On the eve of Passion Week, Saturday, April 4, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, celebrated the Liturgy for Lazarus Saturday in Holy Dormition Convent Novo-Diveevo in Nanuet, NY, returning to the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City to serve the All-Night Vigil that evening and Divine Liturgy the following morning for the feast of the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday). The following evening, April 5, Bishop Nicholas performed the Sacrament of Holy Unction in Holy Protection Church in Nyack, NY – his eighth time leading the Sacrament during Great Lent.

On Monday, April 6, the eve of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, His Grace led the All-Night Vigil in the Synodal Cathedral, and on the very day of the feast, Tuesday, April 7, led the patronal feast day of Holy Annunciation Church in Flushing, NY. Bishop Nicholas was co-served by Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine (member of the Diocesan Council), Archpriest Igor Tarasov (rector of St. George’s Church in Bayside, NY), Priest Ion Arama (parish rector), Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff (Synodal cleric), and Deacons Serguei Mikhailov (parish cleric) and Vladimir Barros (cleric of Holy Virgin Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY). Upon completion of the Liturgy and the communing of a multitude of the faithful, a short moleben was served to the Most Holy Theotokos. Bishop Nicholas congratulated the clergy and parishioners with the feast of the Annunciation, and reminded them of the necessity of always thanking God for the life that He has given us, and for His help in the salvation of our souls. After Liturgy, a lenten luncheon was prepared for the clergy and parishioners.

On Great Wednesday, April 8, Bishop Nicholas celebrated the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in the Synodal Cathedral, and that same evening traveled to JFK Airport to greet the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, which was returning from a visit to the Diocese of Australia & New Zealand. The holy Icon was accompanied to the U.S. from Australia by Hieromonk Nektarios (Merry), cleric of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV.

On Great Thursday, April 9, Bishop Nicholas led the concelebration of the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great in the Synodal Cathedral, in the presence of the Kursk Root Icon. That same evening, he led the Matins service with the Reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels. The following day, His Grace led the services of Great and Holy Friday: the Bringing out of the Shroud and the Rite of Burial.

On Great Saturday, April 11, Bishop Nicholas celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral, after which the cathedral sisterhood and brotherhood, joined by volunteers from among the faithful, decorated the church in anticipation of the glorious feast of Christ’s Pascha. They also prepared meals – the Pascha dinner for the clergy and faithful, and a meal for the reception to follow later that day, hosted by the vicar bishop.

The Paschal services began with the greeting of the bishop at 11:15 PM, after which the Midnight Office was served. At midnight, the Paschal procession of clergy and parishioners began. At the doors to the cathedral, the long-awaited words rang out in many languages: "Christ is Risen!" and the multitude of the faithful responded, "Truly He is Risen!" Bishop Nicholas noted how joyful it was to see so many more of the faithful in the cathedral and the courtyard than in years past, the vast majority of whom remained in the church until the end of Divine Liturgy and communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

His Grace, Bishop Nicholas, was co-served by cathedral clergy: senior priest Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Archpriest Vasiliy Raskovskiy, Hieromonk Eutychius (Dovganyuk), Protodeacons Nicolas Mokhoff and Vadim Gan, and Deacon Nazari Fataliev. At the festal divine services, the expanded hierarchal choir sang under the direction of conductor Peter Fekula.

The Liturgy for the Feast of Feasts proceeded especially triumphally. Bishop Nicholas read the Catechetical Homily of St. John Chrysostom; the cries of "Christ is Risen!" sounded out in Greek, English, French, and Slavonic. His Grace read part of the prayers of the Eucharistic Canon in Japanese, which was a pleasant surprise for all.

Around 400 Orthodox Christians prayed at the festal Paschal Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral, and the faithful were communed from three chalices. Upon completion of the service, the Artos was blessed, and a Paschal dinner was offered in the cathedral hall for the clergy and parishioners. Bishop Nicholas greeted those gathered, and a short moleben was served in the tradition of the Synodal Cathedral. The cathedral’s senior priest, Archpriest Andrei Sommer, wished all of the clergy and faithful true Paschal joy. In his own sermon, His Grace wished for all Orthodox to rejoice all the days of their life, praying and thanking the Risen Christ for His mercies to us, and supporting and comforting one another. He noted also his great joy and gratitude toward the Lord, for giving him the opportunity to be and serve there, surrounded by Synodal clergy and parishioners.

On Sunday evening, Bishop Nicholas led the Paschal Vespers, after which he invited clergy and parishioners to join him in celebrating the great and radiant feast.

On Tuesday, April 14, the third day of Pascha, His Grace, Bishop Nicholas, celebrated the hierarchal festal Liturgy, co-served by Archpriests Andrei Sommer, Serafim Gan (chancellor of the Synod of Bishops), and Vasiliy Raskovskiy, Abbot Cornelius (Apukhtin; acting rector of Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY), Hieromonk Zosimas (Krampis; Synodal cleric), Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff. The third day of Pascha at the cathedral proceeded prayerfully and joyfully.