On Monday, January 15, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the convent’s main St. Seraphim Cathedral.

Before the start of the service, an akathist was read to Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, followed by a blessing of water. At the Sixth Hour, Metropolitan Nicholas tonsured Emad Swaqed a reader and then ordained him a subdeacon for service in St. George Church in Poughkeepsie, NY. There was a fair-sized contingent that came from this parish, including the priest and his family.

Concelebrating with the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad at Liturgy were: Archpriests Alexander Fedorowski (cathedral dean), Nectarios Alejilat (rector of St. George Church in Poughkeepsie), Elias Gorsky (rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY), George Zelenin (rector of St. Michael Church in Wayne, NJ), Vasily Zelenyuk (rector of Our Lady "Unexpected Joy" Church in Staten Island, NY), and George Temidis (secretary of the diocesan administration), Priests Artem Siss (convent cleric) and Alexei Klar (cleric of St. Xenia Church in Methuen, MA), Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, and Deacons Alexey Pnev (convent cleric) and Nicholas Ilyin (cleric of Holy Protection Church in Nyack).

Praying in church was the sisterhood of Holy Dormition Convent, led by Abbess Makaria, and a number of parishioners.

The choir sang beautifully under the direction of Alla Generalow.

The Metropolitan delivered a sermon on the importance of being able to gather with brotherly love and be able to pray together during such times. His Eminence noted that St. Seraphim abides in prayer with us through the relics in his holy icon. He thanked Abbess Makaria, Fr. Alexander, and all of the concelebrating clergy. He likewise expressed his congratulations to Subdeacon Emad and the parish of St. George, thanking our Arab Orthodox brothers and sisters for joining in prayer.

Metropolitan Nicholas noted that the day was an important one, as the anniversary of Fr. Serge Arlievsky’s ordination and of Mother Makaria’s installation as abbess.

The Polychronion was intoned for the abbess and sisters, as well as those celebrating their namesday.

On behalf of Abbess Makaria, Fr. Artem Siss thanked the First Hierarch for his archpastoral visit.

A festal luncheon was held afterward in the main convent hall. Following the meal, the young children of attendees of the convent performed a short Nativity Yolka with songs fitting the season.