On March 17, Cheesefare Sunday (also called Forgiveness Sunday, the Commemoration of Adam’s expulsion from Paradise), Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Concelebrating with the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were: Archpriest Andrei Sommer (cathedral dean) and Archpriest Seraphim Chemodakov and Protodeacons Nicolas Mokhoff and Serge Arlievsky (cathedral clerics).

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

The service was held under the aegis of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. A large number of cathedral parishioners gathered to pray on the eve of Great Lent. Most of these communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of the service, His Eminence addressed those gathered with a Great Lenten Epistle.

In the cathedral hall, the sisterhood prepared a festal bliny luncheon. Artists from Ensemble Barynya performed for the clergy and parishioners.

That evening, Vespers with the Rite of Forgiveness was served in the cathedral, officiated by Metropolitan Nicholas.