Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk begins working visit to Estonia

On March 17, 2012, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, head of the Moscow Patriarchate’s department for external church relations, arrived in Tallinn, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russian and at the invitation of Metropolitan Kornily of Tallinn and All Estonia.

At the Tallinn airport, he was welcomed by Bishop Lazar of Narva and Prichudje, Russian Ambassador to Estonia K. Merzlyakov and S. Mjannik, member of the Synod of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

On March 18, the Sunday of the Adoration of the Cross, Metropolitan Hilarion, Metropolitan Kornily and Bishop Lazar celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Tallin.

After the Reading of the Gospel, Metropolitan Hilarion delivered a sermon on the theme of the Holy Cross and the feat of confession performed by holy martyrs.

After the Prayer Before the Ambo, Metropolitan Kornily warmly welcomed Metropolitan Hilarion, noting that his visit was a testimony to the solid bonds tying Orthodox Christians in Estonia with their Mother Church.

In response to the Metropolitan Kornily’s welcome, the DECR chairman said in particular, ‘I am glad to see you, Your Eminence, in good health… For many years you have worked to strengthen Orthodoxy in this land. Your feat also included confession when you were a prisoner. But today the Church, though in a difficult situation, can freely carry out her service and witness. And you head Estonian Orthodoxy in a dignified and righteous way, showing to the world the image of a good and humble pastor – a shepherd who knows his every sheep by name and the sheep listen to his voice and follow him’.

DECR Communication Service