On Sunday, February 5, the feast day of the Holy Martyr Agathangelus, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan took part in the namesday festivities of Metropolitan Agathangel of Odessa & Izmail, and concelebrated the festal Divine Liturgy with His Eminence at Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Odessa. The Liturgy was also attended by Archbishop Alexius of Baltа & Ananyev, Archbishop Elisey of Izyum & Kupyansk,Archbishop Eulogius of Sumy & Akhtyrka, Bishop Peter of Ungeny & Nisporeny, Bishop Arcadius of Ovidiopol, Bishop Diodorus of Yuzhnoe, Victor of Artsiz, Bishop Sergius of Bolgrad, Archimandrite Seraphim (Rakovsky; rector of Odessa Theological Seminary), and numerous clergymen from Mount Athos, as well as from the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, a moleben was served to the Holy Martyr Agathangelus, after which His Grace, Arcadius, congratulated Metropolitan Agathangel on the occasion of his namesday.

In his response, His Eminence thanked everyone, emphasizing that "the namesday is a special Pascha which has gathered us today in this beautiful cathedral – the spiritual center of Odessa." Metropolitan Agathangel wished everyone good health, salvation, and God’s aid.

A festal banquet was then held in Odessa’s Holy Dormition Patriarchal monastery and, later that night, Metropolitan Agathangel hosted a dinner for Bishop Nicholas in the Metropolitan’s residence. His Eminence presented Bishop Nicholas with the Medal of St. Innocent of Odessa, 1st Class, for services to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Bidding farewell, Metropolitan Agathangel asked to convey his warm words and wishes to His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, and thanked the First Hierarch of ROCOR for the preservation and enhancement of brotherly ties between the Russian Church Abroad and the Diocese of Odessa.

The following morning, February 6, Bishop Nicholas departed for Kiev.