Moscow, March 23, 2011
|
| OCA Chancery, Syosset, NY |
With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, and at the invitation of His Beatitude Jonah of All America and Canada, Met. Hilarian began his visit on February 13, 2011. The head of the DECR met with the first hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America.
On March 15–16, 2011, Met. Hilarion, on another working trip to the U.S., visited the chancery of the OCA, where he met with Bishop Nikon of Boston, Bishop Tikhon of Philadelphia (Secretary of the Holy Synod of the OCA), Bishop Melchisidek (locum tenens of the Chancellor), Bishop Michael of New York, and Bishop Mark of Baltimore, as well as with representatives of the clergy from various dioceses of the OCA.
During the meeting, which took place in a friendly, warm atmosphere, the current situation in the OCA was discussed. The American hierarchs expressed their gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for his love and concern for the Orthodox Church of America, and to Met. Hilarion for his visit and brotherly support.
At the request of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, Met. Hilarion also met with His Beatitude Jonah, who is on a temporary leave of absence.
The Holy Synod resolved (section No. 25 of the minutes) that it is important for the Russian Orthodox Church to maintain brotherly contact with the Orthodox Church in America, and expressed its hope that the situation in the OCA would develop strictly according to the holy canons of the Orthodox Church.
