On April 19, the 2nd Sunday of Pascha, dedicated to the Holy Apostle Thomas, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, celebrated Divine Liturgy in St. Seraphim Cathedral of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY.

Concelebrating with the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were convent clerics: Archpriest Alexander Fedorowski (cathedral dean), Priest Artem Siss, and Protodeacon Alexey Pnev, as well as Archpriest Andrew Bazilevich (cleric of the Mid-American Diocese) and Deacon Nicholas Ilyin (cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY).

Together with a multitude of faithful, Abbess Makaria and the sisters of the Novo-Diveevo Convent prayed at the divine service. The parish choir sang under the direction of Alla Generalova, accented by guests from other parishes that came to spend the day in this holy place.

Specially commemorated at the service were the newly departed Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia, Deacon Andrei Antchoutine, and Isaiah Trofimenko, as well as Archbishop Andrew (Rymarenko; +1978), vicar of the Eastern American Diocese and founder (later long-time resident) of Novo-Diveevo Convent.

The majority of the faithful communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

The weather was cold and rainy, though the day itself was calm and spiritually refreshing. In his sermon, His Eminence noted the conditions outside, noting that the dreariness of outside correlates to the dreariness of the world around us; by contrast, the inside of the church is warm and bright. The Church is a place we turn for solace. Touching on the tradition of commemorating the departed on this day, Metropolitan Nicholas urged the faithful never to forget their departed loved ones, and if you cannot make it to cemetery to pray for them there, to at least remember them in your private prayers.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, the First Hierarch thanked the clergy, choir, and altar servers for their joint prayers. His Eminence served panihida for ROCOR hierarchs and convent clergy and abbesses.

Owing to the weather, the traditional procession to the cemetery was not held, though Metropolitan Nicholas served the usual litia for members of the Russian Cadets.

After the service, a luncheon was held for the serving clergy, nuns, and servers in the parish hall.

Following their own Sunday services, local priests braved the weather to walk the cemetery grounds and serve litias at the request of the faithful.