GERMAN DIOCESE: October 10, 2013
A Joint Conference is Held by Clergymen of the Moscow Patriarchate and Russian Church Abroad

On October 1-3, 2013, St Panteleimon Parish Center in Koln, Germany, hosted the fourth joint pastoral conference of the Diocese of Berlin of the Russian Orthodox Church and the German Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

The meeting was headed by His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, His Eminence Archbishop Feofan of Berlin and Germany and His Grace Bishop Agapit of Stuttgart. Every day of the conference began with the celebration of hierarchal Divine Liturgy.

Professor Anargyros Anapliotis, an expert of civil and ecclesiastical law, read a lecture, in which he compared legal rights in contemporary law of the Federal Republic of Germany and church canon law as they apply for punishments and sanctions against moral violations.

The lecture and discussion that followed led to the decision to formulate practical recommendations for parents with regard to sex education in schools with the aim of protecting children from negative influences on their psyche. A list of necessary and important pieces of advice in case the themes and practices used in these classes in public schools violate the letter and spirit of Federal laws on protecting youth and children as well as Orthodox canon law. A committee was established to draft a proposal, which will be published.

The clergymen, who gathered from all over Germany, discussed many other real problems in their daily practice, including the tradition of celebrating the Mystery of Unction in the parishes of both dioceses. It was decided to organize a single unction service annually. In addition, it was decided to create a joint website for Russian Orthodoxy in Germany, as per the official website of the local diocese of the Russian Church Abroad.

Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate/ Patriarchia.ru