NEW YORK: February 5, 2016
Hierarchs of the Russian Church Abroad Will Join the Patiarchal Visit to Paraguay and Brazil

As reported today at a press conference given by His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion of Volokolamsk, President of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will visit the Republic of Paraguay on February 14-15, 2016, at the invitation of President Horacio Manuel Cartes. The visit will memorialize the Russian emigration of the 1920’s and 1930’s, who made enormous contributions to the nation’s development. They explored harsh geographical areas, made scientific expeditions to study the lives of local Indians and taught in institutions of higher learning.

On February 15, the feast day of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, His Holiness will celebrate Divine Liturgy at Protection of the Most-Holy Mother of God Russian Orthodox Church in Asuncion. He will then visit the Russian section of the local cemetery, where he will perform a memorial litiya. Later that day, Patriarch Kirill will meet with President Cartes and Russians living in the country.

His Holiness’ subsequent visit to Brazil will mark the 95th anniversary of the arrival of 1,217 Russian refugees from Gallipoli to Rio de Janeiro, which occurred on July 21, 1921, as well as the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of Argentina and South America of the Russian Orthodox Church, of which Brazil became a major part. The visit will begin with the nation’s capital, Brasilia, where His Holiness will meet with President Dilma Rousseff. Patriarch Kirill will then visit Rio de Janeiro, where he will perform a moleben at the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado. He will then visit Holy Martyr Zinaida Russian Orthodox Church and will meet with Cardinal Orani Joao Tempesta.

The visit to Brazil will conclude on February 21 with a trip to Sao Paolo. His Holiness will officiate at Divine Liturgy at St Paul Cathedral of the Antiochian Orthodox Church, and will visit Annunciation Russian Orthodox Church.

Accompanying His Holiness will be hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia: His Grace Bishop John of Caracas and South America, His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland, His Grace Bishop George of Canberra and His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan.