NEW YORK: November 4, 2015
Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York Prayerfully Marks His Patron Saint’s Feast Day

On Tuesday, November 3, 2015, the feast day of St Hilarion of the Kievan Caves, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York.

His Eminence was joined by His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Deputy Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, and His Grace Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, along with clergymen of the Synodal chancery and cathedral and other clerics of various dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church. The celebrations were held in the presence of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign,” the Protectress of the Russian diaspora.

At the end of service, Vladyka John read a congratulatory message from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and gave His Eminence a bouquet of flowers. Vladyka Nicholas also shared warm greetings and gave him a gift from the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia as a token of thanks for granting his blessing to allow the Kursk-Root Icon to visit their dioceses. In response, His Eminence thanked the archpastors, clergymen and laity in attendance for their congratulations, their good wishes, attention and love.

At the trapeza luncheon that followed, attended by all the clergymen and worshipers, many speeches were made congratulating the Primate of the Russian Church Abroad. In response, Vladyka Hilarion thanked everyone present, as well as the cathedral sisterhood for organizing the splendid luncheon.