NEW YORK: October 24, 2012
Metropolitan Ilarion of Volokolamsk Visits the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign”

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York met with His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion of Volokolamsk as the latter visited the spiritual and administrative center of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, accompanied by His Eminence Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA. The Primate of the Russian Church Abroad greeted the President of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate at the entrance to the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York City. The two hierarchs venerated the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign” and other holy icons of the Cathedral, and vestments belonging to Holy Patriarch Tikhon of All Russia the Confessor, and St John, Miracle-worker of Kronstadt. In the lower church, dedicated to St Sergius of Radonezh, the President of the DECR venerated the miracle-working “Harbin” Icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow.” The two metropolitans then proceeded to the residence of Primate of the Russian Church Abroad, where they enjoyed a fraternal conversation over tea. Metropolitan Hilarion told Metropolitan Ilarion of Volokolamsk and his delegation about life in the Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” and the administrative center of ROCOR.

In addition to the aforementioned archpastors, participating in the meeting were Protopriest Andrei Sommer, Senior Priest of the Cathedral; Protopriest Serafim Gan, Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops; Priest Nicholas Olhovsky, Caretaker of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God; Hieromonk Savvaty (Ageev); Priest Alexei Ulanov; Hierodeacon Ioan (Kopeikin), Aide to the President of the DECR; Mr LM Sevastianov, Executive Director of the Benevolent Fund of St Gregory the Theologian; Nicholas A Ohotin, Jursiconsult of the Synod of Bishops, and Mr MKh Palasio of the DECR.

Bidding farewell to Metropolitan Ilarion of Volokolamsk, Metropolitan Hilarion wished him and his delegation Divine help in their labors and safe passage home, giving him commemorative gifts.