Archbishop Innokenty Vasiliev of Korsun, the patriarchal representative at the installation of Metropolitan Hilarion on 18 May
Moscow, 14 May 2008 (Interfax):
Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and all Russia and the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate confirmed the election of Archbishop Hilarion Kapral of Sydney, Australia, and New Zealand as the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), according to a statement posted on the MP official website on Wednesday. Earlier, Vladyki Hilarion asked Patriarch Aleksei to bless him to perform the duties of the new First Hierarch of the ROCOR. Archbishop Hilarion was elected Archbishop of New York and Eastern America at a meeting of the ROCOR Archbishops Synod in New York on Monday.
The official decree of the Holy Synod of the MP confirming the decision of the Holy Synod of the ROCOR was issued on 14 May, and Patriarch Aleksei elevated Archbishop Hilarion to the rank of metropolitan two days earlier, on 12 May. The official installation of Vladyki Hilarion shall take place in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York on 18 May. Archbishop Innokenty Vasiliev of Korsun (the MP ruling bishop in Paris) shall be entrusted with the gramota (letter of acceptance) and shall also convey His Holiness’ personal greetings at the ceremony. Vladyki Innokenty was the head of the MP Commission for Dialogue with the ROCOR prior to the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion. According to the provisions of that Act, the MP recognises the ROCOR as a self-governing body within the Local Church under the jurisdiction of the MP. The ROCOR is governed by its own Archbishop’s Council, which is its highest spiritual, legislative, judicial, and executive authority, and it selects it own First Hierarch according to its own regulations. Such an election is then confirmed in accordance with the canons by the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia and the Holy Synod of the MP.
Interfax-Religion
http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=24438 (in Russian)
