NEW YORK: May 1, 2018
The 10th anniversary of Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York as First Hierarch is celebrated

On Sunday, April 29, 2018, the 4th Sunday of Pascha, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York. His Eminence was joined by other members of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia: His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany; His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America; His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada; His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan and His Grace Bishop Irenei of Sacramento. Also serving were Senior Priest of the cathedral, Protopriest Andrei Sommer and his clergymen and visiting clerics. Peter Fekula led the joyous singing of the cathedral choir..

Consul General of the Russian Federation in New York Sergey Ovsyannikov and delegates from the Permanent Mission of the Russian Fedaration to the United Nations were also in attendance.

A special commemoration was made for the murdered Tsar Alexander II on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of his birth with the singing of Eternal Memory, and Many Years was sung to Metropolitan Hilarion, marking the 10th anniversary of his service as Primate of the Russian Church Abroad. Mitred Protopriest Victor Potapov, Rector of St John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC, delivered a sermon.

Before the veneration of the cross, Archbishop Mark, Vice President of the Synod of Bishops, congratulated the First Hierarch on behalf of the Fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church, and gave him a panaghia crafted in the Russian capital engraved with a commemorative message. Metropolitan Hilarion then expressed his gratitude.

A buffet was then offered in the courtyard as members of the Yale Russian Chorus under the direction of Stepan Sveshnikoff sang Russian patriotic and folk songs in perfect Russian. A luncheon honoring His Eminence was then offered in the Synod hall, where Archbishop Gabriel, Bishop Nicholas, Fr Andrei, Protopriest Serafim Gan, Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops, Hegumen Theophylact of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, cathedral Warden Sergei Yakushin, Maria Potapov, Fr Victor’s matushka, and others congratulated Vladyka Metropolitan. He then expressed his profound thanks to all in attendance: his brother archpastors, assistants, clergymen, warden and the sisterhood and all those who displayed their attention, support and love.