« Bishop Matthew held a working meeting with the staff of the Chancery of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States »
25-12-2025 
On December 22, 2025, in his office at the Moscow Patriarchate Representation in the United States, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, held a working meeting with Acting Chancellor Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov) and Head of the Chancery Priest Mark Rashkov.
During the meeting, Bishop Matthew summarised the Chancery's work in 2025, focusing on the events held in the past year commemorating the 100th anniversary of the repose of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. As part of the celebrations, concelebrations were held with the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, at St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City, St. Tikhon's Monastery in Pennsylvania, and in Anchorage, where Bishop Matthew represented the Russian Orthodox Church at the celebrations commemorating the glorification of St. Olga of Kvetluk (Alaska).
Bishop Matthew also noted the importance of holding a Congress of Clergy and Laity of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States in 2025, during which a conciliar service in memory of St. Tikhon was celebrated. Participants discussed current issues in the life of the Moscow Patriarchate parishes in the United States.
The Bishop reviewed the implementation of the resolutions adopted at the Congress and expressed gratitude to the clergy, parish committee members, volunteers, and all faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church in the United States for their diligent service and active work.
Meeting participants discussed plans for the coming year, including invitations received by the Bishop to visit several parishes celebrating anniversaries and memorial dates in 2026.
On behalf of the Bishop's Council and the clergy of St. Nicholas Cathedral in New York City, Hegumen Nikodim expressed filial gratitude to the Archpastor for his fruitful work and sensitive attitude toward the clergy under his jurisdiction and once again congratulated Bishop Matthew on the recent 10th anniversary of his episcopal consecration.