On August 13, the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, the forefeast of the Procession of the Precious Wood of the Life-Creating Cross of the Lord, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Concelebrating with His Eminence were: Archpriest Andrei Sommer (cathedral dean), Archpriest Nectarios Alejilat (rector of St. George Church in Poughkeepsie, NY), Priest George Temidis (secretary of the diocesan administration), Hieromonk Theognost (Kogan; cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY), Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff (cathedral cleric), and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric).

Singing at Liturgy was the Synodal choir under the direction of conductor Vadim S. Gan.

The cathedral was filled with worshippers; also praying at Liturgy were faithful Jordanians. Most of the faithful communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of Liturgy, on the eve of the Dormition Fast, Metropolitan Nicholas addressed parishioners with a sermon on the Gospel reading from Matthew, in which he said, in part:

"We heard today how the apostles were not able to heal the demoniac, though they had instruction from Jesus Christ. The Lord, meanwhile, immediately heals this man and explains to the apostles that their faith is weak, and that ‘this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting’ (Matthew 17:21). If we want to save our souls, we need to prepare for this – by prayer and fasting. This is the commandant of our Savior. These words of His must be heard, and lived by simply, but firmly.

"The Holy Hierarch John Chrysostom, our great hierarch, says of fasting: ‘Fasting elevates a man to the heavens, puts him before Christ, and introduces him into communication with the saints.’

"So it can be with us, as well, that fasting might raise us higher, closer to God – to a place where Christ is, into communion with the saints. And we need to learn to pray to the Mother of God and to the saints – that is, to have spiritual conversation with them. And when we fast, prayer comes more easily."

His Eminence also reminded the faithful that this day marked the 56th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla; +2008), then-archimandrite and abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, as Bishop of Manhattan. Metropolitan Nicholas also shared some of his memories of Metropolitan Laurus at a luncheon organized by the cathedral sisterhood in the church hall upon completion of the service. "Memory Eternal" was intoned for Metropolitan Laurus.