SERGIEV POSAD: October 9, 2017
Bishop Irenei of Sacramento Participates in Feast-Day Celebrations at Holy Trinity-St Sergius Lavra

On October 6, 2017, His Grace Bishop Irenei of Sacramento, Synodal Secretary for Inter-Orthodox Relations, represented the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia at divine services at Holy Trinity-St Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad, Russia, invited by His Holiness Patriarchate Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia to honor the 220th anniversary of the birth, and 20th anniversary of the glorification, of St Innocent of Moscow. Concelebrating with numerous hierarchs from across Russia before the relics of St Innocent, the saint’s great missionary works were remembered before a large assembly of the faithful — works that included missionary efforts in the territory of the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, where Bishop Irenei serves as vicar bishop.

On Sunday, October 8, Bishop Irenei concelebrated with His Holiness at Divine Liturgy in honor of St Sergius of Radonezh on the saint’s winter feast day. As has been the tradition at the Lavra since the time of Patriarch Alexei I, Divine Liturgy for the feast was celebrated in all the monastery’s churches, followed by a moleben in the “cathedral square” of the Lavra and a homily delivered by the Patriarch to the assembled hierarchs, monastics and faithful.

Over ninety bishops participated in the festal services in honor of St Sergius this year, including visiting bishops from the Local Autocephalous Orthodox Churches represented in Europe, who earlier in the week had assembled for a meeting in Moscow.

During his time at the Lavra, Bishop Irenei greeted His Holiness on behalf of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, and all the hierarchy of the ROCOR; and spoke with the Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations, His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion of Volokolamsk, about various matters relating to the work of the Synodal Biblical-Theological Commission, as well as other commissions and delegations in which hierarchs of the ROCOR take an active part.

Bishop Irenei also visited the grounds of the Moscow Theological Seminary and Academy, as well as the workshops of the Lavra’s School of Iconography, which recently completed work on the new frescos adorning the ROCOR Cathedral in London.

Photos: Patriarchia.ru; Archpriest Kyrill Sokolov