NEW YORK: 26 February 2026
The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad celebrates the first Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts

On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, prayed at the prescribed Lenten services at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady "of the Sign" in New York. The services were performed under the holy aegis of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God.

Then His Eminence celebrated the first Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts of the year.

Joining His Eminence were Cathedral Dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Archpriest Vasily Zelenyuk, Abbot Zosima (Krampis), with Protodeacon Sergius Arlievsky. The services' chants were performed by the Synodal Choir under the direction of Vadim Gan.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, His Eminence addressed those who had gathered with a hierarchical sermon, reminding everyone of the necessity to "not look at others, but by looking into oneself, pay attention to one’s own sins and shortcomings, and from there send prayers to God."

On Cheesefare Sunday, Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated the Divine Liturgy and the Great Vespers with the Rite of Forgiveness, and on Monday and Tuesday of the first week, he performed the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St Andrew of Crete.