On Saturday evening, November 8, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk presented a lecture at St. Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, NY entitled "Primacy And Synodality From An Orthodox Perspective".

The event began with the celebration of Great Vespers in the semianry church of the Three Hierarchs. Praying in the altar during Great Vespers was the Most Blessed Tikhon, Metropolitan of North America and Canada; His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk; His Grace Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA; clergy and faculty of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. 

Metropolitan Tikhon opened the evening with words of greetings to the visiting hierarchs and representatives of other Christian denominations. Archpriest John Behr, Seminary Rector underlined the importance of educational cooperation between St. Vladimir's Seminary and the St. Kirill and Methodius Institute, of which Metropolitan Hilarion is rector.  

Prior to his lecture, St. Vladimir's Seminary conferred an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree upon Metropolitan Hilarion. His Eminence is a member of the seminary board, ex officio, and also author of the Orthodox Christianity Series published by SVS Press. 

After the lecture was presented, Metropolitan Hilarion served a Panikhida at the gravesite of world-renowned Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. Praying at the gravesite was His Grace Bishop John, Seminary rector Archpriest John Behr; Seminary Chancellor Archpriest Chad Hatfield; Deacon Gregory Hatrak, seminary cleric; students of the seminary.

Photos Courtesy of the DECR Communication Service