On May 19, 2026, on the eve of the Leave-taking of the Bright Resurrection of Christ, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated Matins at St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York with the clergy of the cathedral.
Praying at the service were parishioners, including members of the cathedral’s youth organization who had gathered for the traditional Tuesday meeting.
At the end of the service, Bishop Matthew addressed those gathered with a sermon, expressing his joy at praying together with his New York parish in the final days of the Paschal celebration.
Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov) read out the address of greeting from His Holiness KIRILL, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, on the occasion of Bishop Matthew’s 55th birthday, which had been marked the previous day. On behalf of the clergy and parishioners of the cathedral, Fr. Nikodim cordially congratulated the archpastor on this milestone and presented a commemorative gift. On behalf of the Orthodox youth organization, Bishop Matthew was congratulated by Sunday School teacher Marina Ivannikova.
The bishop sincerely thanked the clergy, cathedral staff and parishioners for their kind wishes and help in his ministry in the USA.
