DIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND: December 6, 2016
Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York Leaves Australia for New York

On Sunday, November 27, 2016, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, celebrated Divine Liturgy at SS Peter and Paul Cathedral in Sydney, Australia, along with His Grace Bishop George of Canberra, Vicar of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, and the cathedral’s clergymen. His Eminence ordained Nectarius, son of Protodeacon Alexander Kotliaroff, as a reader before the service began.

Before the veneration of the cross, Vladyka George and Protopriest George Lapardin addressed Metropolitan Hilarion, and on behalf of the parishioners and worshipers giving him a gold mitre to mark the 20th anniversary of his leadership of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

On December 1, Vladyka Hilarion arrived in New York. On Thursday, December 8, a regular meeting of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia will convene here, to coincide with the celebration of the feast day of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," on Saturday, December 10, at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign.”