MOSCOW: 19 May 2022
Patriarchal condolences on the repose of Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

PATRIARCH KIRILL
OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA
18.05.2022 115191, Moscow, u. Danilovsky val, d. 22

No. 01/2833

To the Archpastors, Clergy and the Entire Faithful Flock
of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Your Eminences and Your Graces,
Reverend Fathers, Dear Brothers and Sisters:

It was with great sorrow that I heard the news of the death of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York. I express my most profound condolences on your loss.

During his entire life, the late archpastor labored zealously for the glory of the Lord, exerting his powers and talents to the benefit of the Church of Christ and tirelessly tending to ensure that “the word of God grows and multiplies” (Acts 12:24). The Almighty summoned His faithful servant to Himself on the eve of the fifteenth anniversary of the reestablishment of canonical communion and the reunification of the Russian Church—an important historic event in which Vladyka Hilarion also actively participated.

The worthy successor to the labors of Metropolitan Laurus, the late Primate strove to steadily follow the path of his glorious predecessors, trying to be “an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12), displaying balance and discernment, acknowledging the special archpastoral responsibility entrusted to him by the people of God.
With humility, meekness and firm hope in the most-wise Divine Providence Vladyka endured a heavy illness, knowing that “none of us liveth to himself… we live unto the Lord… we die unto the Lord” (Romans 14:7-8).

May Christ, the Giver of life and Victor over death, forgive the newly-reposed Metropolitan Hilarion all transgressions, willing and unwilling, and settle his soul in the abodes where the saints abide, and grant to him eternal and blessed memory.

With love in our Lord Jesus and earnest condolences,

+KIRILL
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

The original Russian can be viewed in pdf form here.