« First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad and Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA & Canada Prayerfully Commemorate the 19th Anniversary of the Reconciliation of the Russian Orthodox Church »
23-05-2026 
On May 21, 2026—the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord and the feast of Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian—hierarchs, clergy, and laity of the Russian Church Abroad and the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA prayerfully observed the 19th anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York. Concelebrating with him was the Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, dean of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York, Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Abbot Nicodemus (Balyasnikov); and clergy of the Synodal Cathedral.
The liturgical hymns were performed by the full complement of the Synodal Choir, under the direction of Choirmaster Vadim Gan. Numerous laypeople from the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA and the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Church Abroad prayed at the Liturgy.
Following the Augmented Litany, Metropolitan Nicholas offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the restoration of the unity of the Russian Church. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, the First Hierarch addressed the faithful with a sermon dedicated to the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord and Holy Apostle John the Theologian. Metropolitan Nicholas reminded those gathered that it was precisely on the Feast of the Ascension in 2007—at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow—that the ever-memorable Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus' and the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Laurus, signed the Act of Canonical Communion, which brought an end to the division between the Church in the Homeland and the Church in the Diaspora. Metropolitan Nicholas warmly welcomed Bishop Matthew, noting with satisfaction the good fraternal relations existing between the clergy and parishioners of the dioceses of the Russian Church Abroad and the Patriarchal Parishes in North America; furthermore, in commemoration of their concelebration on this festive day, he presented him with a gift: a book of sermons and spiritual reflections by departed hierarchs of the Russian Church Abroad.
In turn, the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada thanked Metropolitan Nicholas for the opportunity to celebrate this solemn feast together through the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, as well as for the constant attention and assistance extended to the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA. Bishop Matthew presented the First Hierarch with a gift: a holy panagia bearing the image of the Most Holy Theotokos, crafted by Russian artisans. The divine service concluded with the proclamation of "Eternal Memory" for the ever-memorable Patriarch Alexy II and Metropolitan Laurus, followed by the polychronion for His Holiness, the Most Holy Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', as well as for the hierarchs, clergy, and all faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church—both in the homeland and in the diaspora.
The fellowship among the hierarchs and clergy continued over a fraternal meal, at the conclusion of which a working meeting took place between Metropolitan Nicholas and Bishop Matthew. Also participating in the discussion were Archpriest Serafim Gan, Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad; Archpriest Andrei Sommer, Dean of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign; and Abbot Nicodemus (Balyasnikov), Acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA. During the ensuing discussion, various matters regarding cooperation between the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA and the Eastern American Diocese were addressed.
Photos: V. Gaberman - Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese
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