October 7, 2014
New York City: Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates Liturgy at Synodal Cathedral, Followed by Food Drive for Needy

On Sunday, October 5, the 17th Sunday after Pentecost and the feast of the 26 Martyrs of the Zographou Monastery on Mt. Athos, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. His Eminence was co-served by Archimandrite Nathanael (Symeonides; Director of the Office of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical & Interfaith Relations of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese), Archpriest Andrei Sommer (senior priest of the cathedral), and cathedral clerics: Hieromonk Eutychius (Dovganyuk), Protodeacons Nicolas Mokhoff and Vadim Gan, and Deacon Nathan Mousselli.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion addressed the faithful with a sermon, in which he called on parishioners to begin every undertaking with a blessing. His Eminence relayed the edifying history of the 26 Monk-Martyrs, who suffered in the Bulgarian Zographou Monastery on the Holy Mountain, noting the significance and necessity of preserving the purity of the true Orthodox Faith.

Fr. Andrei Sommer appealed to parishioners with a request to take part in a canned food drive, the collections of which will be distributed to the needy and homeless for Thanksgiving. The charitable drive is being undertaken with Metropolitan Hilarion’s blessing in all New York City parishes.

After Liturgy, the cathedral sisterhood arranged the traditional Sunday luncheon for clergy and parishioners.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese