WASHINGTON, May 17. /TASS/. First-Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York Hilarion passed away on Monday at the age of 74, Archpriest Victor (Potapov) of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Washington told journalists.
"Today, at 2:00 p.m. [21:00 p.m. Moscow time on Monday], went to the Lord our beloved First-Hierarch Hilarion," he said.
"I have no more information to share with you. Further details will be provided later," Archpriest Victor added.
The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia confirmed later in the day in its statement the death of Metropolitan Hilarion.
"Today, May 16, 2022, the feast day of St Theodosius of the Kievan Caves, at two o’clock New York time, following a lengthy illness, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, reposed in the Lord, in a NYC [New York City] hospital," the statement reads.
"His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, performed the ‘Canon of Supplication at the Parting of the Soul.’ His Grace was joined by Archpriest Serafim Gan and Hierodeacon Panteleimon (Jigalin). A pannikhida will be performed at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady ‘of the Sign’ in New York," the statement added.
Metropolitan Hilarion, born as Igor Kapral, was the First-Hierarch of the ROCOR to be approved by the Moscow Patriarchate’s Holy Synod. He became a part of the episcopate of the Moscow Patriarchate after ROCOR and the Russian Orthodox Church signed the Act of Canonical Communion in May, 2017.