From March 27 to 31, at the invitation of His Eminence Kyrill, Archbishop of San Francisco & Western America, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, accompanied the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" on a primatial visit to the Seattle Vicariate of the Western American Diocese. The main purpose of the trip was to visit the ailing Archpriest Alexei Kotar, dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Seattle, to pray with him and to support his family, all of whom are deeply devoted to the Holy Church.

On Friday, March 28, His Eminence visited Fr. Alexei at the local hospital. After praying before the main holy icon of the Russian Diaspora for his health, Metropolitan Nicholas presented him with a jubilee pectoral cross issued for the 725th anniversary of the appearance of the wonderworking icon and the 100th anniversary of the Russian Church Abroad, and spoke with Fr. Alexei and his family. That evening, His Eminence officiated at the sacrament of Holy Unction in St. Nicholas Cathedral, co-served by His Grace Theodosius, Bishop of Seattle, and the local clergy, before a large gathering of worshippers.

On Saturday, March 29, Metropolitan Nicholas visited the Monastery of the All-Merciful Savior on Vashon Island, where Abbot Tryphon (Parsons) is the rector. Here, Metropolitan Nicholas served a moleben before the miraculous icon and talked with the brethren. That evening, His Eminence officiated the All-Night Vigil in St. Nicholas Cathedral.

On Sunday, March 30, the 4th Sunday of Great Lent and the feast of Righteous Alexis, the Man of God, His Eminence celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great in the same cathedral. Concelebrating with the Metropolitan were Bishop Theodosius, cathedral clergy and guests in the holy orders. The liturgical hymns were sung by the cathedral choir under the direction of G.A. Kotar, son of Fr. Alexei.

At the Little Entrance, in accordance with the petition of Archbishop Kyrill, Metropolitan Nicholas awarded the gold pectoral cross, issued by the Synod of Bishops, to Priest Pavel Volkoff, the second priest of the cathedral. In his pre-Communion sermon, His Eminence spoke about the day’s Gospel reading.

At the dismissal, the First Hierarch congratulated His Grace, the clergy, and the faithful on the 4th Sunday of Great Lent and the namesday of their dean, expressing gratitude for their prayers. His Eminence also noted the sacrifice of the parishioners of the cathedral, who sent a significant amount of money they collected to repair the Synodal residence in New York City. Having congratulated Metropolitan Nicholas on the Lord’s day and wishing him God’s help in his difficult ministry, Bishop Theodosius invited all those gathered to a large luncheon organized through the efforts of the cathedral sisterhood.

That same day, His Eminence congratulated Fr. Alexei on his namesday during a visit to the hospital.

The next day, after bidding farewell to Bishop Theodosius and Fr. Alexei’s Matushka Natalie, Metropolitan Nicholas departed for New York.

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