NEW YORK: 15 May 2023
Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis visits the Synodal Residence of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

On Monday, 15 May, 2023, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York received His Eminence Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis, representative of His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, at his residence in New York.

Venerating the altar table of the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” and its holy relics, including icons belonging to the Royal Passion-Bearers, the mantle of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas, the reliquary containing the arm of Holy Martyr Elizabeth, the cassocks of St Tikhon of Moscow and St John of Kronstadt, Metropolitan Niphon gave Metropolitan Nicholas a gift of a triptych depicting the Resurrection of Christ.

The President of the Synod of Bishops then hosted a luncheon in honor of the lofty guest, during which they shared a brotherly archpastoral discussion touching upon a wide range of subjects of the life and service of the Holy Church of Christ. Participating in the event were Archpriest Serafim Gan, Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops; Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin), personal assistance of the First Hierarch of ROCOR, and the Synod jurisconsult Nicholas Ohotin.

Bidding farewell to Metropolitan Niphon, Vlayka Nicholas gave him a panaghia that once belonged to Metropolitan Hilarion (+3/16 May, 2022) of blessed memory, expressing his hope for future meetings and wishing Divine aid in the difficult service of Metropolitan Niphon, along with good health and firmness of spirit.

That same day, Metropolitan Nicholas departed for Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, to lead divine services devoted to the first anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Hilarion, who is interred in the monastic cemetery.