Russian Orthodox Liturgical Resources

Handbook of Liturgical Practice of the Russian Church Abroad

Liturgical Question:

At every place where the services appoint the commemoration of the Hierarchy, our practice is for the following to be commemorated, and in this order: (1) His Holiness the Patriarch, (2) the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, (3) the Ruling Hierarch of our Diocese as well as any other Hierarchs who are present in the church during the Divine Service (whether serving or not). The Hierarchs commemorated under this third section are commemorated in order of seniority.

The customary format for Hierarchical commemorations in our Diocese is as follows (and with this precise wording, not altering titles or forms):

In the Litanies:

“For our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill; for Our Lord the Most Reverend Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; and for Our Lord the Right Reverend Bishop Irenei; for the venerable priesthood….”

“О великомъ господинѣ и отцѣ нашемъ, святѣйшемъ патріарсѣ Кириллѣ, и о господинѣ нашемъ высокопреосвященнѣйшемъ митрополитѣ Иларіонѣ, первоіерарсѣ Русскiя зарубежныя церкве, и о господинѣ нашемъ преосвященнѣйшемъ епископѣ Иринеѣ, честнемъ пресвитерствѣ… и т.д.”

At the Great Entrance:

“Our Great Lord and Father, His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Our Lord the Most Reverend Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern-America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad; and Our Lord the Right Reverend Irenei, Bishop of London and Western Europe, may the Lord God remember in His Kingdom… etc.”

“Великаго господина и отца нашего Кирилла, Святѣйшаго Патріарха Московскаго и всея Руси, и господина нашего высокопреосвященнѣйшаго Иларіона, митрополита восточно-Американскаго и Нью-Йоркскаго, первоиерарха Русскія зарубежныя церкве, и господина нашего преосвященнѣйшаго Иринея, епископа Лондонскаго и Западно-Европейскаго, да помянетъ Господь Богъ во Царствіи Своемъ… и т.д.”

When other Hierarchs are present in the church (whether or not they are serving), they are inserted into the listing of Hierarchs that follows the First Hierarch of the ROCOR, by order of seniority, with this clarification: the phrase ‘Our Lord, the Right Reverend…’ (о господинѣ нашемъ преосвященнѣйшемъ…) is not included of Hierarchs, whatever their rank, who are visiting, or of Vicars, as they are not ruling Hierarchs of this Diocese; in their cases, we commemorate them as ‘The Lord, the Right Reverend…’ (о господинѣ преосвященнѣйшемъ… [without нашемъ]).