01.02.2010 12:50
Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations elevated to the rank of metropolitan
During the Little Entrance of the Divine Liturgy celebrated to mark the first anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia at the cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church granted hierarchical awards to several hierarchs of the Moscow Patriarchate:
- Archbishop Varsonofy of Saransk and Mordovia was elevated to the rank of metropolitan in acknowledgement of his zealous service of the Church of God and in connection of his appointment as Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate and permanent member of the Holy Synod;
- Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk was elevated to the rank of metropolitan in acknowledgement of his zealous service of the Church of God and in connection with his appointment as chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations and permanent member of the Holy Synod;
- Bishop Ionafan of Abakan and Kyzyl was elevated to the rank of archbishop in acknowledgement of his zealous service of the Church of God;
- Bishop Mark of Yegoryevsk, Moscow Patriarchate secretary for ROC institutions abroad, was elevated to the rank of archbishop in acknowledgement of his zealous service of the Church of God;
- Bishop Yelisey of Surozh was elevated to the rank of archbishop in acknowledgement of his zealous service of the Church of God.
Patriarchal press service