On Tuesday evening, March 17, during the Great Lenten Retreat for clergy of the northern deaneries, the Diocesan Council met for its first quarterly meeting of 2026. Part of the Council met in person in the media room of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, while the rest were connected remotely. The meeting was opened by His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, who greeted the Council members and wished them all a spiritually profitable Great Lent.

Both the Northern and Southern Lenten Retreats went very well. An excellent presentation on ROCOR Liturgical Traditions was delivered by Archimandrite Peter (Karakozoff), Bishop-elect of Seattle, sparking much lively discussion and sharing among the clergy. A total of 142 clergymen participated in the two retreats.

The agenda covered the noted growth of parish life within the Diocese. A financial overview for the first quarter of 2026 was reviewed, as were the regular updating of protocols and practices for clergy. These will be further discussed at the Diocesan Triennial Assembly, which is tentatively scheduled to take place in October at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC.