Hilarion (Kapral) of New York

Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) of Eastern America and New York is First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) and was formally enthroned on May 18, 2008. He also remains (at least for the time being) the ruling bishop of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

Early Life

In 1929, Alexei and Evfrosinia Kapral moved from Western Ukraine to Alberta, Canada. They eventually had seven children, with the last, Igor, being born in 1948. In 1967, at the age of 19, Igor enrolled in Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville; five years later, he graduated from the seminary and entered the attached monastery as a novice.

Holy Trinity Monastery

In 1974, Igor was tonsured a rassophor monk with the name Hilarion (for St Hilarion, Metropolitan of Kiev). The next year, he was ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Averky (Taushev) and began his obedience as Abp. Averky's cell attendant.

Hierodeacon Hilarion received a double honour in 1976, as it was the year when he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Laurus and also when he graduated from Syracuse University with a master's degree in Slavic Studies and Russian Literature.

Episcopacy

In 1984, at the young age of 36, Fr Hilarion was consecrated a bishop by Metropolitan Philaret of New York and nine other bishops and was appointed to the see of Manhattan, charged with overseeing the parishes in Pennsylvania and serving as deputy secretary for the Synod of Bishops.

In 1995, Bishop Hilarion was transferred to the See of Washington while retaining his residence in New York. This didn't last long, however, in June 1996, recognising his pastoral gifts, he was simultaneously transferred to the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (which was experiencing some problems at that stage) and raised to the rank of archbishop. Further honor came in 2003 when he was awarded the honour of wearing a diamond cross on his klobuk.

Upon Metropolitan Laurus's death Archbishop Hilarion was appointed as the temporary head of the ROCOR Synod. On May 12, 2008, Archbishop Hilarion was elected and elevated as the new Metropolitan of ROCOR, having received a vast majority of votes.

Succession box: Hilarion (Kapral) of New York
Preceded by: Gregory (Grabbe)	Bishop of Manhattan (ROCOR) 1984-1995	Succeeded by: Gabriel (Chemodakov)
Preceded by: Gregory (Grabbe)	Bishop of Washington (ROCOR) 1995-1996	Succeeded by: —
Preceded by: Paul (Pavlov)	Archbishop of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR) 1996-present	Succeeded by: —
Preceded by: Laurus (Skurla)	First Hierarch of ROCOR 2008	Succeeded by: —

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External links

• Archbishop Hilarion Is Elected First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR site)
• Official biography from the ROCOR Australia and New Zealand website
• Photo Report of Enthronement, May 18, 2008