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On Wednesday December 10, the patronal feast day of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City – the feast of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign,” His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern American & New York, led the divine services in the cathedral. The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was co-served by members of the Synod of Bishops, who were holding a regular session of the Synod on December 8th:
-Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany & Great Britain;
– Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco & Western America;
– Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada;
– Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese;
– Bishop Irenei of Sacramento, Vicar of the Western American Diocese as well as
His Grace Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA.
The Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Archpriest George Konyev and Archpriest Mikhail Kapchits, rector of St. Nicholas Church in Bayonne NJ, joined the multitude of Synodal clergy who flocked to the cathedral for the feast.
During the Communion of the clergy, Bishop John delivered a sermon detailing the great history of the Kursk-Root Icon.
Upon completion of the service, the hierarchs and clergy served a thanksgiving moleben before the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. Afterwards, Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated the clergy and parishioners of the cathedral on the occasion of the patronal feast day.
A bountiful lenten luncheon was prepared in the cathedral hall by the sisterhood.
