The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

MOSCOW: 6 October 2008
A Working Group is Formed To Review the Question of the Veneration of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia Canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia During the Period of Separation

A session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church held on October 6, 2008, considered a proposal of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia on the formation of a working group for a review of the veneration of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia of the 20th century canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia during the period of separation was heard.

The Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church convening in Moscow from July 24-29, on the basis of a report by Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsa and Kolomna, Chairman of the Synodal Committee on the Canonization of Saints, decided: "To entrust to the Holy Synod, during the period between Councils, the task of reviewing and reaching a decision on questions connected with the glorification of the saints by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia during the period of separation."

At its session of October 4-6, 2008, the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia adopted a decision on the appointment of three ROCOR representatives for this purpose.

The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church resolved to form a working group for the review of the question of the veneration of the new martyrs and confessors of the 20th century, canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia during the period of separation, consisting of:

from the Synodal Commission on the Canonization of the saints: Protopriest Maxim Maximov, Secretary of the Synodal Committee on the Canonization of the Saints, a clergyman of the Diocese of Moscow; Protopriest Vladislav Tsypin, Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy, a clergyman of the city of Moscow; and Hegumen Damaskin (Orlovsky), a clergyman of the city of Moscow;
from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia: Protopriest Andrei Papkov, Senior Priest of the Holy Protection Cathedral in Chicago; Monk Veniamin (Gomarteli), a resident of Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville; and Mr. Bernardo Le Careau.

The working group is entrusted with the task of making recommendations for inclusion in a unified calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church as to the veneration of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia of the 20th century canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia during the period of separation (protocol #73).

The Synodal Committee on the Canonization of the Saints of the Russian Orthodox Church is entrusted with the task of coordinating the work of this group, and its chairman with that of informing His Holiness the Patriarch, and the Sacred Synod of the results of its activity.

Press Service of the Moscow Patriarchate