Triumph of Orthodoxy in the Cathedrals of the Russian Diaspora

His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus performed all the traditional services during the first week of Great Lent at Holy Trinity Monastery. On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, His Eminence performed Divine Liturgy along with the monastic clergy, the teachers of Holy Trinity Seminary and visiting clergymen; following this was the Rite of Orthodoxy, intoned by Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk.

On the day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney and the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand performed Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul in Stratfield, near Sydney, and on the eve, prayed during all-night vigil at the church of the Diocesan Administration, which is also the residence of His Eminence Vladyka. On Sunday, Archbishop Hilarion was joined in service by the local clergymen. The Rite of Orthodoxy was intoned by Deacon Alexander Kotliaroff.

Services during first week of Great Lent were held in great solemnity at the Cathedral of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow," headed by His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America. The Cathedral contains the uncorrupted relics of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco (Maximovich, +1966). At the end of Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, during which the Holy Gifts were administered from two chalices, the rite of Orthodoxy was intoned by Protodeacon Vitaly Sabelnik.

Divine Liturgy at Holy Virgin Protection Church in Chicago (Des Plaines) was headed by His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland, Vicar of the Diocese of Chicago and Detroit. His Eminence Archbishop Alypy of Chicago and Detroit prayed in the altar and communed of the Holy Gifts together with the clergy of the Cathedral. During the Rite of Orthodoxy, intoned by Deacon Julian Miloradovich, His Grace Bishop Peter sat on the cathedra, holding the dichirios and trichirios and lowering them during each "anathema," as was the custom before the revolution in several cathedrals of Russia, and in San Francisco as well. At the end of service, the solemn hymn of St Ambrose of Milan, "Tebe Boga hvalim" ["We praise Thee, o God"] was sung with great inspiration under the direction of Reader Michael Gill.

All the services of Clean Week were conducted according to the rule at the Synodal Cathedral in New York. His Grace Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan conducted all of the services on the first three days, officiating at the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts on Wednesday, while the choir sang under the inspired direction of Irina Mozyleva. On Clean Friday, the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts was conducted by Protopriest Andrei Sommer and Priest Michael Amelchenya, Priest Serafim Gan and Priest Akim Provatakis. On the day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, His Grace Bishop Gabriel performed Divine Liturgy along with the Cathedral's clergymen, including Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff, who intoned the Rite of Orthodoxy. Protopriest Wsewolod Dutikow of Holy Trinity Church in Astoria arrived for the Rite, along with Priest Alexander Botschagow, Rector of Holy Fathers Church in Manhattan, Deacon Dimitri Temidis of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY, and a multitude of worshipers from other parishes.