NEW YORK: 4 September 2025
Services of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

On Sunday, August 24, 2025, the 11th week after Pentecost and the feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, led Divine Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York City. His Eminence was assisted by the Cathedral Dean, Archpriest Andrei Sommer, and the cathedral clergy. During Liturgy, the Synodal Choir performed under the direction of conductor Vadim Gan.

At the end of the service, Vladyka Nicholas congratulated the clergy and the worshipers on the ongoing celebration of the Transfiguration of the Lord and said in his sermon, in particular:

"In the celebration of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Lord showed His Divine glory to His disciples. This was meant to strengthen them during the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ. This wondrous event occurred 40 days before the Passion of Christ, and we celebrate it 40 days before the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

“This strengthens us, reminds us that we will have eternal life if we accept everything given to us here on earth: both pleasant things and troubles – and overcome them with prayer to God. We should develop good qualities within ourselves: understanding of each other and a Christian life, and the Lord during His preaching instructed not only the apostles but all of us how to live. And today we heard one such example from the Lord Himself, in which He explains the meaning of the parable.

“There was a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants who owed him money. One servant came to him who owed the king a large sum – 10,000 talents, but he could not repay it and begged for more time. The king showed mercy and completely forgave his debt. That servant went out and saw a friend who owed him 100 denaria – an insignificant amount compared to what the servant owed the king. Forgetting his own experience, he did not forgive his friend and demanded the full repayment of the debt.

“We often hear the words that God is love. But as we understood today, the Lord is a righteous Judge: He can both forgive and punish a person... Therefore, let us strive to behave worthily, not only to forgive but also to be able to ask for forgiveness ourselves. And thus there will be peace within us and throughout the world.”

The day before the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Metropolitan Nicholas explained how the procession with the Shroud of the Mother of God takes place in Jerusalem according to local custom.

On Thursday, August 28, on the feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, Metropolitan Nicholas arrived at the Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" to celebrate the patronal feast of the monastery with the monastics, clergy, and believers. He brought with him the relics of Saint Tikhon, All-Russian Patriarch-Confessor, for the faithful to venerate. The service began with an akathist to the Dormition of the Theotokos with the small blessing of water; then there was a meeting of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. During the Divine Liturgy at the Seraphim Cathedral, His Grace was joined by the Senior Priest Protopresbyter Alexander Fedorovsky and the monastic clergy.

After Divine Liturgy, a procession of the cross took place to the Dormition Church of the monastic complex, where a prayer service was held. The worship concluded with the proclamation of many years to Abbess Makaria and the sisters of the monastery. The hierarch then congratulated Fr Alexander, who celebrated his 95th birthday the day before, and wished him God's blessing, health, and strength to continue his works.

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