On Monday, May 15, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, received His Eminence Niphon, Metropolitan of Philippopolis, representative of His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch & All the East, to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow & All Russia, at his residence in New York City.
Venerating the altar table of the Cathedral of the Sign and its holy relics, including icons belonging to the Royal Passion-bearers, the mantle of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas, the reliquary containing the right hand of the Holy Venerable Martyr Elizabeth Feodorovna, the cassocks of the Holy Hierarch Tikhon of Moscow and Righteous John of Kronstadt, Metropolitan Niphon presented Metropolitan Nicholas a gift of a triptych depicting the Resurrection of Christ.
The First Hierarch of the Church Abroad then hosted a luncheon in honor of the lofty guest, during which they shared a brotherly archpastoral discussion touching upon a wide range of subjects of the life and service of Christ’s Holy Church. Participating in the event were Archpriest Serafim Gan, chancellor of the Synod of Bishops; Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin), personal assistant of the First Hierarch of ROCOR, and the Synod jurisconsult Nicholas Ohotin.
Bidding farewell to Metropolitan Niphon, His Eminence presented him a panagia that once belonged to Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral; +2022) of blessed memory, expressing his hope for future meetings and wishing Divine aid in the difficult service of Metropolitan Niphon, along with good health and firmness of spirit.
That same day, Metropolitan Nicholas departed for Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, to officiate the divine services on the first anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Hilarion, who is interred in the monastic cemetery.
