On December 21, 2025, the 28th Sunday after Pentecost, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States, celebrated Divine Liturgy in St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York City.
At the entrance to the church, Vladyka was greeted by Sunday School students and their director, Matushka Alexandra Kurakevich. The Archpastor was assisted by cathedral clergy, as well as Archpriest Mark Shinn, Rector of St. Andrew Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA, and Archpriest Mikhail Kapchits, Dean of the Eastern States.
During the Liturgy, Vladyka ordained Deacon Oleg Cruz, cleric of St. Andrew Cathedral in Philadelphia, to the priesthood.
The liturgical hymns were performed by a large choir of St. Nicholas Cathedral under the direction of choirmaster Ksenia V. Afanasyeva.
Numerous parishioners and guests prayed during the Liturgy, including parishioners of St. Andrew Cathedral who had arrived from Philadelphia.
The service was attended by the Russian Consul General in New York, A.G. Markov, and his wife.
Following the divine service, the acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes, Abbot Nicodemus (Balyasnikov) greeted Vladyka on behalf of the clergy and parishioners and congratulated him on the 10th anniversary of his episcopal consecration and presented him with a bishop's mantle bearing the image of St. Nicholas and St. Tikhon on the tablets.
The Bishop warmly thanked the clergy and parishioners for their warm welcome and prayerful companionship in his episcopal work.
Bishop Matthew especially welcomed Father Mark Shinn and the pilgrims from Philadelphia, and also heartily congratulated the newly ordained Priest Oleg Cruz, wishing him God's help in his high priestly ministry to the Church of Christ. The Archpastor thanked all the participants in the service for the joy of prayerful fellowship, the choir for their beautiful singing, and the activists of the cathedral's youth organization for their magnificent decoration of the church for the feast.
In memory of the divine service, Bishop Matthew presented all those gathered with icons of the Most Holy Theotokos and wished her prayerful intercession during the continuing days of the Nativity Fast.
Vladyka, clergy, and faithful continued their fellowship over a fraternal meal prepared by the cathedral sisterhood.
