KIEV: May 17, 2022
His Beatitude Metropolitan Onouphry of Kiev and All Ukraine sends condolences to the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad on the repose of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion

To the Holy Synod of Bishops
of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Your Eminences and Your Graces,
Dear Fathers, Brothers and Sisters:

It is with great sorrow that I learned of the repose of our dear and beloved brother, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion.

From the fullness of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and on my own behalf I express heartfelt condolences to the hierarchs, clergy, monastics and all faithful flock of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia for the loss that has befallen you.

Vladyka Hilarion, whom I knew personally, was an outstanding hierarch. He fully and completely devoted himself to service to the Church. The blessedly-reposed Vladyka fulfilled his lofty archpastoral service, combining wisdom and firm leadership for the flock entrusted to him with personal humbleness and meekness. Over the course of his spiritual path, Metropolitan Hilarion obtained the gifts of the Holy Spirit, becoming for the faithful an example “in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12), to which the universal love for him bears witness.

During this Paschal season, we lift our prayers to our Risen Lord Jesus Christ for the newly-reposed bishop of God, that the Savior receive His faithful servant in the heavenly abodes, where there is no pain, no sorrow, nor sighing, but eternal joy and life everlasting.

Eternal and blessed memory to our dear and beloved brother, Metropolitan Hilarion!

+Onouphry,
METROPOLITAN OF KIEV AND ALL UKRAINE
PRIMATE OF THE UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

17 May 2002

The signed Russian version can be read here.