NEW YORK: March 20, 2020
An extraordinary conference of the Synod of Bishops is held

An extraordinary conference of the members of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church was held on March 1/14, 2020.

During the conference, the Synod discussed the situation in Western Europe and other countries where the Russian Church Abroad has a presence with regard to the coronavirus pandemic.

Decreed: 1) to humbly bow down before Divine Providence and, not wishing not to "tempt the Lord thy God" (Matthew 4:7), to postpone the Jubilee Council of Bishops scheduled to be held in Munich, Germany, on the Week of Holy Pentecost this year that was to mark the centennial of the Church Abroad, 2) to decide on the scheduling of the next Council of Bishops at the next regular session of the Synod of Bishops, and 3) to ask the President of the Synod of Bishops to call upon the clergy and God-beloved flock to take responsible measures of caution, maintaining healthy ecclesial reason and to heed the recommendations of the local civil authorities to preserve the public health and help prevent the spread of the virus.