On Saturday, February 26, 2011, His Beatitude, Christopher, Archbishop of Prague and Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, visited Holy Trinity Monastery along with His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Archimandrite Luke met the guests in the church, to the ringing of bells, along with the clergy, brotherhood, seminarians, and parishioners of the monastery. After a brief litany of supplication, Metropolitan Christopher offered a short word of greeting to those of us who are “distant in location, but close in spirit.” Vladyka was very pleased to be in Holy Trinity Monastery on this day, to become acquainted with the brotherhood of the monastery and the students of the seminary, and to serve a litany for the repose of Metropolitan Laurus, the fifth First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and Archimandrite Cyprian (Pyzhov), Vladyka Laurus’ spiritual father going back to their days in Czechoslovakia, in the crypt where they repose.

Everyone proceeded from the church to the refectory, where the guests were offered lunch along with the brotherhood and seminarians. Following lunch, all gathered in the seminary hall, where Metropolitan Hilarion introduced the guests from Europe. Metropolitan Christopher showed a short film on the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia produced by the Russian scholarly center “The Orthodox Encyclopedia,” and then responded to questions from the audience. He then presented an icon of Sts. Cyril and Methodius and a number of publications from Prague to the monastery and seminary. Archimandrite Luke, abbot of the monastery and rector of the seminary, then offered an expression of gratitude for Vladyka’s visit, presenting him with an icon of the Three Hierarchs, the patron saints of the seminary, along with publications and other gifts.

Immediately following this gathering, Archpriest Vladimir Tsurikov, dean of the seminary, gave the guests a tour of the seminary, the library, and the museum.

The guests were then met by Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow at Metropolitan Laurus’ resting place, where they served a litany for his repose. Fr. Victor gave the guests a tour of the upper and lower churches of Holy Trinity Cathedral, the baptistery, the bell tower built in commemoration of the millennium of the baptism of Russia, and the brotherhood building. Metropolitan Christopher and Metropolitan Hilarion concelebrated at the All-Night Vigil, returning to the Synod headquarters in New York City after the polyeleos.

We sincerely hope that His Beatitude, Metropolitan Christopher, will visit our monastery again, once again giving us the joy of meeting with the Primate of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, which is “distant in location, but close in spirit.”