SOUTH BOUND BROOK, N.J. – The hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. took part in the divine liturgy and the rite of enthronement of the newly elected Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine.
Along with over 60 hierarchs of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Antony and Archbishop Daniel concelebrated with Metropolitan Epifaniy and the special representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Metropolitan Emmanuel of France.
Among other hierarchs attending were Metropolitan Yuriy of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada and Metropolitan Amphilochous, exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Greece.
Metropolitans Antony and Yuriy, on behalf of the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches of the U.S.A. and Canada took part in the three-hour enthronement service and presented Metropolitan Epifaniy with panagias.
The monastics from the Holy Mount Athos – Abbot Alexios of Xenophontos with brothers as well as priests from Vatopedi monastery – participated in the liturgy and the enthronement service, assisting Metropolitan Emmanuel with the presentation of an archpastoral staff – a gift from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Metropolitan Antony and Archbishop Daniel offered their greetings to the primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, wishing him the zeal of the saintly metropolitans of Kyiv, who offered themselves selflessly in the service of the Ukrainian people, while making numerous attempts, at times even sacrificing their lives, in order to achieve the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.