NEW YORK: 26 May 2026
The services and meetings of the Primate of the Russian Church Abroad

On Saturday, May 16, 2026, on the day of the memory of St Theodosius, Abbot of the Kiev Caves, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, paid an archpastoral visit to the Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Russian parish school operating there.

His Eminence was joined by His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Manhattan and His Grace Bishop Jerome (Shaw), as well as parish Rector Archpriest Elias Gorsky, the parish clergy, and guests in holy orders.

His Eminence was greeted with bread and salt by the parish warden. During the service, selected hymns were performed by the children themselves. At the Sixth Hour, parish reader Alexei Rylov was ordained as a subdeacon.

During the minor entrance, by decree of the Synod of Bishops, Archpriest George Temidis was awarded the phelonion, and Deacon Nikolai Ilyin was elevated to the rank of protodeacon, thus the past, present, and future of the school were commemorated: Subdeacon Alexei – a long-time graduate of the school, Archpriest George and his family remain active assistants and teachers at the school, the family of Protodeacon Nikolai – teachers and graduates of the school, whose children are themselves now beginning their studies there.

In his sermon, His Eminence highlighted the difficulties that everyone faces in these challenging times and expressed deep care and prayerful concern for all of our Orthodox children. He urged everyone to avoid the traps and temptations of the modern world by studying and accepting with their hearts Orthodox prayers, culture, and acts of piety, participating in school and church services, and also filling their time with God-pleasing activities. After the sermon, he offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the school.

To all former deceased directors, teachers, and students, as well as to Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral; +2022) of blessed memory, on the anniversary of his repose, “Eternal Memory” was sung.

After the singing of “Many Years,” the rector of the church thanked the hierarchs for sharing the celebration of this significant anniversary with the parish. Priest Andrey Podymov presented Metropolitan Nicholas and Bishop Jerome with commemorative gifts. In honor of Bishop Theodosius’ namesday, the parish gifted him a pectoral cross depicting his saint, which he wore during the Liturgy.

After the group photo, everyone moved to the hall where lunch and the ceremonial part took place. The history of the school was recalled by Reader Alexey Slobodskoy, who remembered his parents – Archpriest Seraphim and Matushka Elena (known as Mother Yolochka). Father Elias spoke about the works of the late Archpriest Georgy Larin – the successor of Fr Seraphim, who built this hall, as well as the school building itself. During his speech, a portrait of Fr George, donated by the Larin family, was ceremoniously unveiled. Then Xenia Kalinina, one of the first graduates of the school, shared her memories and spoke about what significance the school had personally for her

The main event of the day was the participation of representatives from various generations of students and teachers. The current students of the school came on stage and asked all graduates and teachers, both from past years and the present, to stand up to receive words of recognition and gratitude. As a prelude to the final program, a short play, “Mukha-Tsokotukha” a short video featuring Matushka Elena was shown, made for the school's 50th anniversary.

But the performance itself held a surprise: the songs were performed by current students, while the roles of the actors were taken on by alumni from past years, some of whom now bring their own children to this school. This cheerful and playful performance pleased everyone present. Many guests lingered long after it ended, enjoying the warm weather and the deep meaning of this memorable day.

On Thursday, May 21, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord and the day of remembrance of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, at the Church of the Sign in New York, the Divine Liturgy was led by Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, joined by His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Acting Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada. The hierarchs were joined in concelebration by the cathedral Dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov), Acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal parishes, and the cathedral clergy.

Liturgy was celebrated in the presence of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign.”

The Synodal choir sang prayerfully under the direction of conductor Vadim Gan. After the Great Litany, Metropolitan Nicholas offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the restoration of the unity of the Russian Church. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Vladyka Nicholas addressed the faithful with a sermon dedicated to the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord and the memory of the Apostle John the Theologian. He urged everyone to emulate the feats and example set before us by the Apostle John, to pray and stand firmly with Christ at Golgotha, to confess the truth, and to hold fast to the Orthodox faith.

His Eminence noted that the day marked the feast day of Ascension of the Lord Convent on the Mt of Olives, Jerusalem.

Metropolitan Nicholas also reminded those gathered that it was precisely on the Feast of the Ascension in 2007 at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow that the late Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and Metropolitan Laurus, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, signed the Act of Canonical Communion, which brought an end to the division between the Church in the homeland and abroad. Greeting Bishop Matthew, His Eminence noted the good fraternal relations between the clergy and parishioners of the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Patriarchal parishes in North America and, in memory of co-celebration on this festive day, presented as a gift a book of sermons and spiritual reflections by the late hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

Fr Nikodim then thanked Metropolitan Nicholas for the opportunity to celebrate this feast together with the Divine Liturgy and presented the Primate with a panagia featuring an icon of the Most-Holy Theotokos.

The meeting of hierarchs and clergy continued over a fraternal meal, after which a working meeting took place between Metropolitan Nicholas and Bishop Matthew. The communication was also attended by the Archpriest Seraphim Gan, Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, Fr Andrei Sommer, and Fr Nikodim.

During the meeting, various issues of cooperation between the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA and the Eastern American Diocese were discussed.

Eastern American Diocese and the Patriarchal Parishes of the MP.