On Thursday, June 10, the great feast of the Ascension of the Lord, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were: cathedral dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Archpriest Edward Chervinsky and Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff (cathedral clerics), and Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (cleric of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY). Praying in the altar was Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. The Synodal choir sang beautifully under the direction of conductor Vadim S. Gan.

Liturgy was held under the aegis of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. Despite its being a weekday, a multitude of parishioners prayed at the service, many of whom confessed their sins and communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of Liturgy, Archbishop Gabriel delivered a sermon on the feast.