On Friday, July 18, when the Holy Church celebrates the Finding of the Relics of Venerable Sergius, Abbot of Radonezh, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in honor of the patronal feast of St. Sergius English Mission at the Synodal Headquarters in New York City.

Serving alongside the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were: Archpriest Serafim Gan (chancellor of the Synod of Bishops), Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine (Dean of New York City & Long Island), Abbot Zosimas (Krampis; parish rector), Abbot Silouan (Justiniano; deputy abbot of St. Dionysios the Areopagite Monastery in St. James, NY), Hieromonk Vasileios (Willard; abbot of the same), and Protodeacon Sergius of Arlievsky (cleric of the Synodal cathedral).

At the Hours, Metropolitan Nicholas tonsured parishioner Daniel Forbs a reader for St. Sergius Mission Church.

The parish choir sang the divine service under the direction of Timothy Morrow. Many parishioners of the church, as well as believers from other churches in the city and neighboring states, gathered to honor the memory of the saint.

For their zealous service to the church and the parish, Metropolitan Nicholas awarded active parishioners Nicholas Richard and Steven Gordon with Synodal gramotas.

Virtually all the parishioners received Christ’s Holy Mysteries on this festal day. His Eminence and the clergy served a short moleben to Venerable Sergius before the icon of the saint.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas greeted the clergy and faithful with the feast and in his sermon said, in part:

"St. Sergius is often called the abbot of the Russian land. He is also the abbot of our church, where services are held every day – morning and evening. Every day – with rare exception – the troparion of the saint is sung here. And we must thank God that we have a church where we can come and pray every day.

"The famous Russian historian Vasily Klyuchevsky wrote of St. Sergius that he was not just a historical figure, but ‘he was the driving force of the Russian land in the 14th century.’ He set an example for us how to live, how to think, and how to pray. It is no coincidence that churches dedicated to him have been built all over the world: in Europe, in Australia, in California…

"He was a simple monk who prayed, silently fulfilled his obediences, and those who yearned for the monastic life wanted to work together with him – novices came to him, and later his disciples founded monasteries all over Russia and continued to live according to the saint’ precepts: they prayed, labored, and showed love for God and the Most Holy Theotokos. Monastic life continues in these monasteries today, especially in the Holy Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad, though whole centuries have now passed."

His Eminence reminded those present that on this day we also honor the memory of the Venerable Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna and Nun Barbara.

Metropolitan Nicholas called on believers to always have before them the examples of the life of St. Sergius and the nun-martyrs.

At the end of the service, a festal meal was held, during which the clergy and faithful continued their interaction.