The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, gives an exclusive interview to the newspaper "Russian Life."

— Your Eminence, in September it was three years since your enthronement as the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Though a small sample size, yet it certainly allows for reflection on first steps and early results. In your opinion, what have you managed, with God's help, to accomplish in this high office?

The Apostle Paul writes: "I will boast of what pertains to weakness, but I will not boast concerning myself, except in my weaknesses" (2 Corinthians 12:5). And I, without touching upon my numerous weaknesses, can boast of incredible heavenly help and of the people working with me for the glory of God and for the benefit of Holy Orthodoxy, that is, archpastors, clergy, monastics, parishioners, and pilgrims of our churches. Thank God, during this time it was possible to visit all the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, as well as the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, and to become better acquainted with both their joys and the trials and difficulties they experience.

As is well known, the clergy and monastics in the Holy Land, led by Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), struggle under difficult conditions, shepherding, protecting, and safeguarding the Ascension of the Lord Convent on the Mount of Olives, the Lavra of St Chariton the Confessor, the "Russian Excavations" of the St Alexander Nevsky Church, the Monastery of St Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles, in Russian Gethsemane, and the subordinate Resurrection of Christ Community in Bethany, where a large girls' school operates, not to mention other holy sites owned by our mission.

They perform colossal work, reverently caring for the sacred places, welcoming pilgrims, and representing the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad before the “powerful of this world.” Therefore, I am always glad to visit and provide the necessary help and support to those who carry out this great work in the Holy Land.

I am pleased with the works of His Grace Bishop John and his associates in Buenos Aires, who have achieved the return of church property in Argentina to its legitimate owner – the South American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The monasteries and parishes of the German Diocese, led by Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany, have significantly increased their ranks.

In one of the St Nicholas Cathedrals in Stuttgart, there are 2,000 parishioners! Parishes have multiplied in the Western American, Central American, Eastern American, Canadian, British, and Western European dioceses, thanks to the efforts of the descendants of emigrants, current refugees, and new converts from among the local residents of the countries where the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia is present.

In short, one can use the words of Saint John Chrysostom: "Glory to God for everything"—both for the church service that we have the mercy of God to perform, and for the hardships that inevitably accompany each of us on the salvific paths of service to God and people.

— What main tasks would you set for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in the coming years?

One must listen to the experienced and wise representatives of the older generation of archpastors, pastors, monastics, and laypeople who keep alive the flame of the old Russian diaspora Church, taking advantage of their teachings and memories, while children and youth should not be allowed to slip away from the loving Mother Church, which nourishes and educates them. This is task number one.

After all, our elders, unfortunately, are already at the end of their days; they should be honored and specially cared for, and the younger generation needs to be given a good and solid foundation of Orthodox faith and Old Russian culture, as well as that old spirit of our Church, which our glorious predecessors lived by, who instilled in us love for the Church and for our historical roots. By the way, it is precisely this traditional spirit that attracts new people to our parishes.

Therefore, it is necessary for our spiritual schools, Liturgical music courses, and various youth organizations, including those independent from us but closely cooperating with us, to embrace this important task, organize themselves accordingly, and become active, for our future must be built upon the foundation of the past.

In addition, churches and monasteries are being built all over the diaspora, which is very, very gratifying. For example, in the East American Diocese, the consecration of a new magnificent church in the state of Virginia in honor of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women is planned, and in the Exaltation of the Cross Hermitage, services have already begun in the church the size of a cathedral that is under construction.

In Florida, a large church and spiritual-cultural complex are being built in honor of the Resurrection of Christ. But we must, gathering all the Church's strength, also turn our attention to our own heart of hearts – the house of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign,” the Guide of the Russian diaspora, which serves as the Synodal residence of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and its spiritual-administrative center in New York.

This is the center of our joys and the forum of resolving church matters, sanctified by the miracles of the Kursk Icon, as well as by the tears and podvigi of numerous ascetics, led by the already glorified miracle worker St John (Maximovich). The latter had his own cell in this building, which was recently renovated.

Here he repeatedly participated in the work of the Councils of Bishops and in the sessions of the Synod, and in both churches of the residence he repeatedly conducted services. How many prayers have these walls heard! How much sweat, tears, and edifying stories have they absorbed! In short, this is a sacred place that must be restored to its former glory in order to properly honor and represent not only our beloved Church but also its rich history, while, to the best of one's abilities and capabilities, bearing witness to Russian Orthodoxy in the challenging conditions of the West.

Thank God, even as I am answering your questions, workers are setting up the scaffolding, starting the third phase of restoring our building – repairing its facade. Donations can be made via PayPal on the main page of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad website: www.synod.com, or even better – come, see, and learn about the history of our Church and its present day. We are always happy to welcome visitors, as our center is a treasure of the entire Church!

— Tell us about the cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and other Local Orthodox Churches in America and Europe. As we see, such cooperation was somewhat limited as a result of the war in Ukraine. How is it now possible to overcome disunity among the Orthodox Churches?

The relationships between the Local Orthodox Churches serving in the USA, Canada, South America, Europe, and Australia, along with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, in my opinion, are developing and strengthening.

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and all Palestine shows great love and respect for Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky) and the monastics of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, which is part of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, for which we are deeply grateful. We highly value our friendship with His Eminence Metropolitan Savva, head of the Antiochian North American Archdiocese in the USA, his archpastors, and clergy, with whom we regularly meet and serve together, addressing common challenges.

The foundation of this friendship is a reverent veneration of the memory of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia and Confessor, and St Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn, who studied in Russia and held the omophorion over the first of the Orthodox Arabs in the USA. Last year, our Synod convened in the cradle of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad – in the Patriarchal Palace in Sremski Karlovci, Serbia, enjoying the warm hospitality of His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije and the archpastors of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Our relations with her hierarchs and clergy abroad continue to develop in a truly fraternal manner, following the example of our common fathers: His Beatitude Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), Saint John (Maximovich), Venerable Justin (Popovich), St Nicholas (Velimirovich), and many others. Recently, Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe met with and concelebrated with His Holiness Patriarch Daniel of Bulgaria, who is inviting the myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God “Hawaiian Iveron” from our Western American Diocese into his Church.

Speaking of the Bulgarian Church, it should be noted that the newly-consecrated vicar of Metropolitan Joseph – Bishop Clement of Levkia--arrived recently in the USA, with whom I have had the joy of prayerful and fraternal communication more than once, who speaks both Russian and English perfectly, and whom, I dare say, many of us have already come to love.

This year, together with Metropolitan Longin of New Gracanica (Serbian Orthodox Church), a graduate of Moscow theological schools and fluent in Russian, His Grace Clement participated in the celebrations dedicated to the memory of my heavenly patron – St Nicholas, Archbishop of Japan, Equal-to-the-Apostles. Glory to God, the cooperation and interaction with the Orthodox Church in America, with which we share common roots, has developed very positively. In October, a concelebration of the Primates of both our Churches was scheduled at Holy Trinity Church in Fort Ross, California, in honor of the 100th anniversary of pilgrimages and liturgies held at this site, primarily by Orthodox immigrants and their descendants.

However, despite all these joys of general church life, relations with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople remain complicated for understandable reasons.

— In recent years, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), led by its Primate Metropolitan Onouphry, has truly become a persecuted Christian Church. Its parishes are being closed, churches are being seized, priests and bishops are subjected to persecution, and imprisoned… By its nature, this more closely resembles the persecution of the Orthodox Church by the godless authorities in the USSR. It is known that the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad has repeatedly defended our Orthodox brothers in Ukraine. Does such a position receive support, particularly in American society and the American establishment? For example, in Congress and the State Department, which have always been active in defending religious freedom around the world.

Not only the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, but also the overwhelming majority of Local Orthodox Churches recognize only the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onouphry of Kiev and All Ukraine, and consistently stand in its defense. Unfortunately, many political and other figures pretend that nothing special is happening there, including our brothers in Constantinople, who are stepping on the same historical rakes. In the 20th century, the latter completely turned away from the persecuted Patriarch Tikhon and his followers, recognizing the so-called "Living Church" supporters and "Renovationists".

Today, without the advice and consent of the Mother Church, turning away from His Beatitude Metropolitan Onouphry and the persecuted archpastors, pastors, monastics, and laity of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, they have invaded its territory and recognized schismatics in Ukraine who have neither Apostolic succession nor any ecclesiastical roots.

Just as the representatives of the Constantinople Church at that time abandoned the New Martyrs and Confessors, so now they pay no mind to the persecuted children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, nor to the violent seizures of its churches. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has good friends both in Washington and in various influential public organizations, as well as among Greek church figures, who continue, and will continue, to loudly bear witness to the truth of the Church.

— Your Eminence, using the platform of the oldest Russian newspaper abroad, what would you like to say once again and wish to all the spiritual children of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia?

"By the will of God we are scattered throughout the world," said St John (Maximovich). "Thanks to this, Orthodoxy is preached where it was not known before."

I sincerely thank the archpastors, clergy, and all of you, dear brothers and sisters, for your shared labors and prayers, by which, in the words of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, “thousands around you are saved,” and I fervently wish that the Lord may keep all of you in health and longevity, accomplishing the service to which each of us is appointed and called by the Chief Shepherd of the Holy Church. Preserve the Orthodox faith, our rich culture, traditions and customs, our languages — the Russian and Church Slavonic languages, the latter of which can express the truths of faith and prayerful feelings very deeply. Bring children into the churches and the schools attached to them.

Organize events that give young people the opportunity to meet other Orthodox believers. May the Lord grant strength and His gracious help to everyone in fulfilling their duties in the place where they are appointed, and may He preserve us all in spiritual growth and in the multiplication of goodness and God's truth on this earth.

I hope that our future service will continue in unity, and that prayer, which knows no distance or boundaries, will strengthen each of us: me in my Primatial service, you, Most Reverend fellow archpastors, venerable fathers, brothers, and sisters, in your service. In the Holy Scriptures, we are commanded to bear one another's burdens. Let us fulfill this covenant of the Apostle Paul, helping one another in prayer, supporting each other in the endeavor of serving God and people.

I will strive to remember all our archpastors, pastors, monastics, parishioners, and worshipers in my prayers, and I hope for your holy prayers, which will strengthen me in my service. May the Lord keep and bless us all!