Primate of Autonomous Orthodox Church in Japan and DECR chairman celebrate Divine Liturgy in Tokyo

DECR Communication Service, 21/04/2024

On 21^st April 2024, 5^th Sunday of Lent, His Eminence Seraphim, Archbishop of Tokyo, Metropolitan of All Japan, Primate of the Autonomous Orthodox Church in Japan, and Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo.

Metropolitan Anthony had arrived in Japan the day before for a brief visit with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’.

Concelebrating with the hierarchs were local clerics and Deacon Nikolai Vasin, secretary to the DECR chairman.

The Liturgy was celebrated in the Japanese, Church Slavonic and English languages.

After the dismissal, Metropolitan Seraphim warmly greeted the DECR chairman, having noted that his visit to the Land of the Rising Sun served as an important indication of the Japanese Orthodox Church’s unity with its Mother Church – the Moscow Patriarchate.

His Eminence Seraphim conveyed gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and added that the Orthodox Christian flock in Japan prays unceasingly for His Holiness.

Metropolitan Seraphim also expressed appreciation to Metropolitan Anthony for his personal attention and for the active help that the Department for External Church Relations renders in resolving certain matters pertaining to the life and activities of the Japanese Orthodox Church.

The DECR chairman thanked Metropolitan Seraphim for his hospitality and joint prayers and conveyed blessings from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ to the Primate, clergy and flock of the Japanese Orthodox Church.

During a fraternal meeting that followed the hierarchs discussed a variety of questions. While in Japan, Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk also celebrated a moleben at the grave of Saint Nicholas of Japan, Equal-to-the-Apostles, and met with Archpriest Nikolai Katsuban, rector of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Metochion in Tokyo.

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Primate of Autonomous Orthodox Church in Japan and DECR chairman celebrate Divine Liturgy in Tokyo

Patriarch

Department Chairman

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons