Metropolitan Hilarion concelebrates Divine Liturgy with Primate of the Orthodox Church in America at St. Seraphim Cathedral in Dallas
On 12 February 2011, His Beatitude Jonah, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All America and Canada, celebrated the All-Night Vigil at St. Seraphim Cathedral in Dallas. Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, prayed at the service.
Many worshippers from Dallas and other cities in Texas have gathered at the Cathedral on the occasion of Metropolitan Hilarion’s arrival. After the service, His Beatitude Jonah cordially greeted the high guest and pointed at a special link between Metropolitan Hilarion and Orthodoxy in America as he served at the Moscow Metochion of the Orthodox Church in America over five years.
The DECR chairman addressed the worshippers with his archpastoral address in which he reminded them of a missionary task of Orthodox Christian on the American continent.
Metropolitan Hilarion donated a copy of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God with an inscription to the Cathedral as a token of his visit and common prayers. The DECR chairman had a talk with the retired Archbishop Dimitry (Royster), who had headed the OCA Dallas Diocese for many years.
On February 13, the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, Metropolitan Hilarion concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah at the same cathedral. Taking part in the service were clergymen of the Orthodox Church in America, Rev. Igor Yakimchuk, DECR secretary for Inter-Orthodox Relations, and hierodeacon Ioann (Kopeikin), assistant to the DECR chairman.
After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion proceeded to the Highland Park Presbyterian Church where he addressed Christians from the Presbyterian, Orthodox, and Catholic communities of Texas. Over 5,000 persons listened to his address. Metropolitan Hilarion donated an icon of the Saviour to the Highland Park community.
