Russian Patriarchal, ROCOR, & OCA hierarchs concelebrate

(MOSPAT-USA) - On Sunday, July 20, 2014, the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA prayerfully concluded its celebrations of the 700th Anniversary of St. Sergius of Radonezh at St. Nicholas Cathedral in NYC, presided by the His Beatitude, the Most Blessed Tikhon, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. His Beatitude was co-served by His Eminence Hilarion, Metrpolitan of Eastern America and NY, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad and His Eminence Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA.

The hierarchs were co-served by Patriarchal, ROCOR and OCA clergy. Present at the Divine Services was the Wonderworking Icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh.

Before the Communion of the Faithful, Abbot Nicodemus (Balyasnikov) delivered a sermon on the history of the Wonderwokring Icon.

At the conclusion of the service, the Archpastors sang the Magnification before the Holy Icon.

On behalf of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Archbishop Justinian presented Metropolitans Tikhon and Hilarion with new silk material made for a Metropolitan's Mantle (Mantia). In return, Metropolitan Tikhon presented Metropolitan Hilarion and Archbishop Justinian with Icons of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, and a Commemorative Paschal Egg dedicated to St. Sergius of Radonezh.