I expect we'll be hearing about the results of this visit afterward. This trip to Russia might be "unofficial," but you don't go to another Church's lands without an invitation and you don't waste the opportunity to talk to the Patriarch of Moscow and his foreign relations head by not going over substantive matters.
MOSCOW (OCA) - His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, began a week-long unofficial visit to Moscow on January 14, 2011.
He was welcomed at Moscow’s Domodedovo International Airport by His Grace, Bishop Alexander of Dmitrov, representatives of the Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations [DECR], and Archimandrite Zacchaeus, representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate. He then went to the Holy Trinity-Saint Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery for the celebration of the Feast of Saint Seraphim of Sarov.
On January 19 -- the Great Feast of Theophany according to the Julian Calendar -- Metropolitan Jonah will concelebrate the Divine Liturgy with His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill in the Patriarchal Theophany Cathedral in Elokhovo, after which they will meet. He is also expected to meet with His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion [Alfeyev], who heads the DECR.
On January 18, the Eve of the Feast, he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy and All-Night Vigil at the OCA Representation Church of the Great Martyr Catherine.
After his 1988 graduation from Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY, Metropolitan Jonah lived in Russia for one year, where he worked for Russkij Palomnik at the Patriarchate’s Publishing Department before entering the renowned Valaam Monastery.
Additional reports will be posted as they become available.
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