On October 19, the 19th Sunday after Pentecost, and the day when the Holy Church honors the memory of the Holy Apostle Thomas, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Serving alongside the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were cathedral clergy: dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Hieromonk Theognost (Kogan), and Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky.

The Synodal choir sang at Liturgy under the direction of conductor Vadim S. Gan.

A multitude of cathedral parishioners and faithful from other churches prayed at the service, most of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of the service, His Eminence addressed the faithful with a sermon on the Gospel reading of the Savior’s raising from the dead of the widow’s son, by which He shared in our common, everyday sorrows. This is also what true, devout Christians do: living their lives with the fear of God.

"Where the cross is, there is the Lord. Christ comes to us, and this Light illuminates us, like the Gospel widow. We assume that she was a churchgoer – and the Lord had mercy on her. That is, in the life of the Church, we will always have hope. We must not despair, sorrow, complain, or go against God… Instead, we must intensify our prayer and thank God for all things. And the Lord will come to us…"

"Today, we also remember the Apostle Thomas, who was one of the Savior’s first disciples. He, like the other apostles, left everything and followed, listening to the Savior’s teachings and witnessing the miracles He performed. After the Lord’s Ascension, he preached in India and other places, enlightening the people and laying down his life for Christ. After Christ’s Resurrection from the dead, when the apostles were gathered, their Divine Teacher came to them. The Apostle Thomas was not there. The apostles said they had seen our Teacher Jesus – He had risen from the dead. Apostle Thomas did not immediately believe, exclaiming, ‘Except I shall see for myself and put my hand into His wounds and side, I will not believe.’ A week later, Jesus Christ came to him, and the Apostle Thomas exclaimed, ‘My Lord and my God!’

"These should be our words: ‘My Lord and my God! Thank you for all things! I want to continue to work and to live for You completely, and You will help me, as You resurrected the dead youth.’"

Metropolitan Nicholas reminded everyone not to participate in the events held at the end of October, but he wished that those present might spend their time with the Lord.

A traditional luncheon was held in the cathedral hall, during which fraternal fellowship between the clergy and parishioners continued.