Metropolitan Hilarion begins his visit to Kharkov

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On 12 November 2010, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations, currently on a visit to Ukraine with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, arrived in the Kharkov diocese.

In the morning of November 13, Metropolitan Hilarion, accompanied by archpriest Mikhail Kit, secretary of the Kharkov diocesan administration; Rev. Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for inter-Orthodox relations; hierodeacon Ioann (Kopeikin), assistant to DECR chairman; and L. Sevastianov, head of the St. Gregory the Theologian Charity Foundation, visited St. Panteleimon's Church and celebrated a litiya at the tomb of archpriest Leonty Tanashkin (1955-95). Fr. Leonty was an organizer of the Kharkov Council, which elected Most Reverend Vladimir (Sabodan) Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine in 1992.

The DECR chairman and his suite proceeded to the Monastery of the Intercession, which houses the residence of the ruling hierarch and the Kharkov Theological Seminary. Metropolitan Hilarion was met by Archbishop Onufry of Izyum, a vicar bishop of the Kharkov diocese, and clergymen.

Metropolitan Hilarion met with Metropolitan Nikodim of Kharkov and Bogodukhov at his residence. The DECR chairman warmly greeted the eldest archpastor of the Moscow Patriarchate and wished him God's help in his ministry. The hierarchs exchanged presents.

Metropolitan Hilarion also met with the faculty and students of the Kharkov Theological Seminary. The DECR chairman shared his views on the tasks of pastors in the modern world and answered questions.

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Metropolitan Hilarion begins his visit to Kharkov

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons