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In 1895, a second mission in New York City was established called [http://www.russianchurchusa.org/index.php3?mode=985&ln=en The Russian Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas], and began to flourish under the direction of its second pastor, Father [[Alexander Hotovitzky]] (also recently [[Glorification|glorified]] by the Russian Orthodox Church). In 1901, Bishop [[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon]] (later Patriarch Tikhon) laid the cornerstone for the new [[St. Nicholas Cathedral (New York, New York)|Cathedral of St. Nicholas]] from which he would direct the American church until he was called back to Russia in 1907. The cathedral was completed in 1904,
The [[cathedral]] served the needs of Orthodox Christians in New York and throughout the country until 1926, when as a fallout of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia the building was declared the legal property of American representatives of the "[[Living Church]]". The head of the Russian Mission, Metropolitan [[Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York|Platon]] was restrained from further use of archdiocesan property. Temporary facilities were used until 1943 when a former German Methodist [[church]] at 59 East Second Street was purchased and renovated. It was dedicated to the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos. Over the next 31 years, the [http://www.ocanycathedral.org/DIRlistinghome.asp?SID=9&KEY=OCA-WA-NYCPRV html 2nd Street cathedral] served as the headquarters of the church in America, housing offices of the chancery and related national organizations, and convening meetings of the Metropolitan Council, the [[Holy Synod]] of Bishops (known until [[autocephaly]] as the "Great Council of Bishops"), and several [[All-American Sobor|All American Church Sobors]]. For many years most episcopal consecrations and ordinations to the [[diaconate]] and [[priest]]hood also took place there.
===Local Diocese of the Ruling Hierarch ===