On Monday, February 16, the feast of the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Nicholas, Archbishop of Japan, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America &New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City on the occasion of his namesday. Concelebrating with His Eminence were Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada, Bishops Theodosius of Manhattan, Spyridon of Toronto, and Jerome (Shaw), as well as Synodal, diocesan, and visiting clergy:

• Archimandrite Gabriel (Pigarev; dean of Holy New Martyrs & Confessors Church in Brooklyn, NY)
• Archimandrite Elevferiy (Skiba; dean of Our Lady "Inexhaustible Chalice" Church in Brooklyn, NY)
• Archpriest Serge Lukianov (dean of New Jersey)
• Archpriest Serafim Gan (chancellor of the Synod of Bishops)
• Archpriest Andrei Sommer (cathedral dean)
• Archpriest Vasily Zelenyuk (rector of Our Lady "Unexpected Joy" Church in Staten Island, NY)
• Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine (dean of New York City & Long Island)
• Archpriest Constantine Semyanko (rector of Presentation of the Lord Church in Stratford, CT)
• Archpriest Paul Ivanov (rector of Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Brooklyn)
• Archpriest Ion Arama (rector of Holy Annunciation Church in Flushing, NY)
• Archpriest Seraphim Chemodakov (cathedral cleric)
• Abbot Zosimas (Krampis; rector of St. Sergius English Mission at the Synod)
• Archpriest Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ)
• Hieromonk Vasileios (Willard; abbot of St. Dionysios the Areopagite Monastery in St. James, NY)
• Priest Anthony Williams (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ)
• Priest Artem Siss (cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY)
• Protodeacon Paul Wolkow (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY)
• Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (cathedral cleric)
• Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church)
• Deacon Nicholas Ilyin (cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY)
• Deacon George Bolshan (cleric of the Canadian Diocese), and
• Deacon Dumitru Lişan (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral).

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

The Synodal choir sang beautifully under the direction of Isaiah Trofimenko.

Upon conclusion of the service, the clergy served a moleben to St. Nicholas of Japan.

Metropolitan Nicholas thanked God for the opportunity to gather in the Synodal cathedral, to celebrate Liturgy, pray together, and honor the memory of St. Nicholas. He also thanked all those who served with him and those who gathered to congratulate him for their words of support and prayers to the Lord.

On behalf of the Synod of Bishops, Archbishop Gabriel congratulated Metropolitan Nicholas with his namesday and, recalling the labors of St. Nicholas of Japan, said:

"The Holy Hierarch Nicholas studied the Japanese language and converted many in Japan to Orthodoxy. And there are those who predicted that, if the revolution had not occurred and his work had continued, perhaps all of Japan would have become Orthodox.

"We know that the Church Abroad not only had the mission and goal of preserving the traditions passed down to us, but also has always been and remains a missionary Church, beginning with our main holy monastery in Jordanville, which was and remains a missionary monastery. Our Church is also open to welcoming non-Orthodox people to the Orthodox Faith. We now see that, in almost all dioceses, there are many parishes whose local parishioners have converted to Orthodoxy. These churches can no longer accommodate all of the people there, and are considering building a new church or finding a larger church building. And, of course, the First Hierarch bears responsibility of caring for new and growing parishes."

Archbishop Gabriel noted that there are many people in the country who seek the truth and the Lord leads them to Orthodoxy. He wished the Metropolitan God’s help and success in his visits to such parishes both in America and abroad, and that the Lord would strengthen him and preserve him for many years to come.

Metropolitan Nicholas thanked Archbishop Gabriel for his kind words and also greeted the pilgrims from Toronto, Canada.

Bishop Theodosius read a message of congratulations to Metropolitan Nicholas from Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow & All Russia.

A festal meal was served in the cathedral hall, during which many kind words and wishes were addressed to the Metropolitan. Fr. Serafim Gan read out greetings from His Beatitude Rostislav, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands & Slovakia, and from Metropolitan Herman of Kursk & Rylsk, noting that the chancery of the First Hierarch had received a number of congratulations that day from the Primates of the Local Orthodox Churches, hierarchs, and leaders of the Orthodox world.

Warmly greeting His Eminence on behalf of the staff of the chancery of the Synod of Bishops, as well as the clergy, parishioners, and worshippers of St. Seraphim Memorial Church, Fr. Serafim presented His Eminence with the newly published brochure, "Guide for Clergy and Church Servers at Divine Liturgy celebrated by the Metropolitans of Harbin & Manchuria, and at the Conciliar Service of the Clergy of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Harbin."