On August 28, 2026, Apsida Studio partners Aleksandr Molodin and Deacon Andrei Malyshev met with His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, and Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov), Acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA. The meeting took place at Saint Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City.
During the meeting, Aleksandr and Andrei presented the studio’s recently completed and ongoing projects and shared an album featuring photographs of churches currently being designed or built. The conversation also addressed the practical difficulties that Orthodox communities encounter when undertaking construction, renovation, and infrastructure projects.
An important part of the meeting was the presentation of Apsida Foundation, a nonprofit initiative created to help Orthodox parishes raise funds for construction, restoration, accessibility improvements, utilities, and other essential needs. The Foundation is developing a dedicated crowdfunding platform through which parishes will be able to present their projects, receive direct charitable contributions, and seek support from both individual donors and business sponsors.
Bishop Matthew blessed the work of Apsida Studio. Speaking about Apsida Foundation, His Grace expressed great hope that the initiative would become a valuable resource for Orthodox parishes, help communities carry out long-awaited projects, and support their continued development. He also affirmed the Church’s support for this undertaking.
Aleksandr and Andrei also spoke about Apsida’s educational and publishing work. One of these initiatives is the annual Orthodox calendar, which includes feast days, fasting periods, liturgical dates, and selected passages from Orthodox sermons. The calendars are printed and distributed to parishes free of charge. Last year, 2,000 copies were produced, and the print run will be increased this year.
The team also presented its forthcoming publication, A Practical Guide for Parishes Building an Orthodox Church in America. The book is intended to help clergy, parish councils, and building committees understand the principal stages of planning, fundraising, design, permitting, and construction within the American professional and regulatory environment.
Recognizing the team’s extensive experience with Orthodox parish projects, Bishop Matthew proposed that Aleksandr Molodin and Deacon Andrei Malyshev offer a series of lectures for clergy and seminary students in the United States. The lectures will address the practical realities of planning, designing, building, and renovating Orthodox churches. The participants agreed to begin developing this educational initiative in the coming months.
For Apsida Studio, the meeting marked an important step in its continuing work to serve Orthodox communities not only through architecture, but also through education, practical guidance, and new tools for parish development.