NEW YORK: May 5, 2009
The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad Sends a Greeting To the General Meeting of the Association of Archangel Michael Church in Cannes 

From the Editors: On Sunday, April 26, 2009, a general meeting took place of the Association of the Church of Archangel Michael in Cannes, France. 

On the day before, Bright Saturday, counsel for both the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and for the Association met to prepare amendments to the Statutes of Archangel Michael Church as proposed by the Synod of Bishops. The meeting was headed by Protopriest Peter Holodny, Treasurer of the Synod and representative of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Also participating in the meeting was Nicholas Ohotin, Jurisconsult of the Synod of Bishops. It was determined that the amendments were in accordance with canonical norms and abided by French law.

The next day, a general meeting of the Association was held, presided over by His Grace Bishop Varnava (Prokofiev). The greeting below sent by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion was read by Fr Peter at the opening of the meeting, and drew lengthy applause.  Appointed to the Honorary Council of the Association were Fr Peter; Protopriest Serafim Gan, Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops and Secretary of the Primate of the Russian Church Abroad, and others. Leonid Bilunov, a benefactor of the church, and Michael Slipenchuk were also elected Council members of the Association. The meeting confirmed the special stavopighial status granted to the parish, under the authority of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and his Synod. The results of this meeting will be discussed at the meeting of the Synod of Bishops, which begins in New York today.

To His Grace

BISHOP VARNAVA,

The clergymen and members of the Association of the
Church of Archangel Michael in Cannes. 

Your Grace, Reverend Fathers, Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Christ is Risen! 

It is with feelings of spiritual joy that I send you my heartfelt greetings on the Pascha of Christ this great day in the Domostroitel’stvo [housebuilding of the Church—transl.] of our salvation, the inexhaustible wellspring of eternal life, pure truth and holy love. 

In response to the request of His Grace Bishop Varnava and the members of the Association, Ukase № 11/35-53/38-2 issued by the Synod of Bishops at the end of 2007 granted special status to the Church of Archangel Michael in Cannes, that of being under the direct authority of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. For the final confirmation of this status of the Russian church in Cannes, and in order to normalize its status, the Statutes of the Association are to be brought in accord with ecclesio-canonical norms, while respecting the laws of France. My representatives, participating in today’s meeting with my blessing, present the esteemed members of the Association corresponding proposals and amendments to the Statutes, prepared together with legal counsel of the Synod of Bishops and approved by me. 

I express my earnest greetings to you on this Holy Pascha, wishing you fruitful work and blessed successes, great and abundant Divine mercies in these festal days.  

With love in the Lord,

+HILARION,
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. 
Pascha of Christ 2009.