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Metropolitan Hilarion, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, who is on a visit to the United State of America, visited the residence of the Russian Church Outside Russia’ Synod on 5 February 2010 in New York.

He was welcomed by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Outside Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, and the clergy. The DECR chairman was accompanied by Archbishop Justinian, administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, and Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov of St. Nicholas’s in New York, representative of the World Russian People’s Council at the UN.

The ROC delegation visited the Synodal church of the Rooted Icon Our Lady the Sign to pray at the relics of holy martyrs Princess Elizabeth and sister Varvara and at the venerated copy of the miracle-working icon.

Addressing the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Outside Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion noted that only a day ago he together with other hierarchs attended the Bishops’ Council in Moscow, which made several decisions decisive for the life of the great and multinational Russian Orthodox Church. He said that he came to the American soil with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill to pray together with Orthodox brothers, Russian and American, and to meet with representatives of other Christian confessions in order to talk with them about Orthodoxy through lectures. ‘I am very glad that my trip begins with this church and our brotherly talk with you’, he said and wished Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York God’s help in his ministry and efforts.

Then the First Hierarch of the Church Outside Russia and Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk had a talk in which they discussed ways of consolidating the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church in the light of decisions made by the Bishops’ Council, which completed its work the day before.

DECR Communication Service