NEW YORK: 11 September, 2026
The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad welcomes Archbishop Damaskinos of Joppa

On Thursday, September 10, 2026, the day commemorating St Job, Abbot and Wonderworker of Pochaev, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, welcomed Archbishop Damaskinos of Joppa (Jerusalem Patriarchate), Head of the Patriarchal Representation in Jaffa and abbot of Archangel Michael Monastery in the same city, at the Synodal residence in New York.
His Eminence told Archbishop Damaskinos about the history of the Synodal residence and showed him the relics of the cathedral church. Here Archbishop Damaskinos venerated the altar, the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of he Sign," and the right hand of the Holy Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth, as well as other relics.

Then Metropolitan Nicholas suggested that Archbishop Damaskinos accompany him to his office, where a fraternal conversation between the two archpastors took place. During the conversation, Archbishop Damaskinos shared his memories of meetings with the late Metropolitan Laurus, who for forty years regularly traveled to the Holy Land with pilgrimage groups of Russian émigrés and their descendants, or on Synodal assignments.

He also remembered the monks who labored in the monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad in the Holy Land. Archbishop Damaskinos also spoke about the present day of the Jerusalem Church, which is going through difficult times due to the ongoing armed conflict in the Middle East. Metropolitan Nicholas asked Archbishop Damaskinos to convey his deep respect to His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III and assured his interlocutor of the prayers of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad for all Orthodox believers and for strengthening the Christian presence in the Holy Land.

At the end of the conversation, the hierarchs exchanged commemorative gifts.