SALZBURG: 13 May, 2026
The Primate of the Russian Church Abroad visits Protection of the Mother of God Church in Salzburg

The following is a report by a participant in the event:

May 2-3, 2036, became truly historic and unforgettable for the Protection of the Mother of God Church in Salzburg, Austria. His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York , First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, arrived on a pastoral visit from distant America. In Munich, he presided over the centennial celebration of the German Diocese, which includes the Protection Parish. Such events occur extremely rarely, and therefore his very arrival was perceived as a special grace of God and a great comfort for all parishioners.

Vladyka Nicholas himself recalled that he had once passed through here and then felt that he absolutely had to return. And indeed, his return became a real breath of fresh air for Protection Parish, a source of quiet joy and inspiration. Everyone who had the chance to meet the Primate noted his remarkable kindness, simplicity, and extraordinary closeness to people. There was absolutely no sense of any external aloofness or cold solemnity in him. On the contrary, he spoke to everyone simply, warmly, and sincerely, as if to a long-known friend.

His sermons were especially memorable. They were remarkably simple in form, without complex theological reasoning or grandiose words, but it is precisely such words that penetrate directly into the heart and remain there for a long time, perhaps even for a lifetime.

The First Hierarch spoke about the fact that among us there are always people bearing a heavy burden: someone experiences a tragedy, illness, inner torment, or struggles with their demons. And in such moments, we all need to remember the Most Holy Mother of God. Being the purest and brightest among people, She endured the most terrible pain — seeing Her Divine Son crucified on the Cross.

She knew who He was, and yet she had to go through the fullness of human suffering. The Church correctly teaches: "And a sword will pierce your own soul also." But it is precisely the Resurrection of Christ that illuminates all this darkness. Christ rises—and with Him it is as if the whole world is revived, hope is restored, comforting both the Most Holy Theotokos and every person. Therefore, no matter how heavy our trials are, no matter how gloomy the path may seem, we must always look forward, ahead to the Risen Christ.

This is exactly how Vladyka Nicholas spoke about it — with such love, inner strength, and authenticity that these words were forever imprinted on the souls of those listening.

And the service itself during these days was extraordinary. A special atmosphere reigned in the church — an atmosphere of light, prayer, and spiritual joy. Everyone who came to share this celebration with us felt it.

A special blessing was the presence in our church of the miraculous Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, one of the most revered shrines of the Russian diaspora. This icon is even older than the famous “Trinity” by St Andrei Rublev, which only recently, to the great joy of the faithful, was returned from the museum to the church for prayerful veneration. It was before the Kursk Root Icon that young Prokhor Moshnin once received healing, who later became Saint Seraphim of Sarov.

It is hard to even imagine what kind of queues would form if this shrine were in some large city. But with us, it stayed in the church for two days, and everyone could calmly approach it, venerate it, pray, ask for help from the Most Holy Mother of God, open their heart before Her, pour out their sorrows, and place their hope.

Evening service was held before this icon on Saturday, and on Sunday, Divine Liturgy. Serving with Metropolitan Nicholas were those who accompanied him from America: the Secretary of the First Hierarch, Archpriest Serafim Gan, and Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur, who support the office of the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR in New York.

Also, at the service, guests from Munich prayed — Archpriest Sergiy Bakaraev and Archpriest Dmitriy Isaev from Bielefeld, as well as a priest who arrived from Ukraine. Among those praying in the church were distinguished guests: Dmitriy Dmitrievich Cherkashin, Consul General of the Russian Federation along with his parents, who specially came to meet with the First Hierarch, as well as the great-grandson of Bishop Stefan, who had built the current church, Sergey Sevbo with his wife. Also praying in the church was a benefactor of the parish, Viktor Zelenyuk, who deliberately flew in from South Africa.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence presented the rector of the church with a commemorative cross in honor of the centenary of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, and also gave a gilded liturgical spoon with enamel, with a wish that as many faithful as possible would receive Holy Communion from it. In response, the rector of the Church of the Protection of the Holy Theotokos in Salzburg, Archpriest George, addressed the Archpastor with a respectful word of gratitude:

Your Eminence, dear Lord Vladyka First Hierarch! Today we have together sincerely given thanks to the merciful God for His love to people. We also thank You for your attention to our parish and your archpastoral ministry on Austrian soil! On this joyful day for the community, we respectfully ask you to accept a modest gift — a silver panaghia with the image of Saint Mitrophan of Voronezh — as a memento of prayer! By visiting the musical capital of Europe, you have opened a new chapter in the history of the Salzburg parish and provided impetus for further labors.

We wish you, dear Vladyka, from merciful God, bodily health, salvation of the soul, and strength in the field of archpastoral care of our growing Russian Orthodox Church Abroad! Eis polla eti despota!

It was also a special joy that matushka Galina Kharlova was awarded a decree of blessing by the German Diocese for assistance in the development of the parish and choir service. This award was completely deserved, and we all warmly congratulated her and thanked her for many years of work.

After the service, a group commemorative photograph was taken — a historic shot that will undoubtedly remain in the memory of our parish. After the service, there was a communal meal, during which the Primate once again addressed everyone with a warm sermon. He wished our parish the speedy construction of a new church so that all who wish to pray would have the opportunity. Our current church has long been unable to accommodate everyone who wants to pray at the same time, and therefore the hope for a new house of God lives in the heart of every parishioner.

The distinguished guest praised the work of our sisterhood, who lovingly prepared a lavish festive meal. And indeed, everything was arranged with great care and diligence. Even those who could not fit into the banquet hall were not forgotten: additional tables were set up near the church under umbrellas, so that every worshiper felt welcomed and accepted.

The real highlight and continuation of the celebration was the concert of our talented performers — singers and musicians serving in the choir: Anna Kharlova, Maria Abdykaeva, Anastasia Irem Turkmen, and Alexander Kharlov. The performance was led by Elena Kononenko, who did so with incredible inspiration and skill. One wanted to listen without being distracted for even a moment. Metropolitan Nicholas especially noted the efforts of all the concert participants and sincerely thanked them for this wonderful gift to the parish.

To all the workers and benefactors of the parish, His Eminence presented small, but very memorable gifts with his personal signature and a wish for Easter joy — as a blessing and a remembrance of these bright days.

At the end of the reception, the clergy, with the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, accompanied by the church treasurer, Andrei Mahanets, and Sergey Sevbo, went to the Consulate General of Russia. There, His Eminence was invited to make an entry in the book of honorary guests, and also a prayer service was conducted, after which the Metropolitan wished the diplomats God's help in serving people and their homeland.

The busy Sunday program did not end with the fact that the entire delegation went to the city cemetery to honor the memory of the first head of the Austrian and Viennese diocese, with the see in Salzburg, Archbishop Stefan (Sevbo). The primate performed a requiem, they sang Eternal Memory and visited the graves of the priests who served in Salzburg, and as sang the Easter Troparion at the grave of Baron Nikolaj Meyendorff.

Continuing the program of the overseas guests' visit, in the city center, they became acquainted with the historical heritage, the Monastery of the Apostle Peter, which has been active from its founding in 700 AD up to the present day.

Late in the evening, the clergy together with the convent of the church once again performed a prayer and, having received the blessing from the Archpastor, sent the weary guests off to Munich. There, the next day, work continued within the framework of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad and a session of the Synod of Bishops, held in an expanded format.

We sincerely thank Vladyka Nicholas, all his companions, the clergy, the sisterhood, the brotherhood, and our dear parishioners for their labors, diligent prayers, and the grace-filled time spent together!

Let us pray to the Lord, seek help from the Most Holy Theotokos and all the saints, keeping the unity of spirit, love, and faith. And, despite any trials, let us remember the main thing: the path of a Christian always leads forward — to the Risen Christ.