On Monday, September 22, the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion, paid a visit to Holy Trinity Seminary. By request of the seminary's Rector, Archimandrite Luke, the Metropolitan gave a talk to the seminarians.

Vladyka Hilarion reminisced about his days as a student in seminary, remembering them as some of the best years of his life. He also encouraged the students to always keep in mind the reason why they came to seminary, to apply themselves to study, prayer and their obediences, and to heed God's calling to serve His Holy Church. The Metropolitan then answered questions posed by the seminarians, which ranged from topics such as his ministry in the Diocese of Australia, his participation at the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, the problem of ecumenism, relations with other jurisdictions, as well as many other topics.

At the end of his talk, the Metropolitan promised to visit the seminary as often as possible. Before leaving for New York City, the Metropolitan also met individually with the seminarians, who were thus able to receive his archpastoral blessing and tell him a little bit about themselves. The students were uplifted by Vladyka's words, and they look forward to his next visit.