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

DECR Communication Service, 25.12.2025.

On December 25, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ presided over a joint session of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church held in the Patriarchal Hall of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

Taking part in the session via video link were members of the Supreme Church Council, Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomysk, chairman of the Synodal Committee for Cooperation with the Cossacks and chairman of the Synodal Department for Cooperation with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies, and Priest Kirill Markovsky, chairman of the Synodal Department for Prison Ministry.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed those gathered with a welcoming speech, the Press Service of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ reports.

During the session, the following reports were presented:

· on the activities of the Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate by Metropolitan Grigory of Voskresensk;

· on the activities of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk;

· on the activities of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church by Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk;

· on the activities of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church by Archpriest Maxim Kozlov;

· on the activities of the Finance and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate by Metropolitan Nikandr of Vladimir and Suzdal;

· on the activities of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism by Metropolitan Feognost of Kashira;

· on the activities of the Synodal Department for Religious Education and Catechization by Metropolitan Yevgeny of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye;

· on the activities of the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Ministry by Archpriest Mikhail Potokin;

· on the activities of the Synodal Missionary Department by Archbishop Savva of Zelenograd;

· on the activities of the Synodal Department for Cooperation with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies by Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomysk;

· on the activities of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs by Bishop Seraphim of Istra;

· on the activities of the Synodal Department for Church’ Relations with Society and Mass Media by Mr. Vladimir R. Legoida;

· on the activities of the Synodal Department for Prison Ministry by Priest Kirill Markovsky;

· on the activities of the Synodal Committee for Cooperation with the Cossacks by Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomysk;

· on the activities of the Patriarchal Council for Culture by Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and the Crimea;

· on changes in legislation by hegumeness Ksenia (Chernega).

All reports were followed by discussion.

Summing up the session, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said, “I sincerely thank everyone for participating in today’s meeting of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council. I wish all of you God’s aid in your work for making Orthodoxy even stronger in the life of our people and in the life of our country. I wish all our church institutions to perform their service in dignity, having in mind the most important goal, which is the spiritual education of our people closely linked with the salvation of human souls. May the Lord keep and bless us all on this path!”

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

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons