Met. Jonah arrives in Moscow

(mostpat.ru) - His Beatitude Jonah, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All America and Canada, arrived in Moscow on December 5, 2009, at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, to take part in the celebrations devoted to the 15th anniversary of the OCA Representation Church in Moscow.

His Beatitude Jonah was met at the airport by Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate department for external church relations, Bishop Alexander of Dmitrov, Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR vice-chairman, and others.

In the evening, Metropolitan Jonah attended the All-Night Vigil at St. Daniel’s Monastery in Moscow. He conveyed to the father superior of the monastery, Archimandrite Alexy Polikarpov, a part of the relics of St. Herman of Alaska honoured with special reverence by the Orthodox in America. Addressing the congregation Metropolitan Jonah said that common saints strengthen the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America. He also said that his Church was preparing the canonization of a new saint, blessed Olga, an ethnic Eskimo wife of a priest, who died 30 years ago in Alaska.

On December 6, the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Moscow and said a litany at the grave of the late Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.

On December 7, His Beatitude Jonah together with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at St. Catherine’s Representation Church.

And also...

MOSCOW (OCA Communications) - On Saturday, December 5, 2009, His Beatitude, the Most Blessed Jonah, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, arrived in Moscow to begin his brief pastoral visit to the Orthodox Church in America's Representation at Saint Catherine the Great Martyr Church for its 15th Anniversary celebration.

Greeting Metropolitan Jonah upon his arrival in Moscow were His Eminence, Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department of External Church Relations [DECR MP]; His Grace, Bishop Aleksandr of Dmitrov, Vicar to the Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia; Archimandrite Zacchaeus, Representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate; Archpriest Nicholas Balashov, Deputy Chairman of the DECR MP; Priest Igor Yakimschuk, Acting Secretary for Inter-Church Relations; and other clergy and staff of the DECR MP.

After a very interesting conversation on a wide range of topics of mutual interest for the Russian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America with the representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Jonah and Archimandrite Zacchaeus departed for Saint Daniel Monastery Hotel, where they were met by the clergy and chancery staff of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr Church, who eagerly received His Beatitude's Primatial blessing.

Later that evening, the eve of the Feast of the Holy Right Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky, Metropolitan Jonah, with the blessing of His Holiness, the Most Holy Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, prayed during the All Night Vigil at Moscow's Saint Daniel Stavropeghial Monastery.

At the conclusion of the reading of the Matins Gospel, Metropolitan Jonah exited the altar and from the amvon greeted the monastery's Abbot, Archimandrite Aleksy, and the brotherhood with him. After speaking about the life of the Venerable Herman of Alaska and his significance for the Orthodox faithful in both North America and Russia, Metropolitan Jonah presented a particle of the holy relics of the saint to the Monastery.

In thanking His Beatitude for this spiritual gift, Archimandrite Aleksy emphasized the unity that exists between the two Autocephalous Churches, which is celebrated through the lives of mutual shared saints like the Venerable Herman of Alaska.

Accompanying Metropolitan Jonah is Novice Gregory [Stevens], his personal aide and subdeacon.