On November 17, 2023, St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral was visited by the recently appointed Consul General of the Russian Federation in New York, Alexander Konstantinovich Zakharov. He was met by the rector of the cathedral, Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov, and the acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov). The guest was shown the church and the cathedral premises, followed by a conversation about the life of the Russian community in New York.
A.K. Zakharov has specialized in the North American region for many years and, before his current appointment, served as Consul General of the Russian Federation in Houston, Texas.
During the meeting, the parties expressed hope for the continuation of mutually beneficial relations between the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in New York and the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA.