On Thursday, December 7, the feast of the Great Martyr Catherine, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of all America and Canada led the patronal feastday celebrations of the St. Catherine the Great Martyr Church in-the-Fields, the Metochion of the Orthodox Church in America to the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow.

His Beatitude was co-served by the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk; Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa, Vicar of the Diocese of the West as well as Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR Vice Chairman; Dean of the Moskvorets District of the Central Deanery in Moscow, Archpriest Nikolai Krechetov; Archimandrite Theoktist (Dmitrov), representative of the Church of Bulgaria to the Russian Orthodox Church; representative of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia to the Russian Orthodox Church, Archimandrite Serafim (Shemyatovsky); rector of St. Tikhon Church in Anchorage, Alaska, Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk; members of the official delegation of the Orthodox Church in America, parish clerics and clergy of the Moscow city diocese. 

Also attending the Divine Liturgy was Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Canada to the Russian Federation, John Ker; Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Mexico to the Russian Federation, Norma Bertha Pensado Moreno; Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs of the Embassy of the United States, Christopher Robinson and Minister-Counselor for the Embassy of Canada, Stefan Joben. 

After the Divine Liturgy, the Primate of the Church in America warmly greeted the serving clergy and parishioners with their patronal feastday as well as to all those who bear the name Catherine. 

His Beatitude expressed gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for his invitation to serve alongside the other heads of the Local Orthodox Churches for the commemoration of the centennial of the restoration of the Patriarchate as well as the election of St. Tikhon (Bellavin) as Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. Metropolitan Tikhon noted that participating in these momentous occasions has enabled him to lead the patronal feastday celebrations of St. Catherine's Church, which has served as a center for pastoral care of English-speaking believers as well as a testimony of the fraternal relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon presented to those gathered, Archpriest Daniel Andrejuk, who elected by the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America and confirmed by the Holy Synod of the OCA, has been appointed as rector of the metochion and representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Russian Orthodox Church.

A festive luncheon was held afterwards in honor of His Beatitude's visit as well as the parish's patronal feastday.

DECR Communication Service

Translated by www.mospatusa.com