Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Tallinn

On 29 April 2011, the feast of the “Life-Giving Fount” Icon of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Tallinn. Metropolitan Korniliy of Tallinn and All Estonia was praying during the service.

Concelebrating with Metropolitan Hilarion were Bishop Lazar of Narva; archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR deputy chairman; hierodeacon Ioann (Kopeikin), assistant to the DECR chairman; and clerics of the Estonian Orthodox Church.

After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion led the procession of the cross around the cathedral.

Metropolitan Korniliy greeted the DECR chairman from the ambo, noting the importance of the living link with the Russian Church for the Estonian Orthodox Church. He expressed his hope for a visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill to Estonia and asked Metropolitan Hilarion to convey to the Patriarch his gratitude for the care for the Estonian Church.

In his address, Metropolitan Hilarion spoke of Pascha and noted that people should abide in the Lord especially during the holy days of Pascha and take the Holy Communion.

“I was happy to see very many worshippers in the cathedral today, most part of whom took the Holy Communion, thus receiving God’s grace pouring on us all during these days in a special way.”

The DECR chairman wished Metropolitan Korniliy God’s help in his difficult and responsible service to the Church of Christ and physical and spiritual strength.

That same day Metropolitan Korniliy gave a festive dinner in honour of the high guest.