NEW YORK: December 9, 2023
A session of the Synod of Bishops is held at the Synodal Residence of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

On Friday, 8 December, 2023, after Divine Liturgy on the leavetaking of the feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos Into the Temple, a session of the Synod of Bishops commenced at the Synodal Residence of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, in New York. Also participating in this meeting were His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany; His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada; His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe; His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Seattle and His Grace Bishop Job of Stuttgart.

Opening the session with an introductory remark, Metropolitan Nicholas wished everyone God's help in their impending work and spoke about his primatial visits, services and meetings that took place since the last teleconference of the members of the Synod of Bishops in September of this year.

Reports were then heard by the Reverend Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia); Bishop Irenei, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops for Inter-Orthodox Relations, and from other persons of Synodal institutions.

In the evening of the same day, the archpastors read a thorough and highly-professional report by the architectural firm Zimmerman, which specializes in the restoration of historic buildings.

The President of the Synod of Bishops asked them to assess the extent of the damage and the necessary repairs for the reconstruction of the Synodal residence in New York. Commenting on the report, Metropolitan Nicholas expressed the hope that the episcopate, clergy and flock of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia will understand the urgent need to restore the House of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" and will make their contributions to the proposed project.

After an evening luncheon, a film prepared by His Grace Bishop Job about the historic Synodal building in New York City was screened.

The next morning, the work of the Synod of Bishops continued, considering a number of ecclesiastical disciplinary cases from dioceses and intercessions from bishops who nominated clergy and laity of their dioceses for church awards. This was followed by a fraternal telephone conversation with His Eminence Archbishop Michael (Donskoff), who is in retirement in Switzerland, and whom the members of the Synod of Bishops congratulated on his 80th birthday and recent namesday.

The session of the Synod of Bishops will conclude with the conciliar celebration of Divine Liturgy on Sunday, December 10, the feast day of the Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” at the Synodal Residence of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.