A Regular Session of the Synod of Bishops is Held

A regular session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was held in New York on October 26-28, under the presidency of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus. Besides the regular members of the Synod of Bishops: His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and the United Kingdom, His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, His Grace Bishop Ambroise of Vevey, His Grace Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan and His Grace Bishop Michael of Boston, the session was also attended by Bishop Agathangel of Tavrichesk and Odessa.

Ongoing matters of church life were discussed. Special attention was devoted to the discussion of the results of the second joint meeting of the Committees of the Russian Church Abroad and the Russian Orthodox Church/Moscow Patriarchate held recently in Munich.

The Synod of Bishops studied the materials developed during the meeting in Munich, considered their contents, which correspond to the age-old positions of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The documents drawn up by the Committees will be presented to the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, which is to be held sometime within the next two years. His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus and the members of the Synod of Bishops expressed their gratitude to the members of the Committee for their work and blessed them to continue to work for the good of the Russian Church.

Among other matters, the Synod of Bishops discussed the situation in the Kursk-Root Hermitage in Mahopac, which is a Synodal podvorie [branch]. Unfortunately, a great portion of the buildings of the podvorie have aged badly and are in need of major renovation. One of the morning sessions of this Synod was held at the Kursk-Root Hermitage, giving the members of the Synod of Bishops the opportunity to examine the property themselves.

The next session of the Synod of Bishops will be held in January 2005.