NEW YORK: February 18, 2020
A regular session of the Synod of Bishops is held

On Tuesday, February 18, 2020, a regular session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch. Participating were His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany; His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America; His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada; His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe, and His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan. His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America was unable to participate due to diocesan matters.

Opening the meeting, Metropolitan Hilarion greeted everyone on the coming Great Lenten period, wishing the archpastors Divine aid, a quiet Lent and a joyous Paschal season.

Hearing an account from Metropolitan Mark on the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem of ROCOR, the Synod then heard an appeal from the Union of Descendants of the Russians of Gallipoli, seeking special prayers on the 100th anniversary of the exodus of the White Army from Russia led by Baron Pyotr Wrangel. The Synod blessed prayerfully marking the event on Saturday, November 21 of this year.

Deliberating on the need to appoint a new representative of the Russian Church Abroad to the Patriarchal Council on the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, the Synod designated Protopriest Nikolai Artemoff, Secretary of the German Diocese.

Discussing matters relating to a report from Protopriest Andre Papkov, President of the Synodal Liturgical Music Commission, the Synod decided to rename the organization the "Metropolitan Laurus Synod Liturgical Music Committee." Noting the success of the recent conference held at the Nativity of the Mother of God Cathedral in London, England, the Synod blessed the establishment of a special committee under the auspices of the liturgical school to coordinate events in Western Europe. It will be under the guidance of Bishop Irenei.

Based on a written appeal by Archbishop Peter, the Synod of Bishops granted St John the Theologian Skete, formerly a metochion of Holy Cross Monastery in West Virginia, the status of an independent monastery.

The Synod of Bishops then deliberated on a number of disciplinary matters within the Church, and considered the intercessions of Ruling Bishops for ecclesiastical awards to their clergymen and laity.

The meeting concluded with the singing of "It is Truly Meet."