On Thursday, July 18, the feast of the Finding of the Relics of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York led the patronal feast day of the English Mission at St. Sergius Chapel in the Synodal Headquarters in New York City. The patronal feast of the chapel itself is celebrated on October 8, while July 18 traditionally marks the patronal feast of the English Mission. For five years now, the English Mission has been nourished by Abbot Zosimas (Krampis).

The festal Liturgy was served in English. Concelebrating with His Eminence were Archpriest Dimitri Jakimowicz (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Stratford, CT), Abbot Nicodemus (Balyasnikov; cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City), Fr. Zosimas, Priest Richard Stoecker (mission cleric), Protodeacon Vadim Gan (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign), Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin), and Deacon John Peters (cleric of St. Nicholas Cathedral).

The mission choir sang the divine service. Upon completion of Liturgy, a multitude of the faithful communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

In his sermon, Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated the clergy and parishioners with their patronal feast, calling on them to continue to venerate St. Sergius of Radonezh – the patron not only of the Russian land, but of all Orthodox Christians, to support the mission and spread the Orthodox Faith among the English-speaking people of New York.

After Liturgy, a festal luncheon was served for all in the cathedral hall.