On January 12, the 29th Sunday after Pentecost, that after the Nativity of Christ, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Serving alongside His Eminence were cathedral clerics: Archpriests Andrei Sommer (dean) and Seraphim Chemodakov, Hieromonk Theognost (Kogan), and Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky.

The choir sang beautifully under the direction of Vadim S. Gan.

The service was held under the protection of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. Numerous believers prayed at Liturgy, many of whom received Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas addressed the faithful with a sermon, in which he spoke about the life of the Infant Christ and those who surrounded Him.

"Joseph the Betrothed is an example for all men, for all husbands – to protect their family, to lead a family life correctly and with love, to direct the family to Christ. King David, who wrote the Psalter, gives us an example of how to repent for our sins. James, the brother of the Lord, who became the first bishop of Jerusalem, composed the Liturgy, which is served on his feast. Through his labors, he glorified God and remained faithful to Him until the end of his life.

"…On the fifth day of feast of Christ’s Nativity, we also remember special martyrs – the innocent children; we remember the 14 thousand innocently killed infants. King Herod knew that Christ was born, and, thinking in an earthly man, he was afraid of losing his kingdom. The Magi, having worshiped the Infant God, did not return to Herod. They knew that Herod wanted to kill Jesus Christ, and returned to their country another way. And then the wrothful king decided to kill all children two years of age and younger.

"But no force can destroy and remove God from our lives. In Bethlehem there is a cave where the remains of some of the babies killed then are kept. We know that we have angelic protectors in Heaven. And Herod died a terrible death.

"Joseph the Betrothed and the Holy Family, having learned that Herod had died and his son had ascended the throne, were afraid to return to Judæa, where it was unsafe, and settled in the modest city of Nazareth, where humble people lived. Jesus Christ was raised there and later went out to preach.

"The Holy Family gives us an example for life – to act wisely and understand that we need to be where our Christians of like mind with us live.

"There were excavations in the city and scientists found the place where Joseph the Betrothed, the Mother of God, and the infant Jesus Christ lived. There they prayed and glorified God. So in our troubled times, we need to find a quiet place, set up our own hearth, our own red corner at home and pray there, moving away from the vain world, calmly but firmly glorifying God, as Joseph the Betrothed and the Mother of God did."

The cathedral sisterhood invited everyone to a traditional meal, during which the clergy and parishioners continued their interaction.