NEW YORK: March 14, 2019
Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York celebrates the first Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts of Great Lent

On Wednesday, March 13, 2019, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York celebrated the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady "of the Sign" in New York City. He was joined by Protopriest Andrei Sommer, Senior Priest of the cathedral, the cathedral clergy and members of the Chancery of the Synod of Bishops.

The Synod Choir sang under the direction of Peter Fekula.
At the end of service, His Eminence bid farewell with the clergymen and worshipers before his departure to Australia, wishing them a fruitful Lenten period and joyous greeting of the Pascha of the Lord.

On Monday of the first week of Great Lent, Metropolitan Hilarion read the first part of the Great Canon at the cathedral, and the next day at Holy Dormition Novo-Diveevo Convent in Nanuet, NY, where Abbess Makaria and her nuns, the clergy and congregants warmly welcomed him.

A report on divine services on the first week of Great Lent at the Synodal Cathedral is posted on the official website of the Eastern American Diocese.