EASTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: April 6, 2021
Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York celebrates the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross at the Synodal Cathedral in New York

On April 4, 2021, the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York City, co-served by Diocesan Vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan. Concelebrating with the hierarchs were cathedral dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer and clerics Archpriest Edward Chervinsky, Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff, and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin), as well as Deacon Nicholas Ilyin and Deacon Alexei Klar (clerics of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY). The Synodal choir sang the services under the direction of conductor Vadim Gan.

Upon completion of the first half of Holy Tessaracost (the Forty-Day Fast), a multitude of parishioners confessed their sins and communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries, with which they were congratulated by Metropolitan Hilarion. In his sermon, he noted, in part, the importance in our lives of more often fleeing for aid to the Lord’s Cross, which is "great might and glory," and which is brought out for the spiritual reinforcement of the faithful in the midst of Great Lent.

His Eminence mentioned that the most important aspects of the Great Fast are prayer and repentance, as well as a remembrance of Christ’s sufferings on the Cross, by which He vanquished evil and death itself. The faithful must never forget that "Christ is with us, and He grants us life everlasting, if we will but keep His commandments, the most important of which is to love one another, to have consideration for others, and to help them when needed."

Bishop Nicholas reminded the gathered faithful about the feasts during the upcoming week, most importantly the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos on April 7.