NEW YORK: 3 April, 2026
Address of Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, on the Eve of Holy Week and Holy Pascha

Rejoicing in the completion of the Holy Forty Days of Lent, I greet the Most Reverend fellow archpastors, clergy, and the faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on the upcoming great and holy days!

Thank God, despite the troubling events in the world, we have the opportunity to observe our beloved traditions of the church celebration of Holy Pascha. We will try to take advantage of this and participate in the upcoming services of Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and the Bright Resurrection of Christ. Let us pray on these holy days for the restoration of peace among nations, for ourselves and our loved ones.

Every day of this salvific time is so rich, so deeply meaningful, that a person begins to understand the depth and beauty of our Holy Orthodoxy. Enriched spiritually in the church, let us bring our Paschal gift of gratitude for the repair of the Synodal residence in New York, around which scaffolding has been erected, and for our parish churches, where the clergy and faithful have the opportunity to stand before God, His Most Pure Mother, and the holy saints, to partake in God through the holy sacraments, and to commemorate their living and departed during the Divine Liturgy.

Let us not forget this upcoming Palm Sunday and the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, for which plate collections will be conducted in all churches and monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. I sincerely wish all of us a peaceful state of mind and joy in Christ. Peace and joy are the fruits of the Holy Spirit. A person can attract them to themselves only through warm and humble prayer. When we pray in this way, the Lord is with us by His grace, blessing also those for whom we pray.

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With love in the Lord,

+ NICHOLAS
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia