On Friday, January 16, an official Nativity Reception was held in the Consulate of the Russian Federation in New York City, on behalf of Consul General Igor Leonidovich Golubovsky and the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, His Grace Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk. 

The reception was also attended by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America; His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and NY and His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan of the Russian Church Abroad. The Orthodox Church in America was represented by Protopresbyter Leonid Kishkovsky and Archpriest Eric Tosi. Clergy from the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and the Russian Church Abroad also gathered for the celebrations. 

Igor Leonidovich greeted all the guests and wished them all good fortune for the New Year. After congratulatory words from Metropolitan Hilarion and Archbishop Demetrios, Bishop John thanked all those for being present and noted the importance of this year, the 1000th Anniversary of the repose of Grand Prince Vladimir of Kiev. His Grace then read aloud the Epistle from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia commemorating this momentous anniversary.