On January 4, the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ, that of the Holy Fathers, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Concelebrating with the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were cathedral clerics: Archpriest Seraphim Chemodakov, Hieromonk Theognost (Kogan), and Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky.

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

Numerous cathedral parishioners and believers from other churches prayed at the service, most of whom communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

After the service, His Eminence addressed the parishioners with a sermon, in which he said, in part:

"Today we commemorate the Holy Fathers of the Old Testament who participated in the Divine plan for mankind. We also heard the genealogy of Jesus Christ, we heard that Christ was born of a Virgin and comes from the tribe of David. The prophecy was fulfilled, and we have the opportunity to always be with Christ in our lives, to be with God. As the Holy Fathers say, God became man so that man might become God, that is – holy, sinless, pure, and radiant.

"After the genealogy of Jesus Christ, we heard about the great, wondrous event of Christ’s Nativity and how Joseph, the righteous husband of Mary, was troubled. He could not understand how she had become pregnant. He judged Mary, did not want to fully accept the Old Testament Law, and still wanted to put her away, not to know her, not to accept her as his wife. But an angel of the Lord appeared, calmed Joseph, and explained to him that the Son of God would be born of the Virgin Mary, by the Holy Spirit. Joseph accepted the command and continued to act as the Angel of God had commanded him.

"This often happens in our lives as well. We have our church affairs, but we doubt how to proceed, what decision to make, and we are often confused and think in a human, earthly way... But Righteous Joseph heard the angelic voice, and as the Most Blessed Metropolitan Anastassy said: ‘The voice within us is the voice of God.’ That is why we need to confess more often, in order to receive the angelic voice that is within us.

"I often reread a particular book by St. John of Kronstadt. There are wonderful words there that suit us today, so that we can accept God into our lives. The Righteous John writes: ‘A Christian should think of Heavenly things and not cling to the perishable good things of the world,’" noted Metropolitan Nicholas.

A lenten meal was served in the cathedral hall, where the fraternal fellowship of the clergy and parishioners continued.