A Regular Session of the Synod of Bishops is Held

On February 21-23, a regular session of the Synod of Bishops convened presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus. Participating in this session were the regular members of the Synod of Bishops: Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan and Bishop Michael of Boston.

Hearing the report of Mitred Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff, Secretary of the Commission on discussions with the Moscow Patriarchate, His Eminence and the members of the Synod expressed their satisfaction with the recent work done by the Commission and thanked its members for their efforts. The Synod of Bishops decided to express special thanks to Mitred Protopriest George Larin and Ekaternia Yurievna Larin and their assistants for the labors and efforts in organizing the joint Commission meetings, which were held at Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY.

On February 21, the Synod of Bishops examined the latest letter received from Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Fili and the Holy Synod of Resistance, in which it was declared that their Synod fully and decisively ceased all ecclesiastical communion with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. According to this letter, last year the name of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus was "struck from the diptych." As a result, the Synod of Bishops decreed to recognize as sundered our communion with the Synod of the Resistance under Metropolitan Cyprian, which will be reported to the Heads of the Old-calendar Churches of Rumania and Bulgaria by a clerical emissary of the Russian Church Abroad.

Protopriest Peter Perekrestov, Protopriest Victor Potapov and Priest Serafim Gan, Members of the Pre-Council Committee for the IV All-Diaspora Council, reported on their work to the Synod of Bishops. Fr Peter, Secretary of the Committee, reported in particular on the preparations made by the local Pre-Council Committee at the San Francisco Cathedral charged with logistical preparations for the Council.

In addition, reports were heard from the bishops on life in their dioceses and in the Holy Land, financial matters and intercession by the bishops for awards for clergymen.