PARIS: November 23, 2011
The Primate of the Russian Church Abroad Meets With the Russian Ambassador to France

On Saturday, November 19, 2011, upon his arrival to Paris, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York proceeded to the residence of Alexander Konstantinovich Orlov, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to France. During their meeting, they discussed cooperating on various projects of mutual interest, as well as the celebration of the coming 5th anniversary of the reestablishment of unity within the Russian Orthodox Church. Mr Orlov then hosted a luncheon in honor of his guest and His Eminence’s delegation.  

That evening, the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia performed all-night vigil at Holy Resurrection Church in Meudon (Paris), with the Parish Rector, Protopriest Michael Goudkoff, a graduate of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY. After the service, His Grace Bishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe greeted His Eminence, wishing him heavenly aid in his difficult service to the Church of Christ. Expressing gratitude for the kind words, Metropolitan Hilarion read a sermon in which he stressed that the Lord’s work must be carried out with humility, love and patience, with the fear of God and trepidation, preserving peace and unity within the Church. During the trapeza that followed, organized by the parish sisterhood, His Eminence met and spoke with clergymen and laity of the Russian Church Abroad and clergymen of other Churches of France. Vladyka Michael, Fr Michael, Protopriest Serafim Gan and parishioners of Holy Resurrection Church all gave speeches.