2022-05-17 MEMORY ETERNAL! Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, reposes in the Lord
The Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, her Heir, H.I.H. The Tsesarevich and Grand Duk George of Russia, and his spouse, H.S.H. Princess Victoria Romanovna, were greatly saddened to receive the news of the death of Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) (6 January 1948 - 16 May 2022).
Metropolitan Hilarion (before monastic tonsure, Igor Alekseevich Kapral) dedicated himself from his earliest years to the service of the Holy Church. His spiritual formation took place under the guidance of Bishop Savva of Edmonton and Archbishop Averky of Syracuse and Holy Trinity. He was ordained a hieromonk in 1976 by Bishop Laurus of Manhattan (the future First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, under whom ROCOR was reunited with the Moscow Patriarchate). In 1984, he was called to the episcopacy and was consecrated the Bishop of Manhattan. He was then appointed the Deputy Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. In 1995 he was made Bishop of Washington, and in 1996 was raised to Archbishop and appointed the Ruling Bishop of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand. He made a vital contribution to the effort to reunite the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia with the Moscow Patriarchate in Russia, which was finally accomplished in 2007.
After the repose of Metropolitan Laurus on 16 March 2008, Archbishop Hilarion fulfilled the duties of First Hierarch pro tempore, and on 12 May 2008 the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia elected him as First Hierarch. The election was confirmed by the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate on 14 May 2008, along with the new title Metropolitan.
Metropolitan Hilarion always treated the Imperial House of Russia with love and deep respect. Before the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate were reunited and were still at odds with each other, Bishop Hilarion was not afraid to declare publicly that he did not support the attacks against the Imperial Dynasty that were being made by the First Hierarch of ROCOR, Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov), and many other bishops and clergy after the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. Grand Duke Wladimir Kirillovich, met with His Holiness Patriarch Alexey II of Moscow and All Russia in November 1991. As Archbishop of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand, he warmly received the Head of the Russian Imperial House H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia during her visit to Australia (in 2007). He also met with the Grand Duchess many times in Moscow. In 2013, Metropolitan Hilarion led a solemn Divine Service and other celebrations in New York dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the ending of the Time of Troubles, the restoration of Russian nation, and the calling to the throne of the House of Romanoff by the Great Church Council and Assembly of the Land in 1613.
For his outstanding services to the Holy Church, the Head of the Imperial House of Russia awarded Metropolitan Hilarion The Imperial Order of St. Anna First Class (in 2007). He was also awarded by the Grand Duchess the Imperial Commemorative Medals “In Memory of the 400th Anniversary of the House of Romanoff, 1613-2013” and “Anniversary of the National Triumph, 1613-2013.”
For his part, Metropolitan Hilarion expressed his recognition of the service to the nation and Church of Grand Duchess Maria, awarding Her Imperial Highness the Synodal Order of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God First Class (in 2013).
Grand Duchess Maria, Tsesarevich George, and Princess Victoria pray for the repose of the soul of the newly departed Metropolitan Hilarion, and extend their deepest condolences to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, members of the Holy Synod of Bishops, the clergy and faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
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Grant, O Lord, eternal rest to Thy newly reposed servant, Metropolitan Hilarion, and may his memory be eternal!
