On Thursday, February 2, 2023, St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York was visited by the Patriarchal Vicar of the Patriarchate of Antioch, Metropolitan Antonios (El-Souri) of Zahleh and Baalbek, temporarily heading the Antiochian Archdiocese in the USA until the election of its primate. His Eminence was accompanied by the Vicar General of the Antiochian Archdiocese, Archpriest Thomas Zain; a member of its chancery staff, Priest Paul Matar; the Metropolitan’s personal secretary, Hieromonk Porphyrios (Ibrahim); and Subdeacon Elio Nicolas.
Metropolitan Antonios was welcomed by the rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral and Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, and the Vice-Chancellor, Priest Mark Rashkov. After a short tour and veneration of the cathedral’s holy objects, Metropolitan Antonios conveyed the best wishes of His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and thanked the cathedral clergy for their hospitality and the opportunity to visit the church.
In memory of the visit, Fr. Igor presented Metropolitan Antonios with an icon depicting the founders of St. Nicholas Cathedral: St. Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia, and Hieromartyr Protopresbyter Alexander Hotovitzky.
Fellowship continued over a meal offered to the guests at the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA.