NEW YORK: 8 April 2026
Palm Sunday at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady "of the Sign" in New York

On Sunday, April 5, 2026, the great feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) – His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady "of the Sign" in New York City, joined by His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Manhattan. The evening prior, on April 4, he officiated the all-night vigil and the blessing of palms together with Bishop Theodosius.

Serving alongside the hierarchs of the Church Abroad were cathedral clerics: Cathedral 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 Gan.

The divine services were held under the aegis of the Protrectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

The cathedral was filled with parishioners and faithful from other churches of the city. Most communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas greeted all with the feast, and addressed the worshipers with a homily, in which he said, in part:

"Christ sees each one of us and enters into our soul, into our heart, in order to conquer the sinful state that hinders us from loving our Lord Jesus Christ with our whole heart.

"We accept this, yet we do not always understand how to regenerate our soul, how to cast off the fallen man, how to enter into a new life, and how to grasp that for each of us, there is no death, but rather, life everlasting in Christ Jesus. I hope that we may grasp this with our whole hearts and not put the Lord to death through our own conduct and spiritual state.

"Thus did Martha and Mary love the Lord and always show Him attentiveness, warmth, and a welcoming home. We, too, can act in this way. How is this to be done? By praying without ceasing, by giving thanks to the Lord for all things. Everything is given to us, and these are lessons for our life within the Church. We must always rejoice in the opportunity to attain salvation with God, show kindness to our neighbors, and assist those who suffer."

His Eminence exhorted those present to give thanks to God at all times, to remain faithful Orthodox Christians, to strive for the salvation of their souls, and – both here on earth and after their departure from this world – to reign with our Lord unto the ages of ages.

In keeping with tradition, on the feast of the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem, Metropolitan Nicholas called on the faithful to donate toward the needs of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem and of those laboring in ascetic struggle in the Holy Land.

In the cathedral hall, the sisterhood hosted a festal meal for the clergy and faithful.

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