October 18, 2016
New York City: St. Sergius Chapel at Synod of Bishops celebrates its Patronal Feast

On Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th of October, the patronal feast of St. Sergius Chapel in the Synodal building in Ney York City, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York led the divine services in the chapel. His Eminence was co-served by Archpriest Andrei Sommer (senior priest of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign), Abbot Cornelius (Apukhtin; cleric of Nativity of the Holy Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY), Priest Michael Lunev (cleric of All Saints of Russia Orthodox Church in Croydon, Australia), Hieromonk Vladimir (Zgoba; cleric of the Church of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy"), and Archdeacons Nicolas Mokhoff, and Dionysius Lvov (cathedral clerics). Hieromonk Zosimas (Krampis; cathedral cleric and rector of the English Mission) was singing with the choir, directed by Matushka Eugenia Temidis.

Many parishioners of the English Mission and faithful from other parishes of the city were praying at Liturgy. Many parishioners communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated the clergy and parishioners with their feast day, and encouraged them to not forget St. Sergius’ spiritual feats and prayers, which help us in our life to this day. Then His Eminence spoke, in part, on the life of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh: "St. Sergius retreated into the woods to get closer to God, always communicate with him without any fuss and outside interference. His feat of prayer brought him closer to God, the grace of God penetrated into him, and he became a fixture on the mountain. People started to come to him, knowing that they will receive the edification and spiritual strengthening. The memory of St. Sergius lives, and today we have the opportunity to pray before his relics and ask him to strengthen us in faith, humility, love for God, and compassion for our neighbors."

The cathedral sisterhood invited the clergy and faithful into the church hall for a festal meal. Fr. Zosimas expressed his heartfelt joy for the opportunity to constantly pray in the chapel which the English-speaking community has.

The warden of the Synodal Cathedral Sergei Yakushin thanked the members of the sisterhood – those who usually entertain the faithful during Sunday meal, and those who come to the cathedral between worship, to clean and beautify the temple. He also thanked everyone who had donated for the repair of stairs at the main entrance of the Cathedral of the Sign. He informed those in attendance that he’d received a blessing for fundraising and building the shrine for the icon of St. Sergius in the chapel, similar to the one in which the icon "Joy of All Who Sorrow" sits. Fellowship between the clergy and parishioners continued well into the afternoon.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese