OCA represented at enthronement of new primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC [OCA Communications] — With the blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Archimandrite Zacchaeus, Dean of the Orthodox Church in America’s Representation Church of the Great Martyr Catherine in Moscow, participated in the enthronement of the new Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Christopher, on Sunday, May 28, 2006.

In addition to The Orthodox Church in America, all local autocephalous Orthodox Churches were represented at this important and joyous event in the life of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

Following the Divine Liturgy, during which representatives of all Churches concelebrated, a festive banquet was held, during which each representative read the greetings of the Primates of their respective Churches. Archimandrite Zacchaeus read the congratulatory message of Metropolitan Herman, and presented Metropolitan Christopher with a panagia as a gift from The Orthodox Church in America.

Elected at an All-Church Council of clergy and laity in Vilemov, Czech Republic on May 2, 2006, Metropolitan Christopher succeeds His Beatitude, Metropolitan Nikolaj, who fell asleep in the Lord after a lengthy illness on January 30, 2006. Metropolitan Christopher is the fifth Primate of the Czech-Slovak Church since it was granted autocephaly by the Patriarchate of Moscow in 1951.

Click here for a photo gallery of the Enthronment of Metropolitan Christopher.