NEW YORK: February 27, 2011
His Beatitude Metropolitan Christopher, Primate of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, Officiates at Divine Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady "of the Sign"

On February 27, 2011, Meatfare Sunday, His Beatitude Christopher, Archbishop of Prague and Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, officiated at Divine Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady "of the Sign" in New York. He was joined by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church, clergymen of the cathedral and guests in the clerical rank. After the Communion hymn, His Eminence Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk read a sermon. 

At the end of divine services, the Primates exchanged greetings. Vladyka Hilarion gave His Beatitude the Synodal "Znamensky" Medal of the 1st Order on behalf of the Synod of Bishops in recognition of his labors towards the strengthening of unity within the Holy Orthodox Church of Christ. After Divine Liturgy, the cathedral sisterhood offered a magnificent trapeza feast, during which Vladyka Hilarion, Vladyka Justinian, and also Hegumen Tikhon, Acting Chief of the Russian Ecclestiastical Mission in Jerusalem of the Russian Church Abroad spoke, as did Protopriest Serafim Gan, Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops and Secretary of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

Later that day, His Beatitude Metropolitan Christopher took a tour of the New York City and visited its Orthodox churches.