On Sunday, August 9, the feast day of the Holy Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon and Venerable Herman of Alaska, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Concelebrating with the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were cathedral dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Archpriest Edward Chervinsky, Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff, and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin).

The service was held under the aegis of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. The choir sang under the direction of Protodeacon Vadim Gan.

Upon completion of Liturgy, Fr. Andrei read Metropolitan Hilarion’s epistle on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the glorification of Venerable Herman of Alaska to the clergy and flock. 

Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated the faithful with the feast and spoke about the life of St. Panteleimon. His Eminence called on them to remember that the Holy Healer Panteleimon will always be our prayerful intercessor, and is ready to help in any illnesses or misfortunes that may befall us.

The Metropolitan congratulated Fr. Panteleimon with his namesday, and wished him God’s aid and many years of service to the Holy Church. The protodeacon then intoned the Polychronion for all of the namesday celebrants.