On February 16, the Sunday of the Prodigal Son and the feast of the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Nicholas, Archbishop of Japan, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City on the occasion of his namesday.

Concelebrating with the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were:, Archbishop Longin of New Gracanica & Chicago, Metropolitan of Midwestern America (Serbian Orthodox Church); Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada, Bishop Clement of Leuce (Bulgarian Orthodox Church), and Bishop Jerome (Shaw), as well as the dean of the Cathedral of the Sign, Archpriest Andrei Sommer, cathedral clerics, Eastern American Diocesan and visiting clergy.

Liturgy was held under the aegis of the myrrh-streaming Iveron "Hawaiian" Icon of the Mother of God, which was accompanied to the cathedral by its guardian, the rector of the eponymous church in Hawaii, Priest Nectariso Yangson. With the blessing of Metropolitan Nicholas, Fr. Nectarios spent two weeks on pilgrimage with the icon to the churches of the Diocese and visited Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. At Liturgy, a multitude of the faithful who had gathered to congratulate the Metropolitan on his namesday were able to pray before this holy icon, which abundantly streamed myrrh throughout the Liturgy.

The Synodal choir sang beautifully during the service under the direction of conductor Vadim S. Gan. The All-Night Vigil was sung by the Youth Choir "Pohvala" under the direction of Gregory Ivanov. 

Upon conclusion of the service, the clergy held a moleben to the Holy Hierarch Nicholas of Japan.

Metropolitan Nicholas thanked the Lord Jesus Christ for the opportunity to celebrate Liturgy together, honor the memory of the Holy Hierarch Nicholas, and ask God for help in his further service to the Holy Church.

On behalf of the Synod of Bishops, Archbishop Gabriel congratulated the First Hierarch on his namesday, briefly speaking about the missionary work that the Equal-of-the-Apostles St. Nicholas carried out in Japan over the course of 50 years, and noted that the parishes of the Diocese are now actively being replenished with English-speaking flocks, those people who have come to Orthodoxy in search of the truth. Archbishop Gabriel wished Metropolitan Nicholas God’s aid in the vineyard of Primatial service, missionary education, and care for the Church Abroad.

Metropolitan Longin joined in the congratulatory words of Archbishop Gabriel, wished the First Hierarch good health, prosperity, and many years, and presented Metropolitan Nicholas with a portrait of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla; +2008).

Bishop Nicholas thanked the archpastors for their kind words and prayers, and also greeted Bishop Clement, who was recently appointed to care for the Bulgarian flock in America and who came to serve in the Synodal Cathedral for the first time, noting that he first met Bishop Clement in Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives.

The First Hierarch asked for the prayers of the archpastors, clergy, and faithful so that in the future, as one Orthodox family, they could save their souls and enlighten many people with the saving Gospel truth.

Metropolitan Nicholas also thanked Fr. Nectarios for the long journey he had made from Hawaii with the icon to lift the spirits and offer consolation to the diocesan faithful.

A festal meal was held in the cathedral hall, during which many kind words and well-wishes were offered to His Eminence. The chancellor of the Synod of Bishops, Archpriest Serafim Gan, read aloud the several greetings that were addressed to the Metropolitan.

On behalf of the Fund for Assistance to ROCOR, Andrew Maximow presented the First Hierarch with an icon of the Holy Hierarchs John of Shanghai & San Francisco, Innocent of Moscow, and Nicholas of Japan. The icon was commissioned in honor of the 10th anniversary of Metropolitan Nicholas’ hierarchal consecration and the 30th anniversary of the saints’ glorifications in 2024. The icon is the work of Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski.