On March 13, the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, Bishop Irenei of London & Western Europe celebrated Divine Liturgy and performed the Rite of Orthodoxy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, co-served by Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan.

Serving alongside the hierarchs were: cathedral dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Priest Pavel Rusakov (cleric of Our Lady "The Inexhaustible Chalice" Church in Brooklyn, NY), Protodeacons Nicolas Mokhoff (cathedral cleric) and Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric). Praying in the altar during Liturgy 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.

The divine services were held under the aegis of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God – which the following week will depart to visit the parishes of the Diocese of Great Britain & Western Europe.

In keeping with tradition, a multitude of the faithful communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries after the first week of Great Lent.

Bishop Irenei greeted the faithful with the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, and addressed them with a  sermon in Russian and English.

Upon completion of Liturgy, the Rite of Orthodoxy was performed, led by Bishop Irenei. Having celebrated Liturgy in their own parishes, other clerics joined the cathedral clergy for the Rite of Orthodoxy: Archpriests Mark Burachek (dean of the Hudson Valley), Vasily Zelenyuk (cleric of Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church in Brooklyn, NY), and Alexndre Antchoutine (dean of New York City & Long Island), and Abbot Zosimas (Krampis; rector of St. Sergius English Mission at the Synodal Headquarters).

The cathedral sisterhood prepared a luncheon for all, during which the interaction of the clergy and parishioners continued.