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 the ruling bishop of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

Early Life

Metropolitan Hilarion’s parents – his father Alexei Kapral, and his mother, Euphrosynia (nee Kasyaniuk) – were from the village of Obenizha in Volyhn, Ukraine. In 1929, during the Polish occupation, the local populace was persecuted and oppressed by Poles attempting to turn Western Ukraine into a Polish province. Thus, the 19-year-old Alexei and his young wife decided to emigrate to Canada. At the time, the Canadian government afforded immigrants the opportunity to obtain large tracts of land in Western Canada; it was there that the young family settled. Upon their arrival in the province of Alberta, the Kapral family received 160 acres of untilled land, as well as $100 in cash, a hammer, and an axe, with which to build themselves a home. In the developing Spirit River region, there were some 200 Ukrainians, and in view of the oncoming cold, they quickly built themselves houses. The great economic crisis of 1929-1930 affected the settlers as well, making an already hard life even more difficult. To find work, Alexei Kapral had to travel far from home, and he earned but 25 cents per day. Nonetheless, the family grew ever larger – five boys and two girls filled the house with children’s voices, speaking Ukrainian at home. Their parents also spoke Russian and Polish The youngest member of the family was Igor, the future Metropolitan Hilarion. He was born on January 6, 1948, in Spirit River ], and spent his childhood in the country. He had to walk over three miles to school every day. Later he transferred to another school in Blueberry Creek, but returned to finish high school. In 1966, he found a spiritual director, Right Reverend Sava (Saracevic), Bishop of Edmonton, a Serb who greatly revered our Holy Hierarch St. John (Maximovitch, +1966).

From his youth, Igor felt drawn to the Church, and loved to read books and periodicals on religion and morals. In 1967, when Igor Kapral was 19 years old, he entered the Holy Trinity Theological Seminary in Jordanville, NY, USA. On graduating from the Seminary in 1972 (together with our rector, Fr. Victor – ed.), Igor entered the Holy Trinity Monastery as a novice [lit.: poslushnik, one under obedience]. On December 2, 1974 he was tonsured a rassaphore monk with the name Hilarion, in honor of Venerable Schema-monk Hilarion of the Kiev Caves, the famous Metropolitan of Kiev. On December 4, 1975, Archbishop Averky (Taushev, +1976), for whom the future Vladyka served as a cell-attendant, ordained him a hierodeacon. In 1976, Bishop Laurus of Manhattan ordained him a hieromonk. The same year, Fr. Hilarion received a Master’s degree in Slavic studies and Russian literature from Syracuse University. The future Vladyka worked simultaneously as editor of the English-language version of the magazine Orthodox Life, and as a typesetter for the Monastery press.

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 did not last long, however, in June 1996, recognising his pastoral gifts, he was transferred to the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (which was experiencing some problems at that stage) and raised to the rank of archbishop. In 2003 he was awarded the honour of wearing a diamond cross on his klobuk.

Upon Metr. Laurus's death Abp. 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 all but one vote (his own).

On the December 10, 2009 Metropolitan Hilarion marked 25 years since the date of consecration as a bishop. The festivities took place in the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand

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-present	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