Archbishop Hilarion of the Australia and New Zealand Diocese chairман the sessions of the Synod ROCOR

Archbishop Hilarion of the Australia and New Zealand Diocese will chair the sessions of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) until the new head of ROCOR is elected. "The name of Archbishop Hilarion, the first deputy chairman of the Synod, will be mentioned during church services in all ROCOR churches after the name of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and all Russia," a spokesman for the department said. The Bishops' Council of ROCOR is expected to elect the head of ROCOR after Orthodox Easter, which falls this year on April 27. The previous head of ROCOR, Metropolitan Laurus, died on Sunday.