On May 11, the 4th Sunday of Pascha, that of the Paralytic, with the blessing of His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, a delegation from the Eastern American Diocese attended Divine Liturgy for the patronal feast of Sts. Cyril & Methodius Bulgarian Cathedral in New York City. Officiating Liturgy was His Grace Kliment, Bishop of Levski (vicar of the Bulgarian Diocese in the USA, Canada & Australia).

As the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was traveling to the Diocese of London & Western Europe, he asked that he be represented by the clerics of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ: rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski, and Reader George Rimakis. At His Eminence’s request, an icon of Venerable Herman of Alaska containing relics of the saint was presented as a gift to Metropolitan Joseph of America & Australia and Bishop Kliment.

Bishop Kliment performed the Bulgarian custom of the blessing of koliva on the occasion of the cathedral’s patronal feast.

After Liturgy, parish children sang and read special hymns in honor of the Holy Equals-of-the-Apostles Cyril & Methodius.