On April 13, Thursday of Passion Week, the feast of the Mystical Supper, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, co-served by diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan. The hierarchs were co-served by the cathedral’s senior priest Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Hieromonks Zosimas (Krampis; rector of the Synodal English Mission of St. Sergius), Tikhon (Gayfudinov; abbot of Holy Protection Skete in Buena, NJ), and Nikolai (Letsin; cathedral cleric), Archpriest Ioann Chervinsky (cleric of the Diocese of Kursk), and Protodeacon Dionysius Lvov (cathedral cleric).

The choir sang prayerfully at Liturgy under the direction of conductor Peter Fekula. As has become customary in the Russian Orthodox Church, upon completion of the divine service, all of the faithful communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Metropolitan Hilarion called on the faithful to spend the final days of Passion Week in piety and repentance, in order that they might greet Christ’s Glorious Resurrection with spiritual joy.

After the service, many of the parishioners departed to prepare Paschal foods and floral arrangements to adorn the Shroud and cathedral.