GERMAN DIOCESE: March 15, 2016
A meeting of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Germany meets

On March 4-5, 2016, a meeting of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Germany met under the chairmanship of His Eminence Metropolitan Augustin of Germany, Exarch of Central Europe of the Constantinople Patriarchate, as reported by Amen news agency.

In addition to representatives of Constantinople, hierarchs of the Antiochian, Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian and Georgian Orthodox Churches who serve in Germany participated.

The following topics were discussed:

-the translation into German of liturgical texts (Divine Liturgy, the rites of the Mysteries of baptism and matrimony are already in translation), the funeral and burial rites are now being translated;

-the preparation of an analytic program in the German language for the Foundations of the Orthodox Faith for the Federal Lands of Hamburg and Bad-Wurttemburg;

-the preparation of a text titled “Love and Family,” which will be distributed to the Orthodox faithful of Germany.
The problem with migrants was also discussed, which mostly affects the Antiochian Orthodox Church, as its representatives informed the Assembly. A report was read on their activities, since most migrants come from their region.

The Assembly began its work on March 4 in St Procopius Parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Later that evening, vespers was performed at the church of St John of Kronstadt of the Moscow Patriarchate. Liturgy for the reposed was celebrated on Saturday, March 5, in the local Serbian Church, where the Assembly convened.

On Sunday, the Assembly came to a close following Divine Liturgy in the Greek Orthodox Church of St Nicholas in Hamburg, at which Metropolitan Augustin officiated. He was joined by his Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, His Grace Bishop Agapit of Stuttgart, His Grace Bishop Sergius of the Serbian Orthodox Church and His Eminence Metropolitan Lazarus of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

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