NEW YORK: July 14, 2010
The Synod of Bishops Holds a Teleconference 

On Tuesday, July 13, 2010, the members of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia held a teleconference, chaired by its First Hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York. Also participating in the meeting were: His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany; His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America; His Grace Bishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada; and His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America. 

The President of the Synod of Bishops opened the session by noting the death of His Grace Bishop Daniel of Erie, for whom the hierarchs sang “Eternal Memory.”  The bishops then discussed the matter of the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Russian Church Abroad, and it was decided that this important date would be marked on the feast day of the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York in December of this year.  

Hearing the report of Archbishop Mark, the Synod of Bishops made the decision to send Hegumen Tikhon (Amelchenya), a clergyman of the Canadian Diocese, to be the Acting Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem. 

The Synod then heard the report of Bishop Peter, Treasurer of the Synod of Bishops, and by Bishop Peter on church matters in Ottawa.  

The hierarchs then decided to convene a Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in May 2011 to discuss ongoing church affairs.  

The next teleconference of the Synod of Bishops will be held on August 16.