Metr. Nicholas and Bp. Matthew Concelebrate in Synodal Cathedral
The Feast of the Ascension in New York became both a liturgical celebration and a commemoration of restored unity within the Russian Orthodox Church.
NEW YORK — A hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign on May 21 in honor of the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord and the commemoration of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, with Metr. Nicholas of Eastern America and New York presiding alongside Bp. Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada. The service was held in the presence of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.
The celebration also marked the 19th anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) and the Moscow Patriarchate, commemorating the restoration of ecclesiastical unity between the Church in the homeland and the diaspora.
Metr. Nicholas later addressed the faithful with a homily calling believers to emulate the steadfast witness of the Apostle John the Theologian, remain faithful to Christ, and hold firmly to the Orthodox faith. He also reminded worshippers that the Convent of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives was observing its patronal feast that same day.
During the service, Metr. Nicholas offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the restored unity of the Russian Church and recalled that Patr. Alexy II and Metr. Laurus signed the Act of Canonical Communion on the Feast of the Ascension in 2007 at Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior. He noted the strong fraternal ties between ROCOR and the Patriarchal Parishes in North America and presented Bp. Matthew with a book containing sermons and reflections by departed ROCOR hierarchs.
Bp. Matthew thanked Metr. Nicholas for the opportunity to concelebrate and presented him with a Panagia depicting the Most Holy Theotokos. The service concluded with “Memory Eternal” for Patr. Alexey and Metr. Laurus, along with prayers for the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful throughout the world.
Following the liturgy, hierarchs and clergy gathered for a fraternal meal and later held a working meeting to discuss ongoing cooperation between the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and the Eastern American Diocese of ROCOR.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Metr. Nicholas celebrated the Triumph of Orthodoxy in New York.
