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{{orthodoxyinaustralasiaorthodoxyinamerica}}Metropolitan '''Archbishop Hilarion (Kapral) of Sydney, Australia Eastern America and New ZealandYork''' is First Hierarch of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] (ROCOR) and was formally [[enthronement|enthroned]] on [[May 18]], 2008. He also remains the ruling bishop of the [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Diocese of Australia and New Zealand]] in the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]].

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 Evfrosinia Kapral moved from 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 Ukraine 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 Albertabuild 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, Canadamaking an already hard life even more difficult. They eventually To find work, Alexei Kapral had seven 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, but the childrenhad English as their first language. Their parents also spoke Russian and Polish. The youngest member of the family was Igor, with the lastfuture Metropolitan Hilarion. He was born on [[January 6]], 1948, in Spirit River, and spent his childhood in the country. He had to walk 2.5 miles to school every day, and describes his childhood as "pleasant...absolutely free of any harmful influences"[http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/engdocuments/enart_mhinterviewpriesthood.html]. 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, Igorfelt drawn to the Church, being born and loved to read books and periodicals on religion and morals. From a young age, around 6 or 7, he knew that he wanted to become a priest. He went to Holy Trinity Church in 1948Spirit River, part of ROCOR and composed of ethnic Ukrainians. Services were held monthly or bi-monthly, and often Archbishop Panteleimon would celebrate these services. When Abp Panteleimon was revered by Igor, and he was 21told by Abp Panteleimon that "someday you will be a priest"[http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/engdocuments/enart_mhinterviewpriesthood.html]. ==Seminary and the Priesthood==In 1967, when Igor enrolled in Kapral was 19 years old, he entered the [[Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Theological Seminary]]in Jordanville, NY, USA. While here, he was able to learn Russian, as well as sing on the kliros and serve in the altar, learning the order of divine services.  From his second year at seminary, Igor was tasked with typesetting Orthodox Life in English, Jordanvilleunder the editorship of Archimandrite [[Konstantin (Zaitsev)]]; three years laterIgor soon succeeded him as editor. After some time, he graduated Hieromonk Ignaty (who was in charge of the printery) asked him to do the Russian typesetting as well.  On graduating from the Seminary and in 1972, Igor entered the [[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)|attached monasteryHoly Trinity Monastery]] as a [[novice]] (''poslushnik''). On [[December 2]], 1974 he was tonsured a [[Monastic Ranks|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) of Syracuse|Averky (Taushev]], +1976), for whom the future Vladyka served as a cell-attendant, [[ordination|ordained]] him a hiero[[deacon]].

==As part of Bishop Laurus' push to elevate the quality of Russian language and literature instruction at Holy Trinity Monastery==In 1974Seminary, Igor he was tonsured selected to the rassophor with the name Hilarion, named for St Hilarion, the Metropolitan of Kievstudy a Master's degree in Slavic Studies and Russian Literature. The next yearHe graduated in 1976, he was ordained to the same year that [[diaconateBishop]] by [[ArchbishopLaurus (Skurla) of New York|Laurus]] of Manhattan ordained him a [[hieromonk]] Averky (Taushev), and began his obedience as Abp. Averky's cell attendant.

Dcn Fr Hilarion received served as a double honour in 1976priestmonk at the monastery, as it was continuing his work at the year when he printing press. He was ordained often sent to the [[priest]]hood by [[Bishop]] [[Laurus (Skurla) of New York|Laurus]]parishes, replacing absent priests, often traveling to Cleveland and also when he graduated from Syracuse University with a Masters degree in Slavic Studies and Russian LiteraturePennsylvania.

{{orthodoxyinaustralasia}}In 1984, at the young age of 36, Fr Hilarion was consecrated a [[bishop]] by [[Metropolitan ]] [[Philaret (Voznesensky) of New York|Philaret of New York]] and nine other bishops, and was appointed to the [[see ]] of Manhattan, charged with overseeing the [[parish]]es in Pennsylvania and the Eastern American diocese 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. The Diocese of Australia and New Zealand was experiencing turmoil, and had not had a ruling bishop for five years; hence in June 1996, recognising his pastoral gifts, he was transferred to the [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Diocese of Australia and New Zealand]] (which was experiencing some problems at that stage) and raised to the rank of [[archbishop]]. Abp Hilarion set establishing the Property Trust as an Act of the New South Wales Parliament, and then rectifying the shortage of priests and beginning missionary work, generally strengthening the diocese and its church life. 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. To his dismay, on [[May 12]], 2008, Archbishop Hilarion was elected and elevated as the new Metropolitan of ROCOR, having received all but one vote (his own). As First Hierarch, he convenes meetings of the synod (3-4 times each year), meetings of the Council of Bishops, and represents the ROCOR at the Moscow Patriarchate when bishops convene there. In addition, he remains ruling bishop of the diocese of Australia and New Zealand, in addition to also being ruling bishop of the Eastern American diocese.

In 1995On the [[December 10]], Bishop 2009 Metropolitan Hilarion was transferred to marked 25 years since the see date of [[consecration of Washington, retaining, however, his residence a bishop|consecration as a bishop]]. The festivities took place in New York. This didn't last long, however, as he was simultaneously transferred to the [[Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Diocese of Australia and New Zealand]] and raised to the rank of [[Archbishop]]. Further honour came in 2003 when he was awarded Vladyka Hilarion, notably, is presiding over a period where unity with the honour Church of wearing a diamond cross on his [[klobuk]]Russia is smooth and without inequality, and divisiveness has died down in ROCOR.

before=''unknown''[[Gregory (Grabbe) of Washington and Florida|Gregory (Grabbe)]]|

before=''unknown''Gregory (Grabbe)|

after=''unknown''—}}

==External linklinks==*[http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2008/5enizbrany.html Archbishop Hilarion Is Elected First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia] (ROCOR site)

[[Category:Orthodoxy_in_Australia20th-21st-century bishops]][[Category:Orthodoxy_in_New_ZealandBishops of Washington]][[Category:Bishops of Sydney]][[Category:Bishops of New York]][[Category:First Hierarchs of the ROCOR]][[Category:Orthodoxy in Australia]][[Category:Orthodoxy in New Zealand]]