WESTERN EUROPEAN DIOCESE: June 25, 2018
The Western European Diocesan Assembly of the Russian Church Abroad concludes

A regular session of the Western European Diocesan Assembly was held on June 22-23, 2018, chaired by His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Administrator of the diocese. The event was held at the parish house in Leysin, Switzerland. Also participating in the event were His Grace Bishop Irenei of Sacramento, who was elected vice-chairman, and representatives of all the diocesan parishes, including almost all of its clergymen. The hierarchs read a greeting sent by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York in Russian and French in which the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia invoked Divine blessings on the assembly.

Among the matters discussed were: the election of new members of the Diocesan Council, the Spiritual Court, the Auditing Committee; a new diocesan treasurer was appointed as well as a council secretary and other officials. In the afternoon session, reports on parishes were read and a discussion held on the achievements and challenges of Orthodox witness in Western Europe. A topic of the discussion that followed was the importance of youth ministry.

On Saturday, June 23, the delegates prayed at Divine Liturgy at St Barbara Church in Vevey. During the service, many clergymen received ecclesiastical awards, and the rector of St Barbara Church, Fr Adrian Ecchevarria was elevated to the rank of protopriest. A moleben was performed after Liturgy, at which Many Years was intoned to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Metropolitan Hilarion and the Holy Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The bishops then departed for Geneva to celebrated Divine Liturgy at Elevation of the Cross Cathedral, and to visit local parishes.

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