NEW YORK: March 4, 2014
The First Days of Great Lent at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady �of the Sign�

On Forgiveness Sunday, March 2, 2014, Divine Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady �of the Sign� was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. He was joined by His Grace Bishop Jerome; Priest Nicholas Olhovsky; Hieromonk Evtikhy (Dovganyuk); Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov), as well as Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff; Deacon Nathan Mouselli; Deacon Nazary Fataliev and Deacon Denis Lvov. At the end of services, the clergymen and parishioners enjoyed a blini trapeze prepared by the cathedral�s sisterhood, at which a balaika troupe performed.

Later that day, His Eminence led great compline with the Rite of Forgiveness. The Hodigitria of the Russian diaspora, the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God �of the Sign,� was present at both services.

On Monday, March 3, His Eminence performed the great compline with the reading of the Canon of St Andrew of Crete.

Metropolitan Hilarion will celebrate the first Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts of the year on Wednesday, March 5, at the cathedral.