Metropolitan Hilarion completes his visit to Barcelona with visiting Sagrada Familia

On 5 October 2010, the DECR chairman Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk who visited Barcelona, Spain, and was awarded the honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Theology of Barcelona, visited the Sagrada Familia church.

The Expiatory Church of the Holy Family, a world famous masterwork of the Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi, is a major attraction of the city. The eclectic neo-Gothic church with its unusual forms has been built on private donations since 1882. The Pope of Rome, Benedict XVI, fixed the date of its consecration on 7 November 2010.

Metropolitan Hilarion was accompanied by Mons. Lluis Martinez Sistach, Cardinal Archbishop of Barcelona; DECR staff members the Rev. Giovanni Guaita and deacon Alexiy Dikarev, and the secretary general of the Community of St. Egidio, Prof. Adriano Rocucci.

After visiting the church, Metropolitan Hilarion proceeded to the Barcelona airport and departed for Moscow.