Home page News
A regular session of the Synod of Bishops of&…

A regular session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad is held

On Tuesday, September 14, 2021, a regular session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia convened, chaired by His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, its First Hierarch. Also participating in this remote session were: His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany; His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops; His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada; His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America; His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe; His Grace Bishop George of Canberra and His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Deputy Secretary of the Synod of Bishops.

Opening the meeting, Metropolitan Hilarion congratulated the participants on the new ecclesiastical year, and the continuing celebration of the 800th anniversary of the birth of Holy Right-Believing Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. His Eminence recounted the recent celebrations at St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ; about the great consecration of Protection of the Mother of God Church in Rochester, NY, and about a recent brotherly visit to the Synodal Residence of His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, Head of the North American Diocese of the Antiochian Orthodox Church. The President of the Synod then wished everyone God’s help in their continuing activity and a positive resolution of all matters on the agenda.

Metropolitan Mark then spoke on the celebration of the enthronement of Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral.

Discussing matters raised by Bishop Irenei, the Synod of Bishops decided to establish a Bishops’ Council consisting of archpastors of the Russian Church Abroad who serve in Western Europe, to be chaired by Metropolitan Mark. The main goal of this committee is to deliberate on and resolve current affairs of local Church life and pastoral ministry.

Hearing a report by Archpriest Andre Papkov on the work of the Synodal Liturgical Music Commission, the archpastors invoked Divine blessing to move the Metropolitan Laurus Synodal Summer School of Liturgical Music to Novo-Diveevo Convent in Nanuet, NY, supporting the idea proposed by Fr Andre to establish an Orthodox educational center there and confirming its blessing for the establishment of a sister school in Western Europe.

The Synod of Bishops then deliberated on various Church administrative and disciplinary matters and a series of intercessions by the hierarchs for ecclesiastical awards from clergymen and laity of their respective dioceses.

The meeting ended with the singing of It is Truly Meet.

synod.com/
DECR Communication service


Share:
Condolences of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the assassination of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyyed Ali Khamenei

01.03.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates the Divine Liturgy for the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral

01.03.2026

On Defender of the Fatherland Day, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill lays wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow

23.02.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presides over session of the Supreme Church Council

17.02.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill took part in the 14th Christmas Parliamentary Meetings at the Federation Council

29.01.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill chairs plenary session of the 34th International Christmas Educational Readings

28.01.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Great Vespers for the feast of the Nativity of Christ at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral.

07.01.2026

Nativity Message by His Holiness Patriarch KIRILL of Moscow and All Russia

06.01.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill greets Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis with his Nameday

05.01.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presides over final 2025 session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church

26.12.2025

A joint session of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council takes place

25.12.2025

Patriarch Kirill sends greetings to Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on her jubilee

24.12.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets French public figure Pierre de Gaulle

18.12.2025

Telephone conversation held between the Primates of the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches.

18.12.2025

Patriarchal greetings to Metropolitan Mark of Berlin on 45th anniversary of his episcopal consecration

30.11.2025

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates the Divine Liturgy for the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral

01.03.2026

Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations meets with Ambassador of Iraq to Russia

26.02.2026

On Defender of the Fatherland Day, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill lays wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow

23.02.2026

DECR Chairman takes part in an Interfaith Conference in Jerusalem

18.02.2026

DECR Chairman meets with the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Russia

16.02.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill took part in the 14th Christmas Parliamentary Meetings at the Federation Council

29.01.2026

DECR Chairman meets with the head of the Diocese of Russia and New Nakhichevan

28.01.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill chairs plenary session of the 34th International Christmas Educational Readings

28.01.2026

DECR Chairman meets with Austria’s Ambassador to Russia

20.01.2026

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk celebrates memorial service for Ambassadors Alexander Matsegora and Andrei Karlov

14.01.2026

DECR Chairman congratulates Metropolitan Niphon of Philippopolis on his Nameday

05.01.2026

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presides over final 2025 session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church

26.12.2025

A joint session of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council takes place

25.12.2025

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk attends annual meeting of Organizing Committee of the Days of Russian Spiritual Culture in foreign countries

25.12.2025

Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations attends General Meeting of the Russian Federation Commission for UNESCO

23.12.2025

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب