On Sunday, March 15, with the blessing of His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, and at the invitation of His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Manhattan; the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, His Grace John, Bishop of Naro-Fominsk celebrated the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. The hierarchs were co-served by Synodal clergy.

Upon completion of the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and faithful venerated the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.

Bishop Nicholas greeted Bishop John and thanked him for his shared prayer, especially underlining that the tradition of joint hierarchal services will continue in the future. In turn, Bishop John thanked Bishop Nicholas for the invitation to serve at the cathedral and his hospitality, and ask to pass along his gratitude to Metropolitan Hilarion for giving him a blessing to concelebrate the Divine Liturgy.

Brotherly interaction between the hierarchs continued after the service in the Synodal hall. They exchanged thoughts on various issues of interaction between the Patriarchal Parishes and the Eastern American Diocese. On the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, Bishops Nicholas and John will concelebrate at the Divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City.