On Saturday, May 21, the feast of the Holy Apostle & Evangelist John the Theologian, the monastic funeral of the newly reposed First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad ‒ His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York ‒ was held in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.

Metropolitan Mark of Berlin & Germany officiated the service, co-served by members of the Synod of Bishops: Archbishops Kyrill of San Francisco & Western America, Gabriel of Montreal & Canada, and Peter of Chicago & Mid-America; and Bishops Nicholas of Manhattan and Irenei of London & Western Europe. Also taking part in the funeral rite were hierarchs of other Local Churches: Metropolitan Joseph of New York (Antiochian Archdiocese of North America; funeral only), Archbishop Michel of New York & New Jersey (Orthodox Church in America; Liturgy only), and Bishop Gedeon of Makarovka (vicar of the Kievan Metropolitanate, with the blessing of Metropolitan Onufry), as well as a multitude of the clergy of the Russian Church Abroad and guests.

That same day, Metropolitan Mark celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Sign, with archpastors, representatives of Local Orthodox Churches, and many clerics taking part.

Condolences on the repose of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad were received from Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow & All Russia, Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev & All Ukraine, Metropolitan Jonathan of Tulchin & Bratslav, Bishop Longin of New Gracanica (Serbian Orthodox Church), Metropolitan Joseph (Antiochian Archdiocese), and a large number of condolences from clergy and laity. They all speak of the reposed Metropolitan as a humble monk, a man of fervent prayer, a zealous server, and a good archpastor ‒ in short, a true Christian. Condolences continue to come in.

Archpriest Victor Potapov (dean of the Capital Region Deanery) delivered the eulogy. Fr. Victor and His Eminence were roommates and friends together at Holy Trinity Seminary, where they graduated together in 1972. The full text of the eulogy will be published in the near future.

After bidding farewell to the First Hierarch of the Russian Church, the coffin carrying His Eminence’s body was taken to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, where on Sunday, May, 22 ‒ the feast of the translation of the relics of the Holy Hierarch Nicholas the Wonderworker and the anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky; +1965) ‒ a solemn panikhida will be served, followed by the monastic burial rite of Metropolitan Hilarion in the monastery brotherhood cemetery.

Source: Eastern American Diocese (ROCOR)

Photogallery HERE.

Photo credit: Eastern American Diocese (ROCOR)