On the evening of September 12, in all the monasteries of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, an akathist hymn to the Mother of God was performed on the occasion of the election at the Bishops’ Council in New York, the new First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. Since the death of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) on May 18 of this year the first-hierarchal throne has been vacant. On September 13, the Bishops’ Council opens and, on that day, the bishops, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, will elect the 7th First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

The Chief of the Mission, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), performed the akathist hymn in the church of St. Mary Magdalene. The next day, at the Divine Liturgy, special petitions were read at the litany and a prayer “for the well-being of the Russian Orthodox Church” was read.

 

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