On Sunday, July 12, the feast day of the Holy Supreme Leaders of the Apostles Peter and Paul, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was co-served by Synodal clergy: Archpriest Vasiliy Raskovskiy, Hieromonks Eutychius (Dovganyuk) and Tikhon (Gayfudinov), Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff, and Deacon Dionysius Lvov. A multitude of parishioners gathered in church for the honored feast – which concludes the Apostles’ Fast – a majority of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries. Singing at the services was the Synodal Cathedral choir, under the direction of Peter Fekula.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, His Eminence addressed the faithful with a sermon, in which he spoke on the life’s work of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The Metropolitan congratulated long-time Synodal choir conductor Peter Fekula on the occasion of his namesday, as well as all those bearing the names Peter and Paul. The protodeacon intoned the Polychronion for the namesday celebrants.

After the service, the cathedral brotherhood and sisterhood organized a fundraising picnic, aimed at collecting money to rebuild the staircase leading into the Cathedral of the Sign. Metropolitan Hilarion blessed this good undertaking and its participants, and himself took part in the event. At the picnic, interaction between the clergy and parishioners continued.