KIEV: May 10, 2010
The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad Officiated at Divine Liturgy at the Ancient Pechersk Lavra 

On Sunday morning, May 9, 2010, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, officiated at Divine Liturgy celebrated at Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra along with His Eminence Archbishop Pavel of Vyshgorod; His Eminence Archbishop Antony of Borispol, Rector of the Kievo-Pechersk Academies and Seminaries; His Grace Bishop Ilary of Makarovsk; His Grace Bishop Panteleimon of Vasilkovsk and the Lavra’s clergymen.   

After Liturgy, the Lavra’s abbot hosted a reception, at the end of which the ROCOR guests, along with Bishop Panteleimon, headed for the chancery of the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Then, together with His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir, they went to Vladimir-Volynsk to participate in the 850th anniversary celebrations of Dormition Cathedral.  

On the way to Volyn’, the group stopped for lunch at a wonderful place known as “Staraya Guberniya” [old guberniya], the owner of which is a philanthropist and friend of Metropolitan Vladimir. The idea of Staraya Guberniya is to recreate the daily life, furnishings and environment of the days of old. The next stop was to Stavropighial Koretsky Convent, where the delegation was offered tea. Afterwards, the visitors were given a tour of the monastery grounds and its holy relics.

The convent’s hallways are filled with photographs of monastic life. One of the plaques commemorated a visit by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus after the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion.   

That evening, the delegation arrived at Zimnensky Dormition Convent.