His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presided over the joint session of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council

DECR Communication service, 26.12.2024.

On December 26, in the Patriarchal Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' presided over the joint session of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Opening the session, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed the attendees with a welcoming speech, in which he noted in particular: "Today, we are holding the final session of the Supreme Church Council for 2024, and, as has become customary, we are summing up certain results during a joint session with the Holy Synod. This approach allows members of the Holy Synod to familiarize themselves with the activities of the Synodal institutions directly through oral reports from their leaders, ask questions, and, in general, engage with the agenda to gain a clear understanding of what has been accomplished over the year by these institutions. It also enables the Holy Synod to thoroughly review everything that will be presented for approval as the work plan for the Synodal institutions for 2025."

Following this, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, in recognition of his diligent archpastoral labors and in connection with his 50th birthday, awarded Metropolitan Gregory of Voskresensk—the Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate, First Vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' for the City of Moscow, and Abbot of the Novospassky Stavropegial Monastery—with the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, Second Degree. Additionally, His Holiness presented Metropolitan Gregory with a personal panagia as a commemorative gift.

"The Vladyka carries out a very important obedience, assisting the Patriarch in his internal service to the Church, which includes addressing very significant personnel matters," said the Primate of the Russian Church. "Therefore, anyone holding this position must possess special qualities—first and foremost, an impartial and objective attitude toward people, with a corresponding evaluation of the activities of both hierarchs and clergy. After all, it is the Chancellor who presents candidates for both awards and reprimands to the Patriarch, and for this reason, absolute objectivity, free from any personal sympathies or antipathies, is required. You, Vladyka, possess this quality in full measure and never exhibit subjective or biased attitudes toward people. I believe this is a very important and valuable quality for the Chancellor, for which I sincerely thank you and wish you God's help in your further labors for the benefit of our Church."

In his response, Metropolitan Gregory thanked His Holiness for the high award and the commemorative gift.

Afterward, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill announced the agenda for the session.

The session was attended by permanent and temporary members of the Holy Synod, members of the Supreme Church Council, as well as several invited staff members of the Administrative Office of the Moscow Patriarchate and Synodal institutions, according to Patriarchia.ru.

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His Holiness Patriarch Kirill presided over the joint session of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council

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