21/10/2009
As published last month, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of New York, the First Hierarch of our Church Abroad, plans to visit our diocese next month. It is a great blessing to have Vladyka Hilarion among us and it would be good if as many of our people as possible were able to attend services while he is here and meet the Metropolitan. Here is an itinerary of the public events in which he will take part. Details are also available on the "calendar" page of the diocesan website, where maps and driving directions may be found.
Tuesday, 10th November
Metropolitan Hilarion will visit the parish of St Elisabeth the New Martyr, Wallasey. He will serve a moleben at 4pm.
Wednesday, 11th November
This is Remembrance Day. Metropolitan Hilarion will serve a pannykhida for the departed in war, at St Alban's Abbey in St Albans, at 11am. This will be followed by a moleben and the veneration of the relic of St Alban.
At 6pm, he will serve Vespers at the parish of St Nicholas the Wonderworker. While all are welcome to attend, this is an opportunity for the Orthodox students at Oxford to meet the Metropolitan.
Thursday, 12th November
The parish of the Mother of God, the Joy of all Who Sorrow, will host Metropolitan Hilarion for a moleben at 11.30am, followed by a buffet lunch.
Vladyka will then travel to Colchester, where he will serve an akathist at the church of St John the Wonderworker, at 4pm.
Friday, 13th November
An All-Night Vigil will be served at the cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God at 6pm.
Saturday, 14th November
A diocesan celebration will be held at the cathedral, with the Hierarchical Liturgy concelebrated by Metropolitan Hilarion and our own Archbishop Mark, at 10am. The new iconostas will also be blessed. It would be good for as many diocesan clergy and faithful as possible to be there. While trapeza had initially been planned, please note that this has now been replaced by a private luncheon. However, trapeza will follow the Liturgy on the following day, to which all are welcome.
