On Friday the 27th and Saturday the 28th of August, the clergy and faithful of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY celebrated the great feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. On Friday evening, convent clergy served the All-Night Vigil with a Litia, followed with the blessing of five loaves, wheat, wine, and oil.

Officiating Vigil was the dean of the convent’s St. Seraphim Cathedral, Archpriest Alexander Fedorowski, co-served by Archpriest Stefan Pavlenko (rector of the Church of All Russian Saints in Burlingame, CA) and convent clergy: Priests Artem Siss and Alexei Klar, Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky, and Deacon Nicholas Ilyin.

The following morning, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, arrived at Novo-Diveevo to spend the feast day with the clergy, nuns, and faithful of the convent and celebrate the convent’s patronal feast day. The service began with an akathist to the Dormition and lesser blessing of water, followed by the greeting of the Metropolitan.

Concelebrating with His Eminence was the above-mentioned clergy, joined by Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin), who accompanied the First Hierarch. The divine services were sung by the cathedral choir under the direction of Matushka Maria Fedorowski. A multitude of faithful confessed the previous evening, and more did so prior to the start of the Divine Liturgy, partaking of Holy Communion. Praying at Liturgy were the sisters of the convent, led by Abbess Makaria (Fadina).

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, a moleben was served with a procession was held around the cathedral.

The love of the Metropolitan for his flock was plain for all to see, as he paused to speak with everyone who approached to venerate the cross and receive his blessing.

At the conclusion of the service, the Polychronion was intoned to the clergy, nuns, and faithful. Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated them all with their patronal feast, and Fr. Alexander thanked His Eminence for their joint prayer, and invited all to a festal luncheon.