Archbishop Hilarion Kapral of Sydney,
the new primate of the ROCOR

Archbishop Hilarion (Kapral) of Sydney, Australia, and New Zealand was elected the new primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). The election took place during a session of the ROCOR’s Archbishop’s Council in New York on 12 May 2008. Archbishop Hilarion became acting Chairman of the ROCOR Holy Synod after the death of ROCOR primate Metropolitan Laurus of New York and Eastern America.

Archbishop Hilarion (Igor Kapral) was born in Spirit River, Alberta, Canada on 6 January 1948 and grew up in a rural atmosphere. He was baptised Igor, but known in the family as Gregory. Gregory attended Blueberry Creek High and graduated in 1966. During his early years he worshipped at the Holy Trinity, Russian Orthodox Church near Spirit River, and in 1967 enrolled at Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville, USA. Upon completing his degree in theology, Gregory (Igor) entered the cloister in 1973 as a novice. On December 2, 1974 he was tonsured as a Riassofor monk with the name of Hilarion.

On 4 December 1975 he was ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Averky Taushev and elevated to the priesthood by Archbishop Laurus Skurla on 17 April 1976. During this period Fr Hilarion graduated from Syracuse University with a master’s degree in Slavic Studies and Russian Literature and was editor of the Orthodox Life journal.

On 10 December 1984 Fr Hilarion, at the age of 36, was consecrated Bishop of Manhattan, with responsibility for the parishes in Pennsylvania, and appointed deputy secretary of the Synod of Bishops. 1n 1995 Bishop Hilarion was created Bishop of Washington.

On June, 20 1996 he was transferred to the diocese of Australia and New Zealand and raised to the rank of Archbishop of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to his many clerical duties Archbishop Hilarion was a Chairman of the Federation of Russian Welfare Organisations in Australia. For his services to the Australian community Archbishop Hilarion was awarded the Australian Federation Centenary Medal in 2003.

In 2006, he was elected first deputy chairman of ROCOR’s Synod.