Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan concludes his visit to Russia

The Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan performed s pilgrimage to Russia from September 28 to October 6, 2005. The guest from the USA visited the holy sites of the Russian Orthodox Church with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia.

On September 29, Bishop Gabriel visited Donskoy and Danilov Monasteries in Moscow and St.Nicholas’ Monastery in Ugreshi, where he met with its abbot Bishop Veniamin of Lubertsy.

The next day Vladyka Gabriel visited the Optina Hermitage of the Presentation in the Temple of the Holy Virgin.

On Saturday, October 1, the Secretary of the Synod of Bishop visited the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St.Sergius, where he venerated the holy relics of the ancient monastery and met with Bishop Evgeny of Vereya, Chairman of the Education Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church and Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary.

On October 2, Bishop Gabriel visited St.Petersburg, where he met with Metropolitan Vladimir of St.Petersburg and Ladoga, and also made a pilgrimage to the holy sites of the city on the Neva River. On Sunday, Vladyka prayed during Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

On October 3, Vladyka Gabriel visited the Valaam stavropegic monastery of the Transfiguration, and on October 4 – the Solovki stavropegic monastery of the Transfiguration.

On October 5, Bishop Gabriel met with Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, secretary for interorthodox relations of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate at the DECR MP offices. They discussed prospects of the dialogue and rapprochement between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

That same day, Bishop Gabriel attended a ‘ Victorious People’ concert dedicated to the 625th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo held at the Hall of Church Councils in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

After the concert, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia had a short meeting with Vladyka Gabriel held in a warm atmosphere.

On October 6, the Secretary of the ROCOR Synod of Bishop left for New York.