On April 27, 2023, a Paschal reception was held at St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York. The event was organized together with the Russian American Cultural Heritage Center (RACSI) as part of Russian and Russian-Speaking Americans History Month, celebrated annually in April in the State of New York. In 2012, on RACSI’s initiative, the New York State Senate adopted a corresponding resolution.
This time the Paschal celebration particularly marked the adoption in 2022 of a New York City law naming the section of East 97th Street on which St. Nicholas Cathedral, founded by the saint, stands after Patriarch Tikhon. RACSI made great efforts to make this happen.
This was noted by the rector of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, in his address to the guests. He then gave the floor to the president of the Russian American Cultural Heritage Center, O.S. Zatsepina, who thanked all who had contributed to commemorating the name of St. Tikhon in New York, especially noting the role of Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov) and Priest Mark Rashkov.
The cleric of St. Nicholas Cathedral, Priest Mark Rashkov, spoke to those gathered about the labors of RACSI Vice-President Julio Rodriguez, who made considerable efforts toward renaming the street.
In this connection, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ and on the instruction of Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov solemnly presented Julio Rodriguez with the Russian Orthodox Church’s “Patriarchal Gratitude” medal for outstanding service and many years of help to the church.
Among the guests at the reception were the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, V.A. Nebenzya, and his deputy A.M. Evstigneeva; the Vicar General of the Antiochian Archdiocese, Archpriest Thomas Zain; the Secretary of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Archpriest Serafim Gan; and the sacristan of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York, Archpriest Andrei Sommer.
At the end of the official program, the children’s dance ensemble “Kaleidoscope” from Brooklyn performed Russian folk dances. Then the guests were offered Paschal refreshments.