Metropolitan Herman welcomes Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk to US

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, hosted His Eminence, Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk and Exarch of Belarus, at the OCA Chancery here on Tuesday, October 1, 2002.

Metropolitan Filaret arrived in New York to participate in a three-day theological symposium to be held at Saint Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, NY October 2-4. He will also attend the seminary’s annual Orthodox Education Day on Saturday, October 5, at which he will concelebrate the Liturgy with Metropolitan Herman, President of Saint Vladimir Seminary, and other visiting hierarchs. Newly Installed Dean of St Vladimir’s Seminary, John Erickson was also in attendance for the greeting of Metropolitan Filaret at the OCA Chancery.

“We know of your hard work and efforts for building up the Church,” Metropolitan Herman told Metropolitan Filaret in greetings exchanged in the Chancery’s Saint Sergius Chapel. “We pray that God will strengthen you in your devoted ministry.”

Metropolitan Filaret responded by saying how meaningful it was to visit the chapel on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, calling upon the Virgin Mary to “keep the Orthodox Church in America under her veil and strengthen the Church in America and throughout the world.”

Metropolitan Filaret presented Metropolitan Herman with an icon of the Mother of God in remembrance of the occasion.