The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

DIOCESE OF SOUTH AMERICA: November 5, 2008
"Days of Russian Spiritual Culture" Reaches Buenos Aires

His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion gives Protopriest Vladimir Skalon a copy of the "Reigning" Icon of the Mother of God.
Photo: MOSPAT.RU

On November 2, 2008, a joint Divine Liturgy was celebrated by hierarchs of both parts of the Russian Orthodox Church in Resurrection Cathedral in Buenos Aires. His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, who officiated, gave the Cathedral a gift: a painted copy of the Reigning Icon of the Mother of God. Resurrection Cathedral was built in 1958 by Russian emigres who arrived in Argentina after World War II.

His Eminence and the other archpastors also performed a moleben at the local Memorial to Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, at the city square named after the saint. This statue was erected in 1988 during the millennial celebrations of the Baptism of Rus, with the blessing of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and in accordance with the decision of the Municipal Council. "Our mission—that of the ROC and ROCOR, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—is to witness Orthodox Russia to the world, to attest to her joint life and Eucharistic unity," said His Eminence Metropolitan Platon of South America.

On November 4, the feast day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, as well as hierarchs and clergymen of both parts of the Russian Church who were in Buenos Aires as part of the celebration of the "Days of Russian Spiritual Culture," celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Patriarchate along with Metropolitan Platon, the Ruling Bishop of the MP's Diocese of South America. The miracle-working "Reigning" Icon, brought here from Moscow, was placed in the center of the small church, located in one of the central sections of the Argentinian capital.

The Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in Buenos Aires included a seminar for the local Russian population, two exhibitions, "Orthodox Rus" and "Russia Today," a book fair, and a concert given by Sretensky Monastery Choir of Moscow. The program will continue on November 5 at Mar-del-Plata.