On Wednesday, April 7, on feast of the repose of St. Tikhon (Belavin), Patriarch of All Russia - Confessor, at the invitation of His Beatitude Tikhon, Metropolitan of All America & Canada and with the blessing of the Interim Administrator of Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, clerics of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York, Abbot Nicodemus ( Balyasnikov) and Priest Mark Rashkov visited the spiritual and administrative center of the Orthodox Church in America in Syosset, New York.

In the St. Sergius Chapel, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon celebrated the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, during which the Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, Archpriest Alexander Rentel; Acting Secretary of the  Orthodox Church in America, Priest Alessandro Margheritino; representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate, as well as staff of the chancery. At the end of the service a short moleben was performed in front of the reliquary containing a particle of the holy relics of St. Tikhon, after which those present congratulated His Beatitude on the anniversary of his monastic tonsure.

The clerics of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral greeted His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and relayed congratulations from the Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk and the interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh.

The guests' interaction with His Beatitude and the staff of the administration of the Orthodox Church in America continued over tea, during which the parties discussed issues of mutual interest, and also exchanged views on parish life during the pandemic. Taking into account the rapidly changing situation, it was decided to maintain constant contact between the administration of the Orthodox Church in America and the office of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in order to agree on festive events commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Granting of Autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in America, that were canceled last year due to the pandemic.

Photos: www.oca.org