On October 15, the 19th Sunday after Pentecost and the day when the Holy Church honors the memory of Sts. Cyprian and Justina, 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), Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric), and Deacon Nicholas Ilyin (cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY).

The choir sang the divine services beautifully under the direction of Vadim S. Gan. A multitude of parishioners prayed in church, most of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Masteries.

Upon completion of the service, His Eminence greeted those gathered with the feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, which had been celebrated the day before. He also congratulated cathedral dean Fr. Andrei Sommer with the anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

In his sermon, Metropolitan Nichoals noted, in part, that the Mother of God is the protectress of the Cathedral of the Sign.

"In the coming days, the Kursk Icon will be returning from the Chicago Diocese, and next Saturday the holy image will be in its case in its proper spot… We must pray to the Mother of God for peace in the whole world, but that peace begins within us. If we do not pray, if we sin, then what kind of peace will there be within us? That is why these resurrectional Sunday services help us to depart from the earthly world and just touch the peace of Heaven. So the Mother of God on the day of the Protection did bless those praying in Constantinople in the 10th century, and so she also blesses us now; but we do not see this, or feel it, or hear it, because of our sins. Let us cleanse our souls, our minds – and we will feel the blessing of the Most-Pure Mother of God."

Metropolitan Nicholas noted the important command of the Savior: "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" (Matthew 7:12).

"If we praise and lavish gifts on those who love us – where is the struggle in that? That is self-love. We seek praise, but the Lord tells us to love our enemies. And we must pray for all, for adults and for children, for those whom we have offended. We must defeat pride with repentance, with our good deeds, and must ourselves ask for prayerful support."

The cathedral sisterhood invited the clergy and faithful to a traditional luncheon.