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The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine Welcomes Spring with a Vibrant Lineup of Spiritual Programming and Community Celebrations

Posted March 11, 2025

The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine Welcomes Spring with a Vibrant Lineup of Spiritual Programming and Community Celebrations

From April through June 2025, the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world will welcome New Yorkers and visitors from around the globe to experience a dynamic mix of spiritual services, profound performances and celebrations of diversity.

New York, NY – March 11, 2025 – The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine is kicking off the spring season with an exciting lineup of spiritual and cultural programming. From the observance of Holy Week and the annual Blessing of the Bicycles to Pride Month events celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, a powerful Juneteenth performance and more, there is something for everyone to enjoy this season at the Cathedral.

“We’re proud to offer this extensive lineup of enriching and inspiring programming this spring. From special services to incredible performances that highlight the beauty and diversity of our community and New York City, the springtime brings ample opportunity for celebration and connection at the Cathedral. We look forward to welcoming everyone to be a part of it,” said Laura Bosley, Executive Director, Cathedral Programming. 

Highlights of special events and programming from April to June 2025 include:

• Musica Sacra: SurRound II (Tuesday, April 1) – The Great Music in a Great Space season continues with SurRound II, a performance featuring choral ensemble Musica Sacra under the baton of the Director of Cathedral Music, Kent Tritle, on Tuesday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. Following acclaim from last year’s SurRound concert, Musica Sacra returns with an entirely new iteration. This immersive concert will feature choral works in direct dialogue with the many acoustics of the Cathedral, as singers move in, among and around the audience for a truly thrilling and unforgettable experience.  Tickets range from $35 to $85, and are $20 for students with valid ID. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Musica Sacra’s website.

• The Inferno of Dante Alighieri: A Reading (Friday, April 11) – The 31st annual reading of selections from the Inferno will take place on Friday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m. This year's reading will be held in the Cathedral's Crossing and will include additional multimedia elements. Selected Cantos will be read by a diverse group of individuals. Guests can RSVP here.

• Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Services (Sunday, April 13 to Sunday, April 20) – Marking the most sacred week in the liturgical year, the Cathedral will offer numerous services throughout Holy Week for New Yorkers and visitors to attend. All services will be available to livestream via the Cathedral’s website as well. The Holy Week full schedule can be found here and is as follows:
• Palm Sunday Service: Sunday, April 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Livestream available here.
• Mass of Collegiality with Blessing of the Chrism: Tuesday, April 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and can be livestreamed here.
• Maundy Thursday Service: Service will be held on Thursday, April 17 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and can be livestreamed here. Following the service, an overnight vigil will be hosted from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. for a space of prayer and meditation in the Cathedral Baptistry. After the Overnight Vigil, the Communion of the Reserved Sacrament will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 8:20 a.m.
• Good Friday Liturgy of the Word: Friday, April 18 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and available for livestream here.
• The Great Vigil of Easter: Saturday, April 19 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and can be livestreamed here.
• Easter Day Service: Sunday, April 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and available to livestream here.  

• The Year of Magical Thinking One-Woman Performance (Wednesday, April 23) – The Year of Magical Thinking, adapted from Joan Didion's best-selling memoir, tells the story of her journey through loss, perseverance, and hope, with Didion’s signature wit capturing the resilience of the human heart. Obie and Drama Desk Award-winner Kathleen Chalfant stars in this one-woman performance, directed by Jonathan Silverstein and originally presented by Keen Company. The intimate event will take place from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will be staged in the Cathedral’s Chapel of St. Columba, with a reception and Q&A with Chalfant following the performance in the Chapel of St. James. Tickets are $250 and can be purchased here. The 90-minute show will benefit Arts & Culture at the Cathedral.

• The 27th Annual Blessing of the Bicycles (Saturday, May 3) – Prior to the Five Boro Bike Tour on Sunday, May 4, the Cathedral will host its 27th annual “Blessing of the Bicycles” on Saturday, May 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The brief ceremony invites bikers, skaters and all other users of self-propelled vehicles, of all religious backgrounds, to join in the blessing. The ceremony will feature words from Dean Patrick Malloy, as well as the sprinkling of Holy Water on the bikes. Additionally, there will be a moment of silence to honor cyclists that have been lost in the past year. The event is free to attend and available for livestream. Guests can RSVP and access the livestream here.

• Divine Light Gala (Wednesday, May 7) – In celebration and support of the Cathedral and its programs, the Cathedral will host the Divine Light Gala on Wednesday, May 7 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The evening will honor the work and legacy of luminary artist and activist, Judy Collins, Cathedral Artist-in-Residence. Additionally, the celebration will feature Jason Robert Brown and Friends, as well as performances curated by Art Bath.  Cocktails and performances begin at 6:00 p.m., with a seated dinner in the Cathedral to follow. Visitors can find more information and purchase tickets here.

• Pride Month at the Cathedral (Saturday, May 31 & June) – The Cathedral will once again celebrate Iconic Pride with a colorful variety of new and beloved programming throughout June. Celebrations will kick off with Pride Eve on Saturday, May 31 at 6 p.m. and will feature the illumination of the iconic Pride Lights, lighting up the Cathedral for the entire month of June. For the first time this year, the Pride Lights will also include the colors of the transgender pride flag. Pride Eve 2025 will have an expanded offering, including a cocktail hour, time for crafting, exploring the Cathedral, a raffle and the return of the Greedy Peasant for a performance.  Additional events returning to the Cathedral include Pride Family Picnic with a performance by the Queer Big Apple Corps, Pride Evensong and more. A complete schedule will be announced at a later date.
• Pride Eve (Saturday, May 31) – Pride Eve 2025 returns better than ever with expanded offerings, including an evening of crafts, color, and pageantry. The night will begin with a cocktail hour where visitors are invited to tour the Cathedral, mingle, and visit different craft stations, as well as enter a raffle to win a variety of prizes. Returning after a sold-out show last year, our Host, the Greedy Peasant, will then take to the stage for a 45-minute performance culminating in the illumination of the Cathedral in its annual rainbow lights. All are welcome for this special occasion, with monochromatic fanciful dress encouraged. The suggested colors include red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and pink. Tassels also implied. Tickets will begin at $35 and go on sale in April.
• Pride Family Picnic (Saturday, June 14) – The Queer Big Apple Corps Marching Band returns this summer for their third Pride at the Cathedral. The Cathedral Gardens will be open for all to enjoy from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Visitors are invited to bring a picnic, play yard games and spend an afternoon in the community. The band will perform at 12:00 p.m.  Following the performance, there will be a musical instrument petting zoo for a hands-on introduction to a variety of instruments.
• “Unapologetic: Our Celebration of Queer Black Love” New York City Gay Men’s Chorus FREE Juneteenth Concert (Friday, June 20) – As part of the Cathedral’s Pride programming, The New York City Gay Men's Chorus will present Unapologetic: Our Celebration of Queer Black Love on Friday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cathedral. This free event honors the intersection of Black and queer identities, with Black chorus members sharing personal stories, solos, and songs about what Juneteenth means to them. The evening will highlight themes of freedom, resilience, and the experiences of the Black LGBTQIA+ community. All are welcome.
• Gay & Sober Welcome Meeting (Saturday, June 28) – The Cathedral is pleased to host Gay & Sober, a community nonprofit organization that serves LGBTQIA+ people in recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction, for their annual welcome meeting. The meeting will take place at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 28th. The event is free and will be a special interest speaker meeting of AA for the LGBTQ community.
• Pride Evensong (Sunday, June 29) – The Cathedral will host an Evensong service at 4:00 p.m. featuring LGBTQIA+ composers and performance by the Cathedral Community Choir. All are welcome to sing or just to listen.

• Public Theater Mobile Unit’s Much Ado About Nothing (Sunday, June 15) – The Public Theater’s Mobile Unit will return to the Cathedral with its bilingual musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. Directed by Rebecca Martinez, this new take on the classic tale of love, deception, and misunderstandings blends Spanish, music, and Shakespeare’s timeless wit. The FREE outdoor performance, performed in English and Spanish, will take place on June 15 at 6:30pm on the Cathedral Grounds. More details will be announced on April 15, 2025.

For more information and a calendar of events, visit www.stjohndivine.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @StJohnDivineNYC.

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About The Cathedral

As the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world founded in 1892, the trustees of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine conceived its mission to be a house of prayer for all people, an instrument of church unity, and a center of intellectual light and leading in the spirit of Jesus Christ.

Today, as the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the seat of its bishop, the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine serves the many diverse people of our diocese, city, nation and world through the worship of God; pastoral, educational and community outreach activities; cultural and civic events; international ecumenical initiatives; and the preservation of the great architectural and historic site that is its legacy.

For more information, visit www.stjohndivine.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @StJohnDivineNYC.