On January 12, the Sunday of the Holy Ancestors of God (the feast of the Holy King David, Righteous Joseph the Betrothed, and Apostle James, Brother of the Lord), Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, co-served by Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan. Concelebrating with the hierarchs were cathedral clerics: dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Archpriest Edward Chervinsky, and Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff, as well as Deacon Nicholas Ilyin (cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY). An expanded Synodal choir sang prayerfully under the direction of Protodeacon Vadim Gan.

The service was held under the aegis of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. Most of those who came to pray also confessed their sins and communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of the service, Metropolitan Hilarion read aloud the Nativity Epistle of His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia.

On behalf of the hierarchs, the cathedral sisterhood prepared a Nativity reception for the clergy and faithful, during which they all enjoyed brotherly interaction, while the Synodal choir sang Christmas carols.