NEWS FROM THE DIOCESES
 
SYNOD OF BISHOPS: December 23, 2005

Clergymen of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign Visit St Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral

On December 19, the day of St Nicholas the Wonder-worker, Protopriest Andrei Sommer, Archdeacon Eugene Burbelo and Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff, having first celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign in New York, headed for St Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral, which was celebrating its feast day.

At the celebratory trapeza, Protopriest Andrei Sommer, Senior Priest of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign, greeted Bishop Merkury of Zaraisk on behalf of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. He relayed His Eminence's gratitude for the warm reception provided to the members of the Synod of Bishops on the days before the feast day of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, and for their presence at the feast day services at the Synod of Bishops.

Fr Andrei personally expressed the hope that all questions hindering the fullness of brotherly communion would be resolved, so that clergymen could then work together in ministering to the Russian people of New York. Then Archdeacon Eugene intoned Many Years to Bishop Merkury. In his response, Bishop Merkury asked the clergymen of the Synodal Cathedral to relay his deep gratitude to His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus and intoned Many Years for Protodeacon Nicolas, who was celebrating his namesday.