On December 29, the 27th Sunday after Pentecost and that of the Holy Forefathers, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: cathedral dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Archpriest Seraphim Chemodakov (cathedral cleric), Priest Jeremiah Davis (cleric of St. Matrona of Moscow Mission in Lexington, KY), Hieromonk Theognost (Kogan), and Protodeacons Nicolas Mokhoff and Serge Arlievsky (cathedral clerics).

At the Little Entrance, Metropolitan Nicholas awarded Fr. Jeremiah the right to wear the nabedrennik.

The Synodal choir sang prayerfully under the direction of Vadim S. Gan. A multitude of the faithful prayed at the service, many of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas spoke about the Holy Forefathers, who prepared the coming of the Savior into the world. We see their iconographic depictions on the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

His Eminence also touched on the Gospel reading – the Parable of the Great Banquet – noting in particular that it depends on us whether we accept the invitation, leaving behind worldly cares, when the Lord invites us all to salvation.

A traditional luncheon was held in the parish hall, during which interaction between the clergy and parishioners took place.

In the vestibule, parishioners were able to find and purchase goods from the Convent of the Mother of God "Quick to Hear" in Richfield Springs, NY. Young parishioners from Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Brooklyn, meanwhile, displayed their handcrafted Nativity greeting cards.