Cathedral Of St. John The Divine Announces Virtual Services For Holy Week And Easter

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, The Cathedral of St. John the Divine, located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue (at 112th Street), in Harlem, NY.

Will for the second time stream its services for Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter online from March 28-April 4, providing congregants in New York City and around the world with a way to virtually gather and worship together while maintaining necessary physical distance.

In observance of these holy days, the Cathedral’s Palm Sunday and Good Friday services will also include in-person elements on the steps of the Cathedral.

On March 28, Palm Sunday, the Cathedral will livestream the 11 am liturgy, bringing participants on a journey from Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem through the Passion story of his betrayal, persecution and death. The Right Reverend Clifton Daniel III, Dean of the Cathedral, will preach.

This year, the reading comes from the Gospel According to Mark. Members of the public are welcome to gather on the Cathedral’s front steps for the blessing and distribution of palms at 11 am following state health and safety guidelines.

• 11 AM Livestream Service with Blessing and Distribution of Palms on Cathedral Front Steps

March 30, Holy Tuesday, is a time to celebrate the renewal of their clergy’s ordination vows and to bless the Chrism for the following year. This year, because of COVID restrictions, the Cathedral will virtually celebrate sung Morning Prayer, with The Right Reverend Andrew ML Dietsche, Bishop of the Diocese, presiding. While in-person participation in the service will be limited to the Bishop and clergy, the entirety of the service will be livestreamed at 10:30 AM.

• 10:30 AM Livestream Service

April 1, Maundy Thursday is the beginning of the three-day Easter Triduum, commemorating the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Cathedral will observe this holy day with a livestream service at 7 pm. This year, members of the Cathedral’s online worshipping community have contributed to a fundraiser for Cathedral Community Cares (CCC). Their gifts of $40, symbolizing the 40 days of Lent, have made it possible for CCC to procure socks and sneakers for their clients in need. During the online service, those Lenten offerings will be presented by the Cathedral Chapter to CCC.

• 7 PM Livestream Service

April 2, Good Friday, is a solemn day marking the crucifixion of Jesus. At 12 pm, the Cathedral will livestream its Good Friday observance, with the reading of the Passion, prayers, and a short homily. Veneration of the Cross will be open to the public on the steps of the Cathedral beginning at 12:30 PM and will be livestreamed as the conclusion of the virtual service. Community members are welcome to join the Chapter on the steps. The Cross will remain outside for veneration until 3:00 PM.

• 12 PM Livestream Service with Veneration of the Cross on Steps of Cathedral

April 3, Holy Saturday, sees the beginning of the Cathedral’s Easter celebrations. A service will be streamed at 7 pm, using the Book of Common Prayer, brief prayers, a Psalm, and readings of Scripture.

• 7 PM Livestream Service

April 4 is Easter Day, traditionally one of the largest and most joyful Cathedral services. This year, the Cathedral offers an 11 am livestream with a special sermon by The Right Reverend Andrew ML Dietsche, Bishop of New York.

• 11 AM Livestream Service

All services will be livestreamed on the Cathedral’s website and Facebook page.

For more information, visit this page.

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine is the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. It is chartered as a house of prayer for all people and a unifying center of intellectual light and leadership.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cathedral has responded to changing needs in the local community and across the city and state.

People from many faiths and communities worship together in daily services held online; the soup kitchen serves roughly 25,000 meals annually; social service outreach has an increasingly varied roster of programs to safely provide resources, aid, and COVID testing to the hardest-hit New Yorkers; the distinguished Cathedral School prepares young students to be future leaders; Advancing the Community of Tomorrow, the renowned preschool, afterschool and summer program, offers diverse educational and nurturing experiences; the outstanding Textile Conservation Lab preserves world treasures; concerts, exhibitions, performances, and civic gatherings allow conversation, celebration, reflection, and remembrance—such is the joyfully busy life of this beloved and venerated Cathedral.