The Visit to Russia by Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan Concludes

Bishop Gabriel at Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery with Bishop Veniamin of Liuberets.

The Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan, performed a pilgrimage to Russia from September 28-October 6, 2005. With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Russia, the guest from the USA visited the holy sites of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On September 29, Bishop Gabriel visited Donskoy and Danilov Monasteries in Moscow, and also went to Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery, where he met with its Abbot, Bishop Veniamin of Liuberets.

The following day, Vladyka Gabriel traveled to Svayto-Vvedensky Hermitage in Optina. On Saturday, October 1, the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops made a trip to Holy Trinity-St Sergius Lavra, where he venerated the holy relics of the ancient monastery and met with Bishop Evgeny of Verey, the President of the Scholarly Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church and Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary.

On October 2, Bishop Gabriel traveled to St Petersburg, where he met with Metropolitan Vladimir of St Petersburg and Ladoga, and also made a pilgrimage to the holy sites of the city on the Neva River. Vladyka prayed at Kazansky Cathedral during Divine Liturgy on Sunday.

On October 3, Vladyka Gabriel went to Holy Transfiguration Stavropighial Monastery in Valaam, and on October 4, Holy Transfiguration Stavropighial Monastery in Solovki.

On October 5, Bishop Gabriel had a meeting at the offices of the Department of External Church Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate with its Secretary of Inter-Orthodox Relations, Protopriest Nikolai Balashov. During this meeting the two discussed, in particular, the perspectives of further dialog and rapprochement between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

That same day, Bishop Gabriel attended the concert “Narod-pobeditel’” [“Victorious People”], dedicated to the 625th anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo, held at the Hall of Church Councils at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

At the end of the concert, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia had a short meeting with Vladyka Gabriel, held in a warm atmosphere.

On October 6, the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the ROCOR departed for New York.

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