On Sunday, December 16, the feast of the Holy Hieromartyr Dionysius the Areopagite, Bishop of Athens, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. His Eminence was co-served by the cathedral’s senior priest Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Abbot Photius (Oulanov; cleric of Holy Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY), and cathedral Protodeacons Nicolas Mokhoff, Vadim Gan, and Dionysius Lvov. The divine service took place under the aegis of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, which had returned on the eve prior from her visitation to the dioceses and monasteries of Russia.

Praying at Liturgy was a group of pilgrims from the Kiev Caves Lavra, including clergy and laity.

Upon completion of the service, the Metropolitan announced a plate collection to benefit the Church Singers’ Conference. His Eminence noted that preservation of the majesty of the church services is just as important as preserving church buildings themselves.

Metropolitan Hilarion then announced to the clergy and faithful that the ROCOR Synod of Bishops had resolved to preserve the Synodal Headquarters and begin a restoration project. He noted that the cathedral’s façade had already been cleaned, repairs to the main staircase were nearly completed, and that repairs to the façade of the Synodal Headquarters itself were to begin in the near future. The funds necessary for this stage of the restoration have already been collected.

At a luncheon organized by the cathedral sisterhood, the pilgrims from Ukraine thanked Metropolitan Hilarion for the shared prayer and warm reception they had received. Upon completion of the luncheon, Fr. Andrei Sommer spoke about his pilgrimage to Mt. Athos and about the Millennium of Russian Presence on the Holy Mountain being celebrated this year.