On Sunday, August 25, on the threshold of the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY, where he performed several monastic tonsures.

The following were tonsure into the Lesser Schema:

• Nun Evdokia – with the name Elisabeth in honor of the Holy New-Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth, and
• Nun Vera – with the name Varvara in honor of the Holy Nun-Martyr Barbara, companion of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth.

Novice Nina was tonsured to the rassophore.

The newly tonsured sisters acquired the patronage of the saints in whose honor as they received their new monastic names. Metropolitan Nicholas congratulated the newly tonsured on accepting the angelic rank and addressed them with words of guidance on their path.

After the end of the service, the clergy, nuns, parishioners, and pilgrims present in the church congratulated Nuns Elisabeth, Varvara, and Nina with the traditional greeting: "Be saved in the angelic rank!"

On Tuesday the 27th and Wednesday the 28th of August, the great feast of the Dormition, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada arrived to officiate the divine services. On Tuesday evening, the All-Night Vigil was served with a litia around St. Seraphim Cathedral, followed by His Eminence blessing the five loaves, wheat, wine, and oil.

On Wednesday morning, the service began with an akathist to the Dormition of the Theotokos and the Lesser Blessing of Water; the greeting of the Archbishop followed. Concelebrating with His Eminence at the Divine Liturgy by convent clergy: cathedral dean Archpriest Alexander Fedorowski, Archimandrite Siluan (Lembei), Priest Artem Siss, and Deacon Alexey Pnev.

Together with the faithful, Abbess Makaria, rectress of Novo-Diveevo Convent, prayed at the divine service with the sisters.

The divine services were accompanied by the pious singing of the cathedral choir. Numerous parishioners confessed both during Vigil and before Divine Liturgy, in order to receive Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of Liturgy, Archbishop Gabriel congratulated the clergy, monastics, and parishioners of the convent on the occasion of its patronal feast day. He then delivered a sermon on the importance the Mother of God in our lives, as well as the significance of her holy Dormition.

A festal luncheon in the main dining room of the convent’s adult home, where His Eminence held a talk with the sisters and parishioners, and interaction continued throughout the day.