After the granting of the Tomos of Autocephaly to the North American Metropolis by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1970 and the recognition of the new Local Orthodox Church with the right of "exclusive jurisdiction, both spiritual and canonical over all bishops, clergy and laity of the Eastern Orthodox confession in continental North America," -Saint Nicholas Cathedral in New York received the status of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the United States.

At the same time, Saint Nicholas Cathedral became the main cathedral for the clergy and laity of those parishes that expressed a desire to remain in the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as a residence for the bishop - Administrator of these parishes, which began to be called the Patriarchal Parishes.

The activities of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the United States are directed by His Holiness, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia through his vicar bishop - Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States, as well as the leadership of the Department of External Church Affairs, a synodal institution responsible for the implementation of the external activities of the Moscow Patriarchate, such as: establishing relationships between the Russian Orthodox Church and other Autocephalous Churches, non-Orthodox Churches and Christian associations, contacts with non-Christian religious communities and interreligious organizations, intergovernmental and public international organizations; working with Russians abroad, helping them in establishing and developing regular contacts with the Church in Russia.

15 East 97th Street,

New York, NY 10029, USA

877-431-7348

representation@ruschurchusa.org

The Patriarchal Parishes in the USA are a canonical division of the Russian Orthodox Church that unites parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the United States of America and Mexico, the clergy and laity of which have expressed their desire to remain in the Russian Orthodox Church, after granting the Autocephalous status to the North American Metropolis in 1970. Forty-three parishes in the United States, as well as the Edmonton and Canadian Diocese, have been united into the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada. 

Today, the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States include 33 parish communities and 1 monastery in honor of the Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki. 

The head of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States is His Holiness, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, who administers through his vicar bishop.