NEW YORK: 13 January, 2025
The celebration of the Nativity of Christ at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign

From January 5-8, 2025, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York celebrated all prescribed services from the Eve of the Nativity of Christ to the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Synodal Cathedral in New York, in the presence of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign." His Eminence was co-served by Cathedral Dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer and the cathedral clergy. During the services, festal hymns were sung by the Synodal Choir under the direction of Vadim Gan.

On the very day of the great feast, a multitude of the faithful communed of Christ's Holy Mysteries. Upon completion of the service, the First Hierarch, clergy and worshipers of the Cathedral proceeded to the cathedral hall and continued their celebrations at a festive trapeza, before which Fr Andrei, after a prayer, greeted His Eminence with the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

On Friday evening, January 10, a large Christmas reception was held in the same hall, during which Metropolitan Nicholas received congratulations from the clergy and parishioners of New York churches. During the dinner, which was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere, the Synodal Choir and the choir of the English-speaking community of St Sergius Chapel at the Synod sang church hymns and Christmas carols.