New York, March 6, 2024
Photo: eadiocese.org
On Friday evening, March 1, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia’s Synodal Cathedral “of the Sign” in New York City presented a benefit concert raising funds for those suffering in the Holy Land and Ukraine.
In particular, relief funds were raised for the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem and the Peace Be With You foundation of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, which provides assistance to children and the victims of the ongoing war, reports the ROCOR press service.
The concert, held in the cathedral “adorned only by candlelight owing to the somber, prayerful nature of the event,” was attended by more than 150 people, including His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, the First Hierarch of ROCOR.
Many members of the 27-member choir come from the areas affected by the war, “which added to the profound nature of the performance.”
The concert was divided into four parts:
Hymns of the Angels, which evocated the hopeful nature of peace and joy from the Matins service and that of Christ’s Nativity. The second, Hymns of Supplication, was denoted by pieces such as Kedrov’s Great Litany, which headlines each divine service, entreating Christ in prayer for peace of the whole world. The third, Hymns of Praise and Thanks, reminded the concertgoers of God’s infinite wisdom and the knowing that “through Him, all things are possible.” The final part, entitled Contemplation and Hope, was the culmination of the concert, remembering those who perished in the wars throughout the world and that their memories are forever, eternal.
A reception was held in the cathedral hall following the concert.
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