NEW YORK: September 2, 2007
Joint Services Are Performed By Hierarchs of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Church Abroad at St Nicholas Cathedral in New York

On September 1, 2007, hierarchs and clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church and of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia performed all-night vigil at St Nicholas Cathedral in New York, the first joint service held within the context of the celebrations marking the reestablishment of canonical unity. Leading the divine service was the head of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Isidor of Ekaterinodar and Kuban, joined by His Eminence Metropolitan Onufry of Chernovitsa and Bukovina; His Eminence Archbishop Evgeny of Verey; His Grace Bishop Merkury of Zaraisk, Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the US; His Grace Bishop Agapit of Stuttgart; and clergymen of the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

After divine service, a reception was held to honor the visitors.

The following day, September 2, the first celebration of Divine Liturgy occurred at St Nicholas Cathedral, at which Metropolitan Isidor officiated, along with Bishop Merkury; Bishop Agapit; Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov), Prior of Sretensky Stavropighial Monastery in Moscow; Archimandrite Maxim, Secretary of His Eminence Archbishop Damaskin of Jaffa (Jerusalem Patriarchate); Protopriest Vsevolod Tsypin; Protopriest Alexander Golubov, Secretary of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the US; Protopriest Alexander Abramov; and Hieromonk Joseph (Kriukov), Secretary of the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the US.

The Sretensky Choir, which is accompanying the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, sang during the service.

After Divine Liturgy at St Nicholas Cathedral, Bishop Merkury greeted Metropolitan Isidor, Bishop Agapit and the other clergymen. Being the eve of the celebration of the anniversary of the episcopal consecration of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II, Many Years was sung for him.

SV Garmonin, Consul General of the Russian Federation, greeted Metropolitan Isidor, the concelebrating bishops, clergymen and laity.

Praying during the divine services held on Saturday and Sunday were many Russian-speaking Orthodox Christians and also parishioners of churches of other jurisdictions of North America. Orthodox Christians from throughout the United States came to St Nicholas Cathedral to attend these services and to venerate the "Reigning" Icon of the Mother of God.

Later that day, after a moleben before the miracle-working Icon, it was taken by the delegation to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, for the celebrations of the 40 th anniversary of the episcopal consecration of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus. The celebrations, at which Bishop Merkury and the other clergymen of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the US participated, were held at the monastery on September 2-3.