MOSCOW: March 20, 2020
Deacon Andrei Psarev takes part in the Canon Law Commission

In early 2019, the Commission on Canon Law of the Russian Orthodox Church completed work on the themes approved by the Presidium of the Inter-Council Assembly (ICA) in 2015. The document produced by the Commission on the Regulation of Church Punishments for Clerics was partially discussed at the ICA plenum on January 30 and 31, 2020. On March 11, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church approved a list of new themes for the Commission’s work.

On March 17, the Commission met at the Sretensky Theological Seminary in Moscow. Since the chairman of the Commission, Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany, could not chair due to the virus-related restrictions on travel, Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk headed the work.

Deacon Andrei Psarev, Associate Professor of Holy Trinity Theological Seminary, took part in the discussions. The Commission outlined ways for further study about the canonization of saints, the practical aspects of relations with non-Orthodox, and the use of penances in ministry to the laity. ICA is not a representative but a consultative body. Its members have been appointed by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.