Festive services were held at St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York on the feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in 2026.
On the eve of the feast, Great Compline and Matins were celebrated, and at midnight the early Divine Liturgy was celebrated. After the Gospel reading, the acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov), read the Nativity Message of His Holiness KIRILL, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’.
The liturgical hymns were performed by a large episcopal choir under the direction of regent Ksenia Vadimovna Afanasyeva. In selected works by Russian church composers, solo parts were performed by well-known soloists—Yana Besyadynskaya (soprano), Alexander Chaplinsky (baritone), and Pavel Roys (tenor).
Numerous parishioners and guests of the parish prayed at the service, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN and the Consulate General of Russia in New York.
After the sermon, the choir sang traditional Christmas carols and hymns in various languages. At the end of the service, all participants in the celebration were offered a festive meal prepared by the cathedral sisterhood.
On the morning of the feast, the late Liturgy was celebrated by the cathedral cleric Priest Anthony Kurakevich. During the service, the Nativity Messages of His Holiness and of Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, were read. At the end of the service, all participants were offered a festive meal.
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