On Thursday September 11, on the Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA His Grace Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas Cathedral in NYC co-served by His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan (ROCOR).

The Archpastors were co-served by Archpriest Andrei Sommer (Dean of the Synodal Cathedral of "the Sign", NYC), Archpriest Serafim Gan (Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR; Rector of St. Seraphim Memorial Church, Sea Cliff, NY) and clergy of St. Nicholas Cathedral. 

Prior to the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, the Wonderworking Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God was brought into the cathedral for veneration. After the Communion of the faithful, the Archpastors and the clergy served a Panikhida for the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. 

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the hierarchs exchanged words of greeting to one another. In memory of his visit to St. Nicholas Cathedral, Bishop John presented Bishop Nicholas with a new edition commemorative copy of the life of the Cathedral's heavenly protector - St. Nicholas of Myra and Lycia. In return, Bishop Nicholas presented Bishop John with a copy of the Wonderworking Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God. 

Interaction continued during the lenten meal in the cathedral's refectory.