On 12 March 2015, a group of pilgrims led by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, while visiting Mt. Athos with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, arrived in the Iveron Monastery. After the evening service, Metropolitan Hilarion and members of the delegation met with Archimandrite Nathanael, hegumen of the abode.
On March 13, the DECR chairman said the Akathistos hymn in Greek before the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God and officiated at the Liturgy of Pre-Sanctified Gifts at the cathedral of the Iveron monastery. Concelebrating with Metropolitan Hilarion were the brethren of the monastery and ordained members of the delegation.
That same day Metropolitan Hilarion together with other pilgrims sang the Akathistos hymn before the “It Is Truly Meet” Icon of the Mother of God at the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. Among those who were praying at the service was Hieromonk Simeon, Protoepistate of the Holy Mount Athos.
In the evening of the same day, the delegation arrived in the Russian Monastery of St. Panteleimon.
DECR Communication Service