NEW YORK: 29 July 2022
A meeting of the Synod of Bishops takes place

On Friday, 29 July, 2022, a remote session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia took place. Presiding was His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany. Participating were His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America; His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada; His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America, His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan and His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe.

Opening the session, Metropolitan Mark welcomed the attending hierarchs, congratulating them on the feast day of St Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Illuminator of Rus', celebrated a day earlier, wishing them God's help in the day's work. Bishop Irenei, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops on Inter-Orthodox Relations, then spoke on recent developments in the Orthodox world.

During a presentation on the work of the Pre-Council Committee, which is planning the Sobor to be held on September 13-21 of this year, it was decided to schedule the enthronement of the newly-elected First Hierarch on Sunday, 18 September, at the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady "of the Sign" in New York. Participating in the election of a new Primate for the Russian Church Abroad, as well as in the work of the Council of Bishops, will be active hierarchs: ruling and vicar bishops. Concluding the discussion on the forthcoming Council, the Synod members decided to closely review its documents: the program of the Sobor, the decree on the election of the First Hierarch, etc. and to hold its next session on Tuesday, 30 August.

The session ended with the singing of It Is Truly Meet.