Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware), an eminent bishop and theologian of the Ecumenical Patriarchate with a remarkable ability to reconcile Christians of different traditions, died at the age of 88. Metropolitan Hilarion wo prepared his doctorate in Oxford under the supervision of Kallistos Ware celebrated the Divine Liturgy at his deathbed.

Peter Anderson reports:

The last two days of the life of Metropolitan Kallistos became a symbol of love between divided Christians.  His death overcame the barriers and tensions between the Ecumenical and Moscow Patriarchates for a short period of time.  Although the Moscow Patriarchate has severed communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of Budapest and Hungary (Moscow Patriarchate) flew from Budapest to Oxford to be with his former teacher and mentor for the last days of his life.  Metropolitan Hilarion has just posted on his Telegram channel a short video describing the death of Metropolitan Kallistos. https://t.me/s/MetropolitanHilarion 

The remarks by Metropolitan Hilarion have already been transcribed (in a shortened form) and posted at https://www.romfea.gr/patriarxeia-ts/patriarxeio-mosxas/51779-o-voudapestis-ilarion-gia-tin-koimisi-tou-diokleias-kallistou. 

The following English translation follows the original Russian statement of Metropolitan Hilarion:

"During the last months of his life, Metropolitan Kallistos was seriously ill.  I was by his side during the last two days of his earthly life. On the morning of August 23rd I celebrated Divine Liturgy at the bed of suffering, and he received the Lord's sacred and holy mysteries, in full consciousness and with deep gratitude. Some hours later, Metropolitan Kallistos fell into a coma, and around 01:00 in the early morning of August 24th, he passed to the Lord. Accompanied by the rector of the Oxford parish of the Diocese of Sourozh, Father Stephen (Platt), and with some close acquaintances of Metropolitan Kallistos I performed the first Panikhida at the bed of the deceased."

Link to the full report by Peter Anderson ... (see 24 August 2022)