On Sunday, 16th / 29th April 2018, the Fourth Sunday of Holy Pascha, our Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland joined in the thanksgiving expressed by the whole Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia for the tenth anniversary of the election and enthronement of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York as First Hierarch.

On this day, which followed a week in which a regular session of the Holy Synod of Bishops was held in New York, His Eminence — who is the direct Head of our Diocese — celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in the central Synod Building. 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, Administrator of our Diocese — together with a host of Priests and Deacons.

Before the veneration of the Cross at the conclusion of the Liturgy, Archbishop Mark, Vice President of the Synod of Bishops, congratulated the First Hierarch on behalf of the fulness of the Russian Orthodox Church, and gave him a commemorative panaghia crafted in the Russian capital and engraved with a special message. This panaghia was a gift from all the Dioceses of the Church, including the Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland which had a special collection from all its parishes to contribute to this gift as a token of our love for our First Hierarch.

full report, with photogallery, can be found on the Synodal web site.