On Great Thursday, April 17, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Serving alongside the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were cathedral clergy: dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Archpriest Seraphim Chemodakov, Hieromonk Theognost (Kogan), and Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky.

That evening, Metropolitan Nicholas officiated Matins with the reading of the Twelve Passion Gospels. A multitude of parishioners gathered to pray at one of the most solemn services of Great Lent and the liturgical cycle of the Church.

The divine services were held under the aegis of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.