NEW YORK: 25 August 2025
Services of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

On Sunday, August 17, 2025, the 10th week after Pentecost, when the Holy Church commemorates the Seven Youths of Ephesus, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York led Divine Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York City. Assisting the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia were Cathedral Dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer and the cathedral clergy, as well as Priest George Mashtaler, a cleric of the Western European Diocese.

During the service, the Synodal Choir performed under the direction of conductor Vadim Gan.

At the end of the service, a proclamation was made for the many years of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onouphry of Kiev and All Ukraine to mark the anniversary of his enthronement, and for the many years of the singer of the Synodal Choir – the magnificent bass Anatoly Panchoshny on his 90th birthday. Addressing the parishioners with a sermon, His Eminence spoke about the life of the Ephesian youths and, in particular, said:

On this Sunday, we honor the memory of the beautiful saints – the young martyrs of Ephesus. These young men glorified the Lord – and the Lord glorified them. In the late 3rd century, during the reign of the cruel idolater Emperor Decius, there were seven youths, children of noble parents, who were known to be Christians. One day they were brought before Decius so that he could instruct them on how to worship the idols. The king requested that they worship the idols, but they replied that they professed Christ. The king stripped them of all honors, abolished their service in the royal house, and gave them time to reconsider their actions, in order for them to return to him and worship the idols.

The youths decided to leave the city and hide in a cave, where they prayed together. They did not return to the monarch, and Decius sent to look for them. Someone knew where the youths were hiding in the cave. The king sent his servants to seal the entrance to the cave with stones, and the Lord sent sleep upon the youths. After 200 years, the youths awoke. At that time, the owner of the land where the cave was located intended to expand his home, and the stones were removed from the cave. The awakened youths gathered to go to the emperor to confess their Christian faith before him. The youngest of them went to the city to buy bread, so that, upon returning, they could all go to Decius together.

Upon arriving in the city, the young man was surprised to see a large cross at the gates. He could not understand why it was there, not knowing that by the 6th century the persecution of Christians had ceased, old churches were being restored, and new ones were being built. In the city, he did not recognize anyone. He paid for the bread with a coin depicting Emperor Decius. The vendors, seeing the ancient coin, were surprised and asked him where he had gotten it.

At that time, Emperor Theodosius the Younger was in power. He was informed about the youths; meanwhile, people at that time still misunderstood the resurrection of the dead. People came to the cave, where the youths recounted that they had fallen asleep 200 years ago, and that the resurrection of the dead would come. The seven holy youths fearlessly confessed their faith – serving a living example for us of how young people should profess the Christian faith and support one another. It should be the same among our young people, that they study and discuss church history, church life, and live in Christian piety. These holy youths inspire us even today. Their life is a direct indication of how to profess the Christian faith.

Let us listen to the words of the Venerable Barsonophius of Optina, who tell us what prayer is and how we should pray. He said: ‘We cannot demand from God ecstatic prayers – what is required from us is prayerful labor, while joys are sent by God when it pleases Him and when they are beneficial for us. Therefore, let us pray to Him and rely entirely on His holy will. Let us ask for our salvation, but accept when the Lord gives to us.'

On Monday, August 18, and Tuesday, August 19, His Eminence led the services for the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord at the Synodal Cathedral.

During the festive Divine Liturgy, the First Hierarch was assisted by Fr Andrei and the cathedral clergy, as well as Fr George. The Synodal choir, conducted by Isaiah Trofimenko, sang during the service. Many believers gathered to pray on this great feast. After Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas blessed baskets of fruit in accordance with feast-day tradition. Congratulating everyone on the holiday, Vladyka Nicholas joyfully noted that a festive service was held on the Holy Land, on Mount Tabor led by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and for which the sisters of the monasteries of the Russian Abroad Church prayed.

In his sermon, the Metropolitan said, among other things: "Christ invites us to ascend to Tabor together, to rise from darkness to the higher church ministry. And if we do, we will always be with the Lord and perhaps He will also impart His glory, His salvation to us, and we will rejoice in our hearts, like the apostle Peter, who exclaimed: 'It is good for us to be here, Lord!'

"It is always pleasant to be where divine services are, when the fasting season is, where our holidays are celebrated, where our icons, our holy things are. Let us act this way and strive not to get lost in the world, where there is darkness, where everything is sinful. May the light of the Transfiguration shine upon us and strengthen us in our lives."

The First Hierarch also congratulated the cathedral cleric Archpriest Serafim Chemodakov on the anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

A festive meal was organized in the cathedral hall.

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