On February 25, the Sunday of the Publican n& the Pharisee, and the date when the Church honors the memory of the Holy Hierarch Alexis of Moscow, Wonderworker of All Russia, Metropolitan Nicholas o Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Concelebrating with the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were cathedral clerics: dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Hieromonk Theognost (Kogan), and Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky.

The Synodal choir sang at Liturgy under the direction of conductor Vadim S. Gan.

Parishioners and faithful from other churches in the city gathered to pray at the service and before the Protectress of the Russin Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. Most of these communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of the service, His Eminence, underscoring the importance of receiving Communion, called on those present to thank the Lord for giving us the opportunity to unite with Him; to pray and to ask for help in having the chance to eliminate the divide between God and man, between "me and Thee."

"We have entered into a special time in the ecclesiastical year – we are preparing for Great Lent. Today, according to the calendar, we also honor the memory of the Holy Hierarch Alexis of Moscow. We pray to him and to all the saints that they also pray before God on our behalf.

"Today’s Gospel reading tells us about how a publican and a pharisee came to the temple to pray. And here we are given a special lesson in preparation for Great Lent and Holy Pascha – Christ’s Resurrection: a lesson on how we ought not to be prideful, but to humble ourselves, to ask forgiveness of God and likewise not to forget the prayer of the publican: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’

In advance of the Fast, Metropolitan Nicholas called on the faithful to seek that firm strength of faith, in order to glorify our God, to be cleansed of all sins and iniquities, and to hold a conversation with God: fleeing to prayer, which fortifies us.

Fr. Andrei Sommer then served a panihida for long-time cathedral warden Prince Vladimir Kirillovich Galitzine, who reposed in the Lord on February 22, 2018.

A luncheon was held in the cathedral hall.