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(mospat.ru) - On 10 October 2010, the 40th anniversary of canonization of St. Nicholas of Japan, Equal-to-the-Apostles, and the granting of the autonomous status to the Orthodox Church of Japan by the Russian Orthodox Church were celebrated at the Church of the Intercession in Osaka, Japan.
His Eminence Daniel, Archbishop of Tokyo and Metropolitan of All Japan, officiated at the celebration. Taking part bin the celebration, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, was a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church led by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations (DECR). The delegation consisted of Archbishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad, abbot of the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius; the DECR deputy chairman archpriest Nikolai Balashov; DECR staff members hierodeacon Ioann (Kopeikin), L. Sevastianov and S. Petrovsky; and clerics and laymen of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan Daniel of Tokyo, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Archbishop Feognost of Sergiev Posad, Bishop Seraphim of Sendai, and many clergymen celebrated the Divine Liturgy, after which Metropolitan Daniel warmly greeted Metropolitan Hilarion and his suite. Metropolitan Hilarion read out the message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the canonization of St. Nicholas of Japan and the autonomous status of the Orthodox Church of Japan and presented an icon of the Mother of God to the Church of the Intercession, and a panagia to the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Japan. A festive reception followed.
That same day Metropolitan Daniel gave dinner in honour of the DECR chairman and members of the Russian Orthodox Church delegation.
