Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) assigned to serve in Brazil
After the incident in Czechia, Metropolitan Hilarion will continue his ministry in the Argentine and South American Eparchy.
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ has assigned Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) to serve in the Argentine and South American Eparchy. The corresponding decree was published on June 3, 2026, on the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate.
According to the document, Metropolitan Hilarion’s place of ministry has been designated as two parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Brazil: the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Santa Rosa and the Church of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian in Campina das Missões.
The decree states that the decision was made because it was no longer possible to implement the Holy Synod’s resolution of December 27, 2024, which had assigned the hierarch to the Church of the Chief Apostles Peter and Paul in Karlovy Vary, Czechia.
As the UOJ reported, on May 27, 2026, Metropolitan Hilarion announced his departure from Czechia after a high-profile detention. According to Czech media, police action followed the discovery of containers with a white substance in the hierarch’s car. He was later released without charges, bail, or travel restrictions. The metropolitan called the incident a provocation and rejected all allegations against him.
