On Sunday, January 18, the Eve of Theophany, 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 clerics: dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Archpriest Seraphim Chemodakov, Hieromonk Theognost (Kogan), and Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky.

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

Liturgy was held under the aegis of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

The church was full of worshippers who came to pray and to venerate the Kursk Icon. Many communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

After the service, His Eminence greeted all with the feast, then served Great Vespers with the clergy and officiated the first Great Blessing of Water.

Photo: S. Yakushin