On December 17, the 28th Sunday after Pentecost, when the Holy Church honors the memory of the Holy Great-Martyr Barbara and Venerable John Damascene, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Archpriest Andrei Sommer (cathedral dean), Hieromonk Theognost (Kogan; cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY), Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff (cathedral cleric), and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric).

The Synodal choir sang beautifully under the direction of Isaiah Trofimenko. Liturgy was held under the aegis of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

Parishioners of the cathedral and other churches of the city came to pray at the service, many of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of the service, His Eminence addressed the faithful with a sermon on the Gospel reading of the 10 lepers, among whom were Jews and a Samaritan. And only that Samaritan returned to Christ after being healed, bowed down, and thanked Him.

"But where were the other nine?", the Metropolitan asked in the words of Jesus Christ. And the Savior indicated to the Samaritan that his faith had saved him.

"We so rarely remember the benevolent acts and blessings of the Lord. After all, our life, even if sorrowful, has a special joy, because there is always hope. We can also hope on the Savior, hope on the Mother of God. For that is love. But often, besides the one Samaritan, no one thanks God that we have the Orthodox Faith, that we have the opportunity to come to church and pray, or even that we can have our prayer corner at home, where we have our cross and icons, where we can renounce the sinful world and give Him glory."

As an example of ascetic struggle and hope in God, Metropolitan Nicholas offered the life of Venerable John of Damascus, whose memory was celebrated that day.

His Eminence greeted Fr. Andrei Sommer on the occasion of his namesday, which he celebrated on the feast of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called (December 13), and Fr. Nicolas Mokhoff on the occasion of his upcoming namesday, the feast of the Holy Hierarch and Wonderworker Nicholas (December 19).

Fr. Andrei, in turn, greeted the Metropolitan on the occasion of his birthday, wishing him strength, health, and joy for many and blessed years. The protodeacon then intoned the Polychronion for the First Hierarch.