The Synod of Bishops in Munich

The Spring Session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was held in Munich from 12-14 May. His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, coincided his fist trip as First Hierarch to Europe with this Session in Germany.
The Session opened with a service of supplication before the Protectress of the Russian diaspora, the Miracle-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, at the St. Nicholas chapel of the Cathedral of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in Munich. The Session was attended by the members of the Synod of Bishops: Metropolitan Laurus, Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and the United Kingdom, Bishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan and auxiliary member Bishop Ambroise of Geneva and Western Europe. Bishop Michael of Boston also took part in the Session, as did Bishop Agapit of Stuttgart.

Bishop Ambroise of Geneva reported to the Synod of Bishops on the letter of Patriarch Alexy II of the Moscow Patriarchate, addressed to all the bishops “of the Russian tradition” in Western Europe. Bishop Ambroise did not personally receive this letter, although it was addressed to him as well. The Synod of Bishops composed a letter for Bishop Ambroise in response to this appeal by Patriarch Alexy (see Synod of Bishops to Bp. Ambroise.)

Bishop Ambroise also reported on the situation in the Western European Diocese, especially on the case involving the Memorial Church in Brussels.

The Synod of Bishops decreed, in agreement with the request of His Eminence Archbishop Alypy of Chicago and Detroit, and after consulting all the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia), to elevate Archimandrite Peter Lukianov to the rank of bishop and assign him as Vicar Bishop of the Chicago Diocese with the title “of Cleveland.” The consecration of Archimandrite Peter will occur in the next few months.

Heard also was the report of Archbishop Mark on the state of the Convents in the Holy Land. Archbishop Mark is the overseer of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, and Hegumen Andronik (Kotliarov) was appointed Deputy Head of the Mission in the absence of Archimandrite Peter (Lukianov).
The 100th anniversary of the canonization and uncovering of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov the Miracle-worker will be widely celebrated in the churches of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia by the Eastern American and Western American Dioceses. The Synod of Bishops reviewed the planned Epistle towards this event and the amended text approved.

The Synod of Bishops blessed the preparation for an All-Diaspora Clergy Conference. The Conference is to be held at the St. Alexander Nevsky Church in Lakewood (Howell), NJ. The Diocesan Conference of the Eastern American Diocese in Mayfield, PA, scheduled after Pentecost, will address questions on its organization.

A new edition of the Service book for the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom was approved by the Synod, and a new edition of the commemoration of the saints during the prayer “Save O Lord” (during matins and litany) was examined—the decision on this will be made at the next session of the Synod of Bishops.

The Synod of Bishops blessed the convening of the XI All-Diaspora Conference of Russian Orthodox Youth, to be held on 25 June until 3 July 2003 in San Francisco. The Conference will be dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the canonization of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Miracle-worker.
The next session of the Synod of Bishops will be held on 2 September 2004 at the Synodal Building in New York.