On Thursday, December 19, the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Divine Liturgy for the patronal feast of St Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City was celebrated by the Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh. His Grace was co-served by Bishop Vincent of Zlatoustovsk & Satka, clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in USA led by Archpriest Alexander Golubov, members of the Bishop’s Council in clerical rank and Abbot Tikhon (Gayfudinov; secretary to the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad).

At the Little Entrance, Bishop Matthew awarded Priest Nicholas DeGraaff (cleric of Three Saints Church in Garfield, NJ) the right to wear the gold pectoral cross and Deacon John Peters (cathedral cleric) was awarded the kamilavka.

After the Great Entrance, Bishop Matthew ordained cathedral cleric Deacon Yulian Ryabtsev to the priesthood, and after the Eucharistic Canon, Subdeacon Oleg Cruz (cleric of Our Lady of Kazan Church – Metochion of St. Demetrius Monastery in Spokane, WA) to the diaconate. During the Liturgy, Bishop Matthew ordained Timothy Micek a Subdeacon for service in Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Scranton, PA.

After Holy Communion, the hierarchs and clergy served a short moleben before the icon of St. Nicholas.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, Bishop Matthew greeted the clergy, parishioners and guests of the parish with the patronal feast and delivered a sermon. His Grace warmly greeted Bishop Vincent and in honor of his participation in the celebrations of the patronal feast, presented him with an icon of the Holy Patrons of North America. He also congratulated the newly ordained clerics of the Patriarchal Parishes – Priest Yulian and Deacon Oleg – wishing them God’s help in their service to the Holy Church.

The parishioners were also congratulated by Bishop Vincent, who presented Bishop Matthew a plate for Liturgical commemorations with an icon of St. John Chrysostom, and a baptismal treby set for St. Nicholas Cathedral.

A bountiful lenten luncheon was served in the cathedral refectory where interaction continued.