This is to inform you that by the Decree of His Grace, Matthew, Bishop of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Abbot Nikodim (Balyasnikov) has been appointed Acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA as of August 5, 2023.

Address from Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov) to the clergy and members of the committees of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA:

Dear Fathers and concelebrants in the Lord!

Taking on the obedience of Acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA with the blessing of our bishop, Matthew of Sourozh, I wish to greet all of you: Christ is among us!

Over the course of more than twelve years, as an assistant to the Administrators of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, I had the opportunity to visit all of our parishes and get to know all of you personally. I am confident that this experience will help me be an obedient servant to the bishop and of beneficial assistance to you in the tasks that lie ahead for the good of the Russian Orthodox Church in the United States of America.

I ask for your prayers and hope for kind and fruitful cooperation with you and the presidents and the members of the parish committees. 

Reverend Father Mark Rashkov, whom you all know well, will continue the work of the Chancery of the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA in his current role as Vice-Chancellor.

With brotherly love and respect in the Lord,

Abbot Nikodim (Balyasnikov)

Acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA