The Fifth Joint Session of the Commissions of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate is Held

On July 26, 2005, the fifth joint meeting of the Commissions of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate was held at the offices of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate at Danilov Monastery in Moscow.

During the course of the meetings, discussions continued on ecclesio-canonical matters. In particular, under discussion were the ecclesiastical status of several clergymen, the structure of certain establishments of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia located on the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate, and the relationship between groups not in communion with the Local Orthodox Churches. It was presumed that these problems must be resolved on the basis of the holy canons of the Church, in the spirit of love and oikonomia.

Also discussed were practical matters connected to the relationship of parishes and dioceses of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in the countries of the Russian diaspora. The perspectives of further joint work were decided upon.

On July 28, the Commissions' members continued their work at St Seraphim Skete of Moscow's Sretensky Monastery in Ryazan oblast. The participants became acquainted with the renascent life of the monastic community and the monastery's management.

The commission's work ended on July 29 with a visit to the Monastery of St John the Theologian in the Ryazan Diocese.

The warm atmosphere of the meeting enabled the successful and productive efforts of the Commissions. The next joint session will be held later this autumn.