Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk venerates shrines of the Latvian Orthodox Church

On 19 March 2012, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, visited the Holy Trinity and St Sergius Convent in Riga. He and his suite were met by Metropolitan Alexander of Riga and All Latvia, Bishop Alexander of Daugavpils, clerics of the Latvian Orthodox Church, hegumenness Magdalina (Polyn), mother superior of the Convent, and sisters.

At the Trinity Cathedral Metropolitan Hilarion venerated the Tolga icon of the Mother of God and the icon of St Seraphim of Sarov.

After that Metropolitan Hilarion venerated the shrines of the Church of St Sergius: particles of the relics of St Sergius of Radonezh and of other saints, the “Quick to Hearken” icon, and the Tolga and the Pochaev icons of the Mother of God.

A repast was given at the refectory in honour of the high guest. Present at the dinner was H.E. Alexander Veshnyakov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Latvia.

That same day Metropolitan Hilarion, accompanied by Metropolitan Alexander of Riga and All Latvia and Bishop Alexander of Daugavpils, visited the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ in Riga and venerated the relics of hieromartyr John, Archbishop of Riga and All Latvia.