On Saturday November 15, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and NY, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad celebrated his 30th Anniversary of Episcopacy in St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, New Jersey. The celebration of His Eminence's anniversary also coincides with the 80th Anniversary of the founding of the Eastern American Diocese of ROCOR. 

Before the start of the Divine Liturgy, hierarchs and clergy processed to the neighboring church of Our Lady of Tikhvin to greet Metropolitan Hilarion. With the peal of bells the procession led to the main cathedral. Available for veneration during the Divine Services were two miracle-working icons of the Thetokos; the Kursk-Root Icon and the Myrhh Streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon. 

His Eminence was co-served by a number of hierarchs and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA:

Metropolitan Alexander of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi and Vishniev (Ukrainian Orthodox Church)

Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen; Primate of the Orthodox Church in America from 2008-2012)

Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada 

Bishop Nikolai (Soraich)

Bishop George of Mayfield

Bishop Jerome (Shaw)

Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan

Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA

Clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA:

Archpriest George Konyev, Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA

Archpriest Alexander Golubov, Cleric of St. Nicholas Cathedral, NYC

Archpriest Mark Shinn, Rector of St. Andrew Cathedral, Philadelphia PA

Archpriest Andrew Lowe, Rector of St. John the Baptist Church, Little Falls NJ

Archpriest Alexey Bocharnikov, Rector of St. Nicholas Church, Chester PA

Priest Gregory Winsky, Cleric of St. Michael Church, Philadelphia PA

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Bishop John, on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the entirety of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA congratulated Metropolitan Hilarion for his 30 years as an Archpastor. In commemoration of this joyous day, Bishop John presented His Eminence with a unique North American Panagia. Adorning the Holy Theotokos on the Panagia are icons of the saints who have shown forth in North America.