Русская Версия

December 10, 2009
New York, NY: The Patronal Feast Day of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign

 

On Thursday, December 10, on the feast of the Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign celebrated its patronal feast day in the presence of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. The Divine Liturgy was led by His Grace, Bishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, co-served by Their Graces, Bishops Peter of Cleveland and Jerome of Manhattan, and a multitude of clergy, in the presence of a great number of the faithful. The festal singing of the Synodal Bishops' Choir, under the direction of P.A. Fekula,  helped promote a prayerful, festive mood among the clergy and all present.  After the historical return of the Kursk icon to Russia, the faithful came with significantly renewed reverence to venerate the principal holy icon of the Russian Church Abroad over the course of the liturgy. Bishop Gabriel delivered a sermon on the topic of the feast and the history of the sacred icon, after which a moleben was sung.

 

After the moleben, the First Hierarch's secretary, Archpriest Serafim Gan, read aloud a greeting of the cathedral's rector, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, to all those who gathered for the feast. Synodal Protodeacon Nicholas Mokhoff proclaimed congratulations to the First Hierarch on behalf of Bishops Gabriel, Peter, and Jerome, and all the gathered faithful, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the hierarchal ordination of His Eminence. Bishop Gabriel awarded S.B. Yakushin a Benediction Gramota on behalf of Metropolitan Hilarion, on account of his many years of sincere labors at the Synodal Cathedral. Bishop Jerome was also congratulated, on the occasion of the first anniversary of his hierarchal ordination. Following this, the Polychronion was sung for those mentioned above. 

 

In the Synodal hall, a bountiful luncheon was offered by the sisterhood, during which festal speeches and words of well-wishing were exchanged. At the luncheon, Bishop Gabriel offered the Synodal Cathedral a gift from the Canadian Diocese: a beautiful new case for the icon inlaid with pearls. After the luncheon, the Kursk Root Icon left the Synod for the diocesan center to begin its journey to the parishes of our diocese.

 

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese

See also:

25th Anniversary of the Hierarchal Ordination of Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

The Kursk Icon of the Mother of God will visit parishes of the Eastern American Diocese