On Sunday, August 17, the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, when the Holy Church honors the memory of the Seven Youths of Ephesus, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, celebrated Divine Liturgy 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 Protodeacons Nicolas Mokhoff and Serge Arlievsky, as well as Priest Georgy Mashtaler (rector of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Luxembourg).

The Synodal choir sang at Liturgy under the direction of choirmaster Vadim S. Gan.

Parishioners of the cathedral and believers from other churches prayed during the service, and many received Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Nicholas intoned the Polychronion for His Beatitude Onuphry, Metropolitan of Kiev & All Ukraine, on the occasion of the anniversary of his enthronement, and for long-time member of the Synodal choir, the magnificent bass Anatoli Panchoshny, on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

Addressing parishioners with a sermon, His Eminence spoke about the life of the Youths of Ephesus and said, in part:

"On this Sunday, we honor the memory of these wonderful saints – the Youths of Ephesus. These young people glorified the Lord – and the Lord glorified them. At the end of the 3rd century, during the reign of the cruel and idolatrous Emperor Decius, there lived seven youths – the children of noble parents – who were known to be Christians. One day, they were brought before Emperor Decius, so that he could instruct them on how properly to worship the idols. The emperor suggested that they bow down before the idols, but they replied that they professed Christ. The emperor stripped them of all honors, suspended their service in the imperial court, and gave them time to think about their actions, that they might return to him and worship the idols.

"The youths decided to leave the city and hide in a cave, where they prayed together. They did not return to the emperor, and Decius sent men to look for them. Someone knew where the youths were hiding in the cave. The emperor sent servants to shut up the cave entrance with stones, and the Lord sent the youths a deep sleep. After 200 years, they awoke. At that time, the owner of the land where the cave was located was going to expand it, and the stones were rolled away from the cave. The awakened youths prepared to go to the emperor, to confess the Christian Faith before him. The youngest of them went to the city to buy bread, so that, upon returning, he could go with the rest to the emperor.

"When he came to the city, the youth was surprised to see a large cross at the gate. He could not understand why there would be a cross at the gate, not knowing that in the 6th century the persecution of Christians had already ceased, old churches were being restored, and new ones were being built. He did not recognize anyone in the city. He paid for the bread with a coin bearing the image of Emperor Decius. The merchants, seeing the ancient coin, were surprised and asked him where he had gotten it.

"Emperor Theodosius the Younger ruled at that time. He was told about the youths. People at that time still misunderstood the resurrection of the dead. They came to the cave, where the youths told them that they had fallen asleep 200 years prior, and that there would still be a general resurrection from the dead.

"The Seven Holy Youths fearlessly confessed their faith – this is a living example for us of how young people should confess the Christian Faith and support one another. This should be the case among our young people: they should study and discuss Church history, Church life, and live in Christian piety. The Youths of Ephesus inspire us today: their lives are a clear instruction on how to confess the Christian Faith.

"Let us hearken to the words of Venerable Barsanuphius of Optina, which show us what prayer is and how to pray. St. Barsanuphius says: ‘We cannot demand prayerful raptures from God – prayerful labor is required of us, and joys are sent from God when it pleases God and is good for us. So, let us pray to Him and rely in everything on His holy will. Let us ask, but accept what the Lord gives us, when what we ask for is for salvation.’"

Fr. Andrei Sommer then served a panihida for long-time Synodal choir member Oleg Trofimenko on the first anniversary of his repose.

A traditional lenten luncheon was served in the cathedral hall