The 75th school year at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY has been successfully completed, and on May 28, the 7th Sunday after Pascha – that of the Holy Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council, the seminary celebrated its annual commencement.

On May 29, the Monday of the 7th week after Pascha, coinciding with the observance of Memorial Day, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, visited St. Tikhon Stavropegial Monastery of the Orthodox Church in America in South Canaan, PA.

On Wednesday, May 24 – the Apodosis of Pascha – the grace of God was poured out with overwhelming abundance on the brotherhood of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV. The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, presided at hierarchal Divine Liturgy, which was festively served (according to ancient custom) exactly as on Holy Pascha itself.

On May 21, the Sunday of the Blind Man, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church in Summerville, SC. That weekend, the parish was celebrating not only the appointed feasts of the day and Sunday, but also the 50th anniversary of its founding and the upcoming patronal feast of the Holy Equals-of-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius, Teachers of the Slavs ‒ May 24.

Thursday, May 25, the great feast of the Ascension of the Lord, marked the fifth anniversary of the blessed repose of Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov, longtime rector of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ. Parish and local clergy gathered to honor the feast and pray for the eminent cleric’s soul.

On May 21, the Sunday of the Blind Man, His Grace, Bishop Jerome (Shaw), paid an archpastoral visit to St. Nicholas Church in Poughkeepsie, NY. The hierarchal service was timed to coincide with the parish’s patronal feast day, which would take place the following day, May 22.

On Saturday, May 13, His Grace Luke, Bishop of Syracuse, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese and abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, arrived in Australia to take part in the celebrations of the centennial anniversary of the founding of Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Brisbane, Queensland.

On Saturday, May 13, the Russian School at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ held its graduation ceremony. The students and faculty first assembled in the cathedral for a thanksgiving moleben.

On Wednesday, May 24, the Leavetaking of Pascha, Deacon Vitaly Kichakov (cleric of St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Church in Utica, NY) reposed in the Lord. He was 74 years old.

On Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th of May, the Sunday of the Paralytic, the Youth Choir – under the direction of Gregory Ivanov – sang at the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy in the Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY.

On Tuesday, May 16, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York performed an archpastoral visit to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY to commemorate the first anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral), sixth First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

On Monday, May 15, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, received His Eminence Niphon, Metropolitan of Philippopolis, representative of His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch & All the East, to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia, at his residence in New York City.

On Tuesday, May 16, the Russian Church Abroad commemorated the blessed repose of its First Hierarch, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral).

On May 14, the 5th Sunday after Pascha, that of the Samaritan Woman, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On Saturday, May 13, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, participated in the festive reception for the enthronement of His Eminence, Metropolitan Saba, as primate of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America.

On May 7th, the Sunday of the Paralytic, the clergy and parishioners of St. Matrona Mission celebrated the first Divine Liturgy and patronal feast day at their new location in Lexington, KY. With the blessing of His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, the parish transferred the celebration of the feast of St. Matrona of Moscow from May 2nd to that Sunday.

On Friday, May 12, the Eastern American Diocese Assembly was held at Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY. Officiating the Assembly was the Diocese’s Ruling Bishop, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

We have gathered during these Paschal days for the first time in five years. I am glad we are able to meet and hope that we will be able to discuss our diocesan affairs for the benefit of all.

On April 30, the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women, Protodeacon Andrei Psarev, professor of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, NY, concelebrated at Divine Liturgy with the clergy of Holy Presentation Church in Stratford, CT, and after lunch delivered a lecture for parishioners and guests entitled "The History of the Russian Orthodox Church: Part II – the Muscovite Period."

After serving Divine Liturgy on Sunday, May 7, Archpriest Victor Potapov (rector of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC) received a call from a parishioner who had been at the capital’s Rock Creek Cemetery visiting the grave of her son. She informed Fr. Victor that the Iveron Cemetery Chapel had been vandalized.

The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia held its regular teleconference on Thursday, May 4, chaired by its Primate, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York. During his first visit as First Hierarch to Germany

On Saturday, May 6, the feast day of the Holy Great-Martyr & Trophy-Bearer George, St. George Cossack Church in Howell, NJ celebrated its patronal feast.

On April 30, the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York performed an archpastoral visit to Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Brooklyn, NY, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the parish’s patronal feast.

On April 30, the 3rd Sunday of Pascha, dedicated to the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women, His Grace, Bishop Jerome, paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy. The visit to the Nyack parish on this weekend has become an annual tradition for the retired diocesan vicar.

On Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th of April, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York visited St. Panteleimon Church in Hartford, CT, where he officiated the solemn divine services on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the founding of the parish.

On April 23, the 2nd Sunday of Pascha, dedicated to the Holy Apostle Thomas, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada celebrated Divine Liturgy in St. Seraphim Cathedral of Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY.

On Thomas Sunday, April 23 ‒ the feast of Antipascha – the patronal festal celebrations of Holy Resurrection Diocesan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina were officiated by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, who arrived from New York accompanied by the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora – the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

On Thomas Sunday, April 23, local faithful and members of the Kuban Cossack Voisko gathered at St. Vladimir Cemetery in Jackson, NJ, for the traditional "Krasnaya Gorka" celebrations – when believers, radiant with Paschal joy, come to the cemeteries to pray for their departed relatives in the hope of the general resurrection.

NEW PHOTOS! The Diocesan Media Office will publish photo-reports of Holy Week & the Feast of feasts – the Lord’s Pascha in the parishes and monasteries of the Eastern American Diocese on the diocesan website. 

On Bright Saturday, April 22, clergy of the New Jersey Deanery gathered at St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ, where they celebrated Divine Liturgy.

On Bright Monday, April 17, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy. At the entrance to the cathedral, His Eminence was greeted by the gathered clergy and students of the parish Russian School.

On the night of Sunday, April 16, the clergy and parishioners of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City celebrated the principal feast of the Christian world – Christ’s Glorious Resurrection.

On Great Saturday, April 15, when the Orthodox Church commemorates the bodily burial of Jesus Christ and His descent into Hades, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City

With a sense of Paschal joy and special spiritual closeness, despite the distances separating us, I greet you, Eminent Brother-Archpastors, reverend fathers, dear brothers and sisters scattered throughout the world, on this great and light-bearing day of the Pascha of Christ!

I address all of you, Orthodox Christians living in many countries of the world, who are now in churches or praying in your homes, to extend greetings to you on the great feast of Holy Pascha with my heart full of spiritual joy, and to proclaim victoriously in accord with ancient tradition:

On Great & Holy Friday, April 14, when the Holy Church commemorates the holy, salvific, terrible suffering and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, divine services in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City were officiated by His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York...

On Great and Holy Wednesday, April 12, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated the final Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts for this year in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Concelebrating with His Eminence were Archpriest Andrei Sommer (cathedral dean), Archpriest Serafim Gan (chancellor of the Synod of Bishops), and cathedral clerics.

On Thursday, April 6, the eve of the great feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, Matushka Galina Tkatschow reposed in the Lord after a long illness. She was the wife of Archpriest Nicholas Tkatschow, rector of the Church of the Entrance of the Mother of God into the Temple in Syracuse, NY.

On the great feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York officiated All-Night Vigil on Saturday the 8th and celebrated Divine Liturgy on Sunday the 9th of April in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On Saturday, April 8, the feast of the Raising of the Righteous Lazarus, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY, and celebrated Divine Liturgy there.

On Friday evening, April 7, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York officiated the Sacrament of Holy Unction in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On Friday, April 7, the great feast of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Annunciation Church in Flushing, NY, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy in honor of the parish’s patronal feast day.

Having gathered in Saint Mary of Egypt Church in Atlanta, Georgia, for the Lenten retreat and conference of clergy of the southern deaneries of the Eastern American Diocese, we, clergy and monastics, spending the past two days in fraternal interaction, attending the divine services and communing of Christ’s Holy Mysteries

On Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of April, the feast of Venerable Mary of Egypt, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to St. Mary of Egypt Church in Roswell (Atlanta), GA, and officiated the divine services on the occasion of its patronal feast day.

On Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, the feast of the Laudation of the Most Holy Theotokos, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to the Church of Our Lady "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in Cumming (Atlanta), GA.

On Wednesday, April 5, the Great Lenten Retreat for clergy of the southern deaneries of the Eastern American Diocese concluded with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts in St. Mary of Egypt Church in Roswell (Atlanta), GA.

On Tuesday, April 4, clergymen of the Eastern American Diocese flocked to St. Mary of Egypt Church in Roswell (Atlanta), GA for the start of the Southern Great Lenten Clergy Retreat.

On Saturday, March 25, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, arrived in Washington, DC, to officiate the divine services for the 4th Sunday of Great Lent and the first Unction service of the Fast for parishioners of the capital’s St. John the Baptist Cathedral (the second will take place on Sunday, April 2).

On March 26, the fourth Sunday of Great Lent, dedicated to Venerable John Climacus, the clergy and faithful of the New Jersey Deanery gathered at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ for Divine Liturgy and later, after a fellowship luncheon, to receive the Sacrament of Holy Unction.

On Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th of March, St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City hosted a performance of the musical work "Kanon Pokajanen" ("Penitential Canon") by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.

Almost two and a half years after breaking ground, the local building inspection office granted the parish of Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Harrisonburg, VA a temporary occupancy permit, allowing them to move into their new church edifice at 5004 Cross Keys Road, Mount Crawford, VA. It is only seven minutes from where they had been renting, just outside the city limits of Harrisonburg.

Having gathered in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York, for the Lenten retreat and conference of clergy of the northern deaneries of the Eastern American Diocese, we, clergy and monastics, having bowed down in worship before the Cross, communed of the Holy Mysteries, and honored the memory of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste, raised up our prayers for the flock entrusted to us.

On Wednesday, March 22, the feast of the Holy 40 Martyrs of Sebaste, the Great Lenten Retreat for clergy of the northern deaneries of the Eastern American Diocese concluded with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.

On March 19, the Sunday of the Cross, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On Friday, March 17, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York paid an archpastoral visit to St. Michael Church in Wayne, NJ, where he performed the Sacrament of Holy Unction.

On Tuesday, March 21, clergymen of the Eastern American Diocese flocked to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY for the start of the Northern Great Lenten Clergy Retreat.

On March 19, the Sunday of the Cross, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York performed the Sacrament of Holy Unction in Holy Myrrhbearers Church in Brooklyn, NY.

On Thursday, March 16, the 15th anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) of blessed memory, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, visited Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.

On March 12, the second Sunday of Great Lent, that dedicated to the Holy Hierarch Gregory Palamas, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to Protection of the Mother of God Church in Rochester, NY ‒ his first visit in the rank of Metropolitan.

On March 5, the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy and officiated the Rite of Orthodoxy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

During the first week of Great Lent, February 27- March 3, the full cycle of divine services was held in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. Leading the reading of the Great Penitential Canon of St. Andrew of Crete in the evenings, as well as the Divine Liturgies of the Presanctified Gifts, was Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Luke of Syracuse.

With the start of Great Lent, the divine services with the reading of the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete were held in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. On Monday, February 27, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York officiated Great Compline with the reading of the Great Canon.

Online registration for the 2023 Lenten Retreat for clergy of the Eastern American Diocese has opened on the diocesan website. 

On Clean Monday, February 27, the Orthodox Church entered the period of Great and Holy Lent. Lent ‒ also known as the springtime of the soul ‒ is a special time of repentance and cleansing of man’s soul.

On Cheesefare Sunday, February 25, the commemoration of Adam’s expulsion from paradise, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

In 2018, for the first time, I had a chance to talk about the history of the ROCOR, Byzantine imperial history, and Church law in the English-language community of St. Nektarios of Aegina in Lenoir City (Knoxville), TN. During that meeting, I recorded an interview with the parish rector, Archpriest Job Watts.

On Thursday, February 23, a regular session of the Synod of Bishops convened via videoconference, presided over by His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

On February 19, Meatfare Sunday, that of the Dread Judgement, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On February 12 ‒ the Sunday of the Prodigal Son and the date when the Holy Church honors the Synaxis of the Three Great Hierarchs and Universal Teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom ‒ Three Hierarchs Church in Hollywood, FL celebrated its patronal feast day. The day before the feast, parishioners spent a Saturday workday preparing the church and adorning their patronal icon.

On Thursday, February 16, the feast day of the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Nicholas, Archbishop of Japan, the namesday of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York was solemnly celebrated in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On Wednesday, February 15, the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord, Bishop Theodosius of Seattle, first vicar of the Western American Diocese, celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

On Wednesday, February 15, the great feast of the Meeting of the Lord, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Presentation Church in Stratford, CT, and officiated the divine services for the parish’s patronal feast day.

This year, the feast of the Three Great and Holy Hierarchs – Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom ‒ the patronal feast of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY ‒ was celebrated with special solemnity. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the seminary, and to mark the occasion, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad – His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, arrived to officiate the divine services.

On Saturday the 11th and Sunday the 12th of February, the Sunday of the Prodigal Son and the day when the Holy Church honors the Synaxis of the Ecumenical Teachers and Hierarchs ‒ Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom ‒ Bishop Theodosius of Seattle, first vicar of the Western American Diocese, paid his first archpastoral visit to St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ.

The Eastern American Diocesan Council held its quarterly meeting on Friday, February 3, in a remote, online format. Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York opened the meeting and, after a prayer, welcomed the Council members.

On Sunday, February 5, the Holy Church honors the memory of the synaxis of New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia. Prior to the start of Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church in Brooklyn, NY, the clergy and faithful greeted the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. On the occasion of the parish’s patronal feast, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York arrived to celebrate the festal Liturgy...

On Friday evening, February 3, with the blessing of His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Luke of Syracuse, Priest Joseph Farooq (rector of St. Michael the Archangel Mission in Sargodha, Pakistan) delivered a presentation on the life of the Pakistan Mission to students of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY.

On Sunday, January 29, the feast of the Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Holy Apostle Peter, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York performed an archpastoral visit to St. Luke the Blessed Surgeon Church in Pompano Beach, FL.

On Saturday the 28th and Sunday the 29th of January, the Sunday of Zacchæus, a youth choir comprised of choristers from parishes of the Eastern American Diocese in New York and New Jersey visited St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY.

On Saturday, January 28, the feast of Venerable Paul of Thebes and John Calabytes, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York performed an archpastoral visit to St. Vladimir Church in Miami, FL, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy.

On Tuesday, January 31, Mary Ann Oselinsky ‒ Matushka to Archpriest Dimitri Oselinsky of St. Mary of Egypt Church in Atlanta, GA ‒ reposed peacefully in the Lord. A caring wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, she was 77.

On Friday, January 27, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to Paideia Classical Academy in Coconut Creek and the Apostolic Mission of Christ Parish in Miami, FL. This was His Eminence’s first visit to the area since his election as First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

On Sunday, January 29, the feast of the Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Holy Apostle Peter, Divine Liturgy was celebrated in St. John of Kronstadt Memorial Church in Utica, NY by parish rector Archpriest Michael Taratuchin.

On Thursday, January 26, Our Lady of Pochaev Church in North Port, FL received a visit from the great and holy wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

On Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd of January, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to Holy Epiphany Church in Roslindale (Boston), MA, where he officiated the festal divine services. His Eminence’s visit was timed to coincide with the parish’s patronal feast day – the great feast of the Lord’s Theophany, which had been celebrated three days prior.

The great feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Theophany) was celebrated in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York officiated the All-Night Vigil on Wednesday the 18th and celebrated Divine Liturgy on Thursday the 19th of January.

On Sunday, January 15, Holy Virgin Protection Russian School in Nyack, NY held its annual Yolka celebration. As in years before, the children of the school diligently worked since October to present the play "By the Wish of the Pike," a fanciful morality play representing the importance of honesty and good deeds by your own hands.

On Saturday, January 14, the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord and the Holy Hierarch Basil the Great, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, paid an archpastoral visit to St. Basil Church in Simpson, PA, where he celebrated Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the parish’s patronal feast day.

On Sunday, January 15, the commemoration of the Repose and Second Finding of the Relics of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada visited Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo" in Nanuet, NY, on the occasion of the patronal feast day of its main St. Seraphim Cathedral, and celebrated festal Divine Liturgy.

The great feast of the Lord’s Theophany was celebrated in our Lady of Pochaev Church in North Port, FL.

On January 15, the 31st Sunday after Pentecost, that before Theophany, and the date when the Holy Church honors the memory of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City

The joyous feast of Christ’s Nativity was prayerfully celebrated in Our Lady of Pochaev Church in North Port, FL.

On Monday, January 9, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern American & New York, paid his first official visit following his election as First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad to the Mid-American Diocese. His Eminence accompanied the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God on his visit, to the joy of the local faithful.

On January 8, the 30th Sunday after Pentecost and the Sunday after the Nativity of Christ, when the Holy Church celebrates the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos and honors the memory of St. Joseph the Betrothed, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

The Diocesan Media Office has begun publishing photo-reports of the Nativity of our Lord in parishes and monasteries of the Eastern American Diocese on the diocesan website. 

This year, the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY was festive as usual, however without the snow that usually typifies the feast.

On Saturday, January 7, the great feast of the Nativity of Christ, a multitude of parishioners and faithful from other churches in the city gathered in the cathedral; in comparison with past years, many more families were in attendance with their children. All came to express their love for the newborn Divine Infant Christ.

Today, as the Heavenly and earthly Church in conciliar unity glorifies God Incarnate, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all of you on the great and radiant feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In these days of great joy, the thoughts of the archpastors, pastors, monastics, parishioners, and faithful of the churches and monasteries of our dioceses, scattered like God’s wheat over the vast earth, meet in the meek Bethlehem cave, in the semi-darkness of which was lit the unquenchable Light of the world ‒ our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

On behalf of the episcopate and the fullness of the Russian Church Abroad, I hasten to fraternally assure you of our common love, support, and prayers for the speedy overcoming of the present difficult ordeals which have befallen you, your monastic brethren

On January 1, 2023, the 29th Sunday after Pentecost and that before Christ’s Nativity, dedicated to the Holy Fathers, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated the first Divine Liturgy of the calendar year in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.