On Friday, April 5, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY, where he celebrated the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at the convent’s St. Seraphim Cathedral.

The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad prayed in the altar during the reading of the Hours, and was then greeted at the entrance to the cathedral and vested for the beginning of Liturgy. Concelebrating with His Eminence were:

• Archpriest Alexander Fedorowski (cathedral dean)
• Archimandrite Elevferiy (Skiba; dean of Our Lady "The Inexhaustible Chalice" Church in Brooklyn, NY)
• Archpriest Elias Gorsky (rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY)
• Archpriest Mark Burachek (senior priest of the convent)
• Hieromonk Laurus (Solomonov; cleric of "Inexhaustible Chalice" Church)
• Archpriest George Zelenin (convent cleric)
• Priest Andrew Podymow (cleric of Holy Protection Church in Nyack)
• Priest Artem Siss (convent cleric)
• Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City)
• Deacon Alexey Pnev (convent cleric), and
• Deacon Nicholas Ilyin (cleric of Holy Protection Church in Nyack).

Praying at Liturgy were the sisters of the convent, led by Abbess Makaria (Fadina). The choir sang prayerfully under the direction of Matushka Maria Fedorowski.

Despite its being a workday, a fair number of the faithful attended the service, most of whom confessed their sins and received Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of the service, Metropolitan Nicholas addressed the faithful with a sermon, as well as reminded them of the upcoming feast of the Annunciation and how special it is that this year the feast coincides with the Sunday of the Cross, the third weekend of Lent. He instructed them to pray to the Most Holy Mother of God to give us all strength to endure for another three weeks of Lent, after which the Holy Days will be upon us, and then the joy of Pascha. In these troublesome times, we should turn to the Most Holy Theotokos and pray.

His Eminence thanked the clergy that came to pray with him, the abbess and sisters for praying, and the choir for their singing.

Following the service, a Lenten brunch was held in the convent’s dining hall.