Russian Ambassador in the USA meets with the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA

RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR IN THE USA MEETS WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PATRIARCHAL PARISHES IN THE USA

Russian Ambassador in the USA, Mr. Yu. Ushakov, met on June 24, 2003, with Bishop Mercurius of Zaraisk, administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA. His Grace Mercurius told the ambassador about the progress made in the restoration work in the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Nicholas in New York to be completed by November 16, 2003, when the 100th anniversary of the cathedral will be celebrated and the cathedral will be consecrated by an assembly of bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. Bishop Mercurius invited Ambassador Ushakov to take part in the forthcoming event so significant for the Orthodox community in New York.

The ambassador and the bishop also discussed ways to strengthen relations between Russian diplomatic departments and the Moscow Patriarchate Representations in the USA, to promote pastoral care for the Orthodox staff members of the embassy and to return the bells of St. Daniel’s monastery in Moscow, kept at present at Harvard University. All these questions met with Mr. Ushakov’s appreciation and he expressed readiness to give the necessary support and assistance in resolving them.