Met Hilarion comments on his dismissal from the post of DECR MP Head

On June 12, 2022, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Budapest and Hungary, previously released by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church from his duties as head of the DECR MP, commented on his dismissal during the Divine Liturgy in the church in honor of the Joy of All Who Sorrow Icon in Moscow.

The hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church linked his resignation from the post of head of the DECR to the requirements of the current socio-political situation.

According to him, this decision of the church leadership has nothing to do with whatever shortcomings in the activities of the DECR MP or other church institutions headed by Metropolitan Hilarion.

“Many people ask me these days – why, for what? I won't go into details now, in fact, I don't know many details myself. I was told that this decision was not connected with any shortcomings in the activities of the Department for External Church Relations, nor with shortcomings in the General Church Postgraduate School or this holy temple, or the Chernihiv Patriarchal Metochion, or other church institutions that I headed. The only thing said is the current socio-political situation requires so. You can consider that the road made a very sharp turn, I did not fit into it and ended up on the sidelines. But this is better than if I drove into a ditch, my car would roll over and explode,” said Metropolitan Hilarion.

The hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church added that life goes on and there is no need to dramatize these events, since “in the life of every clergyman there can be ups and downs, both promotions and demotions in the so-called career.”

“All this is temporary and it is not for this that we serve the Church. I have never sought high appointments, or membership in the Synod, or any privileges, and I will never grieve over the fact that I have lost them,” said Metropolitan Hilarion and sincerely thanked everyone with whom he'd communicated during all the years of joint service in temple.

Metropolitan Hilarion wished the clergy and parishioners to remain faithful to the Church and be devoted to the hierarchy, to keep peace in their hearts and love each other.

The bishop also expressed the hope that he and the members of his community "do not lose each other for good", but "part for a while".

As the UOJ reported earlier, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church dismissed Metropolitan Hilarion from the post of the DECR MP head.

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