On Wednesday, February 16, when the Holy Church honors the memory of the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Nicholas of Japan, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated Divine Liturgy on the occasion of his namesday in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

Concelebrating with His Grace were: Archimandrite Elevferiy (Skiba; dean of Our Lady "The Inexhaustible; Chalice" Church in Brooklyn, NY), Archpriests Andrei Sommer (cathedral dean), Mark Burachek (dean of the Hudson Valley), Alexandre Antchoutine (dean of New York City & Long Island), and Vasily Zelenyuk (deputy rector of Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church in Brooklyn), Abbots Arseny (Manko; rector of Sts. Cosmas & Damian Church in Passaic, NJ) and Zosimas (Krampis; rector of the Synodal English Mission), Priests Adrian Augustus (rector of Archangel Michael Church in Blacktown, NSW, Australia) and Pavel Rusakov (cleric of "Inexhaustible Chalice" Church), Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff (cathedral cleric), Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky and Deacon Nicholas Ilyin (clerics of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY), and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric).

Praying in the altar at Liturgy was Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada. The Synodal choir sang beautifully under the direction of conductor Vadim S. Gan.

Lying next to the icon of the Meeting of the Lord on the analogion was a remarkable image of the Holy Hierarch Nicholas of Japan, before which many parishioners and faithful of other churches in the city prayed, having gathered for Liturgy and to congratulate Bishop Nicholas.

Upon completion of the service, the clergy served a moleben to the Holy Hierarch Nicholas of Japan.

On behalf of the Synod of Bishops, Archbishop Gabriel congratulated Bishop Nicholas on his namesday, thanked him for his labors, and expressed his hope that soon the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, whose guardian Bishop Nicholas is – will soon resume her travels outside of America, including to Russia, and that she will continue to strengthen, heal, and help all who make haste to her in prayer. His Eminence wished Bishop Nicholas good health, strength, patience, and God’s speedy aid in his hierarchal service. The deacon intoned the Polychronion for His Grace.

Bishop Nicholas thanked Archbishop Gabriel for his kind words, and invited all to a festal luncheon.