CRIMEA: July 20, 2017
Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol and Crimea Welcomes the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

On the hundredth anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution and the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the First Hierarch of ROCOR, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, is making his ninth pilgrimage to the great holy sites of Russia.

The 2017 pilgrimage His Eminence is leading includes visits to Moscow, Meshchovsk, Optina Hermitage, Ryazan, Vyshensky Hermitage, Diveevo, Murom, Pereyaslavl-Zalessk, Godenovo, Sergiev Posad, Khotkovo, as well as Simferopol, Bakhchisarai, Sevastopol, Khersones, Yalta and Alupka.

On July 19, the pilgrims arrived in the capital of Crimea. The First Hierarch and his pilgrims were greeted at the airport by His Eminence Metropolitan Lazar of Simferopol and Crimea and local clergymen.

Metropolitan Lazar thanked Vladyka Hilarion for visiting, which is a great event for all Crimeans; it was the Crimean land that is called the “cradle of Orthodox Christianity” of Russia, and to this day contains many holy sites. It was in Crimea that tradition holds Apostle Andrew the First-Called began his sojourn in the North, SS Cyril and Methodius began their mission to the Slavic nations in Crimea. Here, Holy Prince Vladimir, Illuminator of Rus, was himself baptized.

The pilgrims were taken on an excursion of the city, and visited Holy Trinity Convent, where Metropolitan Lazar and Metropolitan Hilarion performed a moleben before the reliquary of St Luke, Confessor of Crimea.

The pilgrims will remain in Crimea until July 25. Metropolitan Hilarion will lead visits to Holy Dormition Monastery of the Caves, a tour of the mountains of Crimea and the holy sites of Bakhchisarai, Sevastopol, as well as holy and historic sites of Inkermansk St Kliment Monastery of the Caves, Khersones and St Vladimir Cathedral.

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