EASTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: 4 February 2026
Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York makes a primatial visit to the Dominican Republic

On Saturday, January 31, and Sunday, February 1, 2026, the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, paid an archpastoral visit to the mission parish in Sosúa, Dominican Republic. The parish, dedicated to the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, was founded by Priest Rafael Martinez-Gonzalez in 2008 and was originally located in Puerto Plata, but later, in 2020, moved to the nearby city of Sosúa, where it is now located in a rented property.

A special feature of this mission parish is that, in addition to Russian-speaking parishioners who came to the country from various republics of the former Soviet Union and newly-converted Dominicans, the parish is also attended by members of the Russian-Dominican Center for Science and Culture. All of its members, like Fr Rafael, cherish memories of Russia and Russians from the time they studied there. They have not forgotten the Russian language, are interested in Russian culture, and continue to support the community.

It was they, together with Fr Rafael, church warden Sergei Nikulin and other parishioners, who warmly greeted the First Hierarch at the airport in Puerto Plata. Also coming to greet His Eminence, who arrived accompanied by Archpriest George Zelenin and Protodeacon Andrei Logvinenko (clerics of St Michael Church in Wayne, NJ), were clerics of the ROCOR mission in Puerto Rico: Archpriest Gregorio and Hieromonk Daniel (Justiniano).

Metropolitan Nicholas and all those accompanying him went to the church, where they were greeted with bread and salt. Fr. Rafael and Fr Andrei served vespers. His Eminence prayed on the kliros, where he assisted the choirmaster with reading and singing during the service. At the end of the service, Metropolitan Nicholas consecrated a lovely new set of liturgical vessels which he brought as a gift for the mission. This donation was made by Deacon Nicholas Ilyin (cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY) and his Matushka Nadine. His Eminence also donated a set of liturgical books, akathists, and icons for the church and for distribution to parishioners. This long day for the Metropolitan (which started at 3 am) ended with a fraternal meal with all the clergy, their families, and the active members of the mission parish.

On Sunday morning, Metropolitan Nicholas along with all of the visiting clergy celebrated Divine Liturgy. Before the start of the service, Maximos López (Puerto Rico) and Serafín Núñez (Dominican Republic) were tonsured as readers for the missionary communities in Latin America. At the minor entrance, His Eminence awarded Fr Rafael the gold pectoral cross and, based on a resolution of the Synod of Bishops, elevated him to the rank of archpriest for his many years of diligent missionary service.

Toward the end of Liturgy, the Russian Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, AV Seredin, and the embassy’s secretarial assistant AA Agafonov arrived at the mission church. They traveled a long distance from the nation’s capital for a one-hour meeting with the First Hierarch. During the meeting, issues of mission development were discussed.

Metropolitan Nicholas and those accompanying him also inspected the area adjacent to the premises rented by the church, considering its possible acquisition for the development of the mission parish in the Dominican Republic. The visit concluded with a delectable meal, also prepared by the sisters under the guidance of Olga Nikulina, who also serves as the choir director.

Many parishioners in North America and elsewhere visit the Dominican Republic on vacation. We encourage parishioners, if they find themselves in Puerto Plata, to check the schedule of services (the parish has its own website) and visit this parish, supporting the development of the mission in this country.

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