Fr Nikolai Balashov, of the MP Department of External Church Relations
Moscow, 13 May 2008 (Interfax):
Archbishop Hilarion, the newly-elected first hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) will continue the policies of his predecessor, the Moscow Patriarchate believes. “I am sure that Vladyki Hilarion will successfully continue to lead the ROCOR along the course embarked on by the late Vladyki Laurus”, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, the secretary for inter-Orthodox relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, said to Interfax-Religion. The election of Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia, and New Zealand as the First Hierarch of the ROCOR was held on Monday at a session of the ROCOR Council of Bishops in New York.
Fr Nikolai referred to the election of Archbishop Hilarion as “an anticipated event”, and reminded us that Archbishop Hilarion “was perceived by many as a natural successor to Metropolitan Laurus, and his kindred spirit, whom Metropolitan Laurus ordained a priest, and a man who shares the views of the late ROCOR First Hierarch Metropolitan Laurus in respect to the way of the ROCOR’s further development”.
Fr Nikolai mentioned that it was Metropolitan Laurus who elevated Archbishop Hilarion to the office of his first deputy. “During the period of reconciliation and reunification of the ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate, Archbishop Hilarion showed himself to be a wise, prudent and thoughtful archpastor. Due to his efforts, the majority of clergy and believers of the Australian diocese of the ROCOR view reunification with the Church in the Motherland positively”, he emphasised. He also noted that the newly elected First Hierarch of the ROCOR visited Russia as a pilgrim on numerous occasions, meeting hierarchs, priests, and believers, and therefore, “he knows the Church life in our Motherland very well”.
Interfax-Religion
http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=24404 (in Russian)
