On September 15, the 12th Sunday after Pentecost, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, concelebrated by Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada. Serving alongside the hierarchs were cathedral clerics: dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Archpriest Seraphim Chemodakov, Hieromonk Theognost (Kogan), and Protodeacons Nicolas Mokhoff and Serge Arlievsky.

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

Many parishioners partook of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Archbishop Gabriel addressed those present with a sermon on the Gospel reading of the rich young man, in which he said, in part:

"The Lord points out that it is difficult for a rich man to be saved. And then the disciples ask Him in amazement why. After all, at that time, wealth was considered a blessing from God. But Christ meant that if a person cannot renounce earthly goods and follow the Savior, then it is indeed difficult for him to be saved. The Lord does not condemn wealth, and a rich man can be saved if he lives righteously, if he is not a slave to his wealth, but can share it with others, can do good deeds with the wealth with which the Lord has rewarded him. But if a person is a slave to wealth and strives to become richer and acquire more, then this is not salvific for him.

"And this applies not only to wealth, but also to any human passion that prevents him from comprehending God and getting closer to Him, thinking about the salvation of his soul. There are different passions that people also cannot renounce; something that humanity prefers today. The same can be said about such a passion, as if there is no afterlife, no eternity. If a person thinks so mistakenly, then, of course, he cares only about the earthly, about how to satisfy earthly passions.

"But, as we know, the young man who approached Christ had everything, but he also felt a spiritual need, and yet he was not ready to part with his wealth. This applies to any person who prefers the earthly to the spiritual, to God. In the first place, he will have a vacuum, and he will always be dissatisfied and will be restless. And we must not forget about this. We must follow Christ, think about the transience of earthly life, spend it worthily, and inherit what the Lord has prepared for us."

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