New York's first Muslim mayor takes oath on Quran
Mamdani taking the oath. Photo: nytimes
On January 1, 2026, 34-year-old Democrat Zohran Mamdani took office as the mayor of New York City, becoming the first Muslim, the first representative of South Asia, and the first native of Africa to hold this position. The ceremony took place shortly after midnight at a closed subway station under the city hall building.
Mamdani placed his hand on two Qurans during the subway ceremony and on another one during the public ceremony at the city hall. The two copies belonged to his grandfather and grandmother, and the third is a late 18th to early 19th-century manuscript from the Schomburg Center's collection of the New York Public Library.
According to the library's curator, Hiba Abid, this Quran symbolizes the diversity and scale of the city's Muslim community. In his election campaign, Mamdani promised to create a universal childcare system, freeze rent, and make buses free.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that for the first time, a Muslim was elected as the mayor of New York City in the USA.
Read also
Sloviansk authorities re-register UOC cathedral under OCU
The organizer of the cathedral’s “transfer” in Sloviansk, Oleksandr Onyshchenko, said that even if he had killed one Russian soldier every day, he would not have caused greater harm to Russia.
His Beatitude presides at liturgy at Florovsky Monastery on Bright Monday
The Primate of the UOC celebrated the Paschal service at the Kazan Cathedral of the Florovsky Monastery and distributed gifts to children.
Usyk takes part in Paschal night service in Spain
Oleksandr Usyk carried a cross in the Paschal procession before the festal Matins.
“Our people waited 2,000 years for this” – Rabbi on Temple Mount
Rabbi Elisha Wolfson thanked the minister of national security for what he described as historic changes to the rules governing prayer on the Temple Mount.
Procession with “Axion Estin” icon held at Koutloumousiou on Mount Athos
On Bright Monday, Mount Athos held its traditional procession with the “Axion Estin” icon, drawing clergy and pilgrims alike.
No public order violations reported during Pascha, National Police say
A National Police spokesperson thanked Ukrainians for their responsible approach to the celebration of Pascha.