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The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia held a teleconference on March 16 at 10 pm (Eastern Daylight Time), chaired by the Chief Deputy of the President of the Synod of Bishops, His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand. The members of the Synod confirmed with great sorrow that on March 16, the day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, quietly reposed in the Lord in his residence at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. In connection with this, the following was decided: The funeral and burial of the newly-reposed Metropolitan Laurus will occur on March 21 in the Cathedral of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville. The Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign will hold a solemn pannikhida for the late Metropolitan on Wednesday, March 19, at 7 pm. The Divine Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts will be held at Holy Trinity Monastery Cathedral, followed by the episcopal funeral at 11 am (vestments shall be purple). The name of His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand is to be commemorated in all churches of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia after that of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy as follows: "our lord, the Most Reverend Archbishop Hilarion." During the great entrance and during "Among the first, remember o Lord..." (after the name of the Patriarch): "our lord the Most Reverend Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand." To call upon the episcopate, the clergy and all the faithful flock of the Russian Church Abroad to commemorate the late Metropolitan Laurus in all the churches of the Russian diaspora. To decide in the coming days the scheduling of a Council of Bishops for the purpose of electing a new First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The schedule of services in Holy Trinity Monastery is as follows: March 20: Great Lenten matins at 4:30 pm, great compline at 7:30 pm followed by a funerary litiya. March 21: Midnight office and Great Lenten hours at 5 am. Beginning of the Divine Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts, 8 am.
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