On September 4, the 12th Sunday after Pentecost, as the Holy Church continues to honor the Most Holy Theotokos in her Dormition, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Concelebrating with His Grace were: cathedral dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff (cathedral cleric), and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin; diocesan cleric).

Singing beautifully at Liturgy was the Synodal choir under the direction of conductor Vadim S. Gan.

A multitude of the faithful prayed at the divine services in the presence of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. Most of them communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of the service, Bishop Nicholas greeted all with the ongoing feast, and delivered a sermon on the Gospel reading: on the rich young man and the observance of God’s commandments.

His Grace also touched on the martyrs whose memory was being celebrated that day: Agathonicus, Zoticus, Theoprepius, Acindynus, Severian, and others. They suffered for Christ in the beginning of the 4th century. In The Lives of the Saints by the Holy Hierarch Demetrius of Rostov, it is said of the Martyr Agathonicus that, by his example, his words, and his life, he turned the Greek-speaking people away from idol-worship and directed their attention to Christ. These martyrs give us an example of how we ought to labor in casting off our idols, which distract us in our spiritual life. Bishop Nicholas called on the faithful to turn in prayer for help to these martyrs of Christ, and they will help us to grow in the spiritual life with humility.

In the church hall, the sisterhood prepared a delicious luncheon for the clergy and parishioners.