CHICAGO: April 8, 2008 
Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral Choir Sings at the Cathedral of the Novo Gracanica Metropoliate of the Serbian Orthodox Church

On March 30, 2008, the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, a fund-raising concert was given by Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral Choir under the direction of Michael Gil. The concert was given at the Serbian Orthodox Novo Gracanica Cathedral at the invitation of His Grace Bishop Longin. 

The concert was devoted to the recently-reposed Metropolitan Laurus, the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and began with the intoning of "Memory Eternal" and the singing of "Among the Spirits of the Righteous," which Vladyka had a special love for. The choir then performed the music of the all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy, Great Lent and Passion Week. 

At the conclusion of the program, Bishop Longin thanked the singers, adding that those in attendance sensed the great moments in the voluntary sufferings Christ the Savior endured for us sinners, and concentrated their attentions to the Bright Feast Day. Vladyka stressed how important this is in our troublesome times, when we are surrounded by many temptations and strife. 

His Grace then expressed his love and respect for the late Metropolitan Laurus and the entire Russian Church Abroad, remembering that Russians and Serbs maintain the closest fraternal bonds.  

Revenues generated by the concert benefited the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral building fund for a church school and diocesan center.