On June 9, the 6th Sunday after Holy Pascha, that of the Blind Man, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan 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), Protosyncelli Pavel Niga and Veniamin Mutuzac (clerics of Putna Monastery in Romania), Archpriest Ioann Vash (cleric of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Uzhgorod, Ukraine), Archpriest Seraphim Chemodakov, Hieromonk Theognost (Kogan), and Protodeacons Nicolas Mokhoff and Serge Arlievsky (cathedral clerics), and Deacon Alexandre Sarandinaki (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ).

The Synodal choir sang marvelously 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 multitude of parishioners and guests of the cathedral communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries that day.

Upon completion of Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas once more greeted parishioners with the words: "Christ is Risen!" and addressed the faithful with a sermon on the Gospel reading of the blind man.

Cathedral dean Fr. Andrei Sommer then congratulated His Eminence on the occasion of the upcoming 10th anniversary of his hierarchal consecration (June 29). The elevation of Metropolitan Nicholas to the hierarchal dignity took place on the feast day of the Holy Hierarch John of Shanghai & San Francisco in Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral in San Francisco, CA, during the 20th anniversary celebrations of St. John’s glorification.

Fr. Andrei noted that the 13th All-Diaspora Youth Conference was taking place at that time in San Francisco, which saw the participation of 200 young people from around the world. Three youth choirs sang at the consecration and his first hierarchal Liturgy. Soon, the 14th All-Diaspora Youth Conference will take place in Germany, attended by 150 people from 11 countries. The youth will examine the theme of "Preserving our Orthodox Identity and Heritage in the Diaspora."

Fr. Andrei wished Metropolitan Nicholas strength and good health, presented him with bouquet of flowers, and gave him a list of participants of the youth conference, asking his holy prayers for them.

The choir then intoned the Polychronion for the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

A luncheon was organized in the cathedral hall for the clergy and faithful.