EASTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: 5 December, 2023
Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York officiates at divine services on the occasion of the Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple

On Sunday, December 3, 2023, the 26th Sunday after Pentecost, on the eve of the Great Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, officiated at the festal divine services at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York.

His Eminence was joined by Senior Priest Archpriest Andrei Sommer and cathedral clergy.

The liturgical hymns were sung by the Synodal Choir under the direction of conductor Vadim Gan.

Numerous parishioners gathered in the cathedral to pray, most of whom communed of Christ's Holy Mysteries.

At the end of the service, His Eminence congratulated the congregation on the upcoming feast of the Presentation, which the faithful will celebrate the following day.

The cathedral sisterhood invited the clergy and faithful to a traditional Lenten luncheon.

In the evening of the same day, the festal all-night vigil was served.

On Monday, December 4, the very day of the feast, His Eminence officiated at Divine Liturgy.

Congratulating the clergy and faithful on the feast, in his sermon at the end of Liturgy, His Eminence noted that today's feast is a special event both in the life of the Most Holy Theotokos and in the life of our Church.

"From the first years of her life, the Mother of God prepared herself for the great service with humility, and in the Temple she was engaged in spiritual reading and obediences, giving us a lesson on how to accept the Savior into our lives and find Him a place in our hearts."

Metropolitan Nicholas called on the faithful to purify their minds and hearts in the Sacrament of Confession, to unite with Christ in the Sacrament of Communion for instruction and spiritual guidance, to attend the church of God and to ascend the steps of spiritual life.

Eastern American Diocese