« Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada and Bishop Matthew of Sourozh presided over the patronal celebration of the Patriarchal Cathedral of New York »

On December 19, 2025, on the feast day of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada and Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the festal Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City.

The hierarchs were assisted by Acting  Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov); Head of the Chancery, Priest Mark Rashkov; Dean of the Central States, Priest Joshua Gening; and cathedral clergy: Deacon Alexei Golubov, Director of the Service of Bishops' Protocol; Archdeacon Igor Panachev; and Deacon John Peters.

The Sacrament of Confession for parishioners and guests of the parish was performed by Priest Rodion Shamazov, Rector of St. George's Church in Bayside, New York, and Hieromonk John (Shefler), a cathedral cleric.

The liturgical hymns were performed by a large choir of St. Nicholas Cathedral under the direction of choirmaster K.V. Afanasyeva.

During the reading of the Hours, Bishop Matthew ordained to the rank of subdeacons rAnthony McCain, reader of St. Innocent of Irkutsk church in Radford, Michigan; and Oleg Cruz, reader of St. Andrew's Cathedral in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

During the Liturgy, Bishop Matthew ordained Subdeacon Oleg Cruz to the diaconate. After receiving Holy Communion, the Archpastors and concelebrating clergy performed a solemn magnification to St. Nicholas before the venerated cathedral icon.

Following the divine service, Bishop Matthew warmly greeted Archbishop Gabriel, the clergy, parishioners, and guests of the cathedral on the feast day of the patron saint of the Cathedral of the Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA.

"The icon of the miracle worker of Myra is an unsurpassed example for all the hierarchs of the Church of Christ.  "One of the worthy imitators of St. Nicholas's sacrificial service for us, the clergy serving in North America, is, of course, the builder of this cathedral and a great hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church—St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', whose centenary we celebrated throughout the past year," Bishop Matthew said. "We are concluding a series of jubilee services and events dedicated to St. Tikhon in the cathedral he built, and, fulfilling the blessing of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', we are donating a reliquary containing a portion of St. Tikhon's holy relics to the Canadian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. This relic, presented by the Primate of our Church in April of this year, has visited numerous Orthodox churches and monasteries, where the faithful have had the opportunity to pray to the Heavenly Patron Saint of North America."  We now convey this Patriarchal gift to you, dear Bishop Gabriel, for permanent residence within the Canadian Diocese."

In his response, Archbishop Gabriel asked that the clergy and laity of the Canadian Diocese convey the filial gratitude of the clergy and laity of the Canadian Diocese to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for this priceless gift, and he also congratulated Bishop Matthew, the clergy, and parishioners of St. Nicholas Cathedral on the feast day.

The service concluded with the proclamation of "Many Years" to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', the hierarchs, clergy, and all the faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church in North America.

The festive fellowship continued over a fraternal meal prepared by the sisterhood of St. Nicholas Cathedral.

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