NEW YORK: December 9, 2020
A regular session of the Synod of Bishops convenes

On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, a regular session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia took place via videoconference, chaired by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch. Participating in the meeting were: His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany; His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops; His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada; His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America; His Grace Bishop John of Caracas and South America; His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe and His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Deputy Secretary of the Synod of Bishops.

Opening the meeting with a greeting, the President of the Synod of Bishops proposed prayerful commemoration of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, Metropolitan Amfilohije (Radovic) of Montenegro and the Littora, Metropolitan Feofan (Ashurkov), Metropolitan Iov (Tyvonyuk), Schema-Archbishop Amvrosy (Merezhko, +26 November/9 December 1974) and Archpriest Rostislav Gan (+25 November/9 December, 1975). His Eminence then congratulated Metropolitan Mark on the fortieth anniversary of his episcopal consecration, wishing His Eminence many years in good health, and wished the other members of the meeting Divine aid in their continued work. The agenda, having been distributed in advance, was approved in writing.

Hearing reports by Nicolas Schidlovsky, Dean of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY; the Synod Treasurer George Schatiloff, and Nicholas Ohotin on legal and financial matters, the members of the Synod of Bishops then discussed correspondence between the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad and His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion of Volokolamsk of the Moscow Patriarchate on the participation of His Grace Bishop Amvrosy of Bogorodsk in the International Meeting for Peace in Rome, and also matters pertaining to inter-Orthodox relations.

The Synod of Bishops then heard detailed reports by Archbishop Kyrill and Bishop John on parish and monastery life in Mexico and South America.

Deacon Andre Psarev of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, and a teacher at its seminary, was once again included in the Commission of Concording the Calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, was granted blessing to conduct modest celebrations, due to quarantining measures, of the 100th anniversary of the translation of the relics of the Holy Martyrs of Alapaevsk, Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Varvara, to Russian Gethsemane.

Matters relating to the increase of the episcopacy, Church discipline and administrative and managerial topics were then discussed, along with a series of intercessions by the bishops on ecclesiastical awards for clergy and laity.

The meeting concluded with the singing of the theotokion for the Entrance of the Most-Holy Mother of God Into the Temple. The next meeting will be held via videoconference on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, on the First Week of Great Lent.