The First Hierarch Visits the South American Diocese.
On 3 August, Metropolitan Laurus led the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the St. Sergius Parish in Indianapolis, Brazil.
The Protectress and First Hierarch in South America

On Saturday, 3 August, the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, arrived in Sao Paolo, Brazil, as part of his archpastoral visit to the South American Diocese. Metropolitan Laurus was accompanied by Protodeacons Victor Lokhmatov and John Onopko of the Holy Trinity-Syracuse Diocese, along with readers Nicholas Olhovsky and Nicholas Lokhmatov. Vladyka Metropolitan was greeted at the international airport by the rector of the St. Sergius Church in Indianapolis, Priest Vladimir Petrenko. The ruling bishop, Bishop Alexander of Buenos Aires and South America, along with the dean of Brazil, Protopriest Georgii Petrenko, officiated at liturgy that day in the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Carapecuiba. Metropolitan Laurus and Bishop Alexander officiated at the Saturday and Sunday services in St. Sergius Church in Indianapolis together with the diocesan clergy. Services in the other churches of the area were canceled in order for clergy and worshipers to be able to venerate the Miracle-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God and to see the First Hierarch, and together to mark the 50th anniversary of the St. Sergius parish and the 30th anniversary of the consecration of the church. The rector of the church, Fr. Vladimir Petrenko, was awarded the nabedrennik. After liturgy and a service of supplication, a trapeza feast was held in a rented hall.

The Kursk-Root Icon, accompanied by Priest Konstantin Busygin, visited the community in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, 10 August.

On Sunday, 11 August, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus officiated at the divine liturgy at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Villa Alpina, and that evening he prayed at a service of supplication and akathist before the Kursk-Root
Icon in the same church.

Partly due to the Argentinian crisis, the Protectress of the Russian diaspora, the Kursk-Root Icon, went to Buenos Aires, where it will remain until 14 August.

During the first 10 months of his service as First Hierarch, Metropolitan Laurus has visited all the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia except for those of Europe. Vladyka Laurus departs from Argentina on 15 August.