On March 29, the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, and His Grace John, Bishop of Naro-Fominsk & Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City. The hierarchs were co-served by cathedral clerics: Archpriest Alexander Golubov, Protodeacon Igor Panachev, Deacons Rodion Shamazov and Mark Rashkov, as well as Protodeacon Vadim Gan (cleric of the neighboring Synodal Cathedral of the Sign).

Upon completion of the service, Bishop John warmly greeted Bishop Nicholas, and asked him to relay his thanks to Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, for giving his blessing to hold joint services in the churches of the Eastern American Diocese. Bishop Nicholas thanked Bishop John for the joy of their prayerful interaction, and wished His Grace and the clergy and parishioners of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA God’s aid in the remaining days of Great Lent. Bishop Nicholas addressed those gathered with a brief sermon on the ascetic labors and repentance of St. Mary of Egypt, whose memory the Church celebrated that Sunday, and called on the faithful to repent and better know themselves.

After the service, a luncheon was prepared in the cathedral refectory, during which the interaction between the archpastors and parishioners continued.