Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York celebrates Nativity services at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign”
Festal services for the Nativity of Christ were held in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. On Wednesday evening, January 6, 2021, an all-night vigil was officiated by Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, co-served by Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada and Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan – and on Thursday, January 7, Metropolitan Hilarion celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by Bishop Nicholas, as well as cathedral clergy: Cathedral Dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Archpriest Edward Chervinsky, Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff, and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin). The Synodal choir sang marvelously under the direction of conductor Vadim S. Gan.
In keeping with tradition, the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora - the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God - was present for the Nativity services. Despite its being a weekday, a great multitude of cathedral parishioners (following sanitary protocols) prayed at the divine services. Most of these confessed and communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.
Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion greeted all with the radiant feast of Christ’s Nativity, and read aloud the Nativity Epistle of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia.
