, which in accordance with tradition took place upon conclusion of the regular meeting of the Synod of Bishops, was especially well-attended.

Officiating the All-Night Vigil on Saturday the 9th and celebrating Divine Liturgy on Sunday the 10th of December was Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, co-served by Metropolitan Mark of Berlin & Germany, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada, Bishops Irinej of Eastern America (Serbian Orthodox Church), Irenei of London & Western Europe, and Job of Stuttgart, as well as retired Bishop Jerome (Shaw), clergy of the Eastern American and Canadian Dioceses, and representatives of the Orthodox Church in America and the Moscow Patriarchate.

Singing at the divine services was a combined choir of the Synodal Cathedral under the direction of conductor Vadim S. Gan and Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY under the direction of conductor and seminary professor Deacon Nicholas Kotar.

The festal services were held under the aegis of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

Praying at the celebrations in the cathedral were a multitude of the faithful from several U.S. states, as well as 80 pilgrims from the Canadian Diocese, who came specially to New York along with Archpriest Vladimir Malchenko, rector of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Toronto. Virtually all participants of the feast communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, the hierarchs and clergy served a short moleben before the Kursk Root Icon.

Metropolitan Nicholas thanked his brother-archpastors for their firmness in the Faith, for their prayers and support in his labors, and also thanked the clergy, acolytes, and faithful who had gathered in the cathedral to pray to the Most Holy Theotokos and honor her wonderworking image.

His Eminence congratulated Bishops Jerome and Job with the anniversary of their hierarchal consecrations. In honor of 15 years laboring in the hierarchal rank, Bishop Jerome was awarded a gramota from the Synod of Bishops.

A Synodal gramota was presented to the cathedral’s assistant warden, Michael B. Ledkovsky, for assisting in organizing and conducting the celebrations of the patronal feast.

For his many years of labors on behalf of the Church, Subdeacon Paul Grabbe was presented with a jubilee icon.

In April of next year, cathedral Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff will celebrate 50 years since his diaconal ordination. In honor of his many years of dedicated labors on behalf of the cathedral and the Church Abroad, Fr. Nicolas was awarded a Synodal gramota.

A festal banquet was held in the cathedral hall.