COLOGNE: October 24, 2006
The Eighth Joint Meeting of the Church Commissions Begins Today

Today, the eighth joint session of the Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on talks with the Moscow Patriarchate and the latter's Commission on talks with the Russian Church Abroad began at a church meeting hall in Cologne, Germany.

Participating on behalf of the Church Abroad are: the President of the Commission, His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany; His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America; Archimandrite Luke (Murianka); Mitred Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff (the Secretary of the Commission) and Protopriest Nikolai Artemoff.

On the side of the Moscow Patriarchate are: President of its Commission, His Eminence Archbishop Innokenty of Korsun, His Eminence Archbishop Evgeny of Verey; Protopriest Vladislav Tsypin; Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov) and Protopriest Nikolai Balashov (Secretary of the Commission).

At this meeting, the Commissions will begin to work out the protocol for the signing of the "Act on Canonical Communion." This joint meeting will conclude on October 26.