Episcopal Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia opens.

DECR Communication service, 30.04.2026.

On 29^th April 2026 the Episcopal Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) opened at the Convent of Saint Elisabeth the Holy Nun and Martyr in Buchendorf, Germany, reports the website of the ROCOR.

In the morning the bishops attending the council, headed by the metropolitan of East America and New York Nicholas, the First Hierarch of the ROCOR, prayed together at the Divine Liturgy, which was celebrated by the metropolitan of Berlin and Germany Mark in the convent church. At the service special petitions were offered calling upon the grace-filled aid of the Holy Spirit for the decisions to be taken at the forthcoming Episcopal Council.

At the conclusion of the service and repast in the convent hall the Episcopal Council opened.

After the introductory speech by metropolitan Nicholas, metropolitan Mark was elected joint chairman of the council, while the bishops of Manhattan Theodosius and the bishop of Stuttgart Job were elected its secretaries and archpriest Seraphim Gan their assistant. The bishop of Boston Michael and the bishop of Seattle became members of the accounts commission of the Episcopal Council. Then the bishops elected a commission entrusted with compiling the council’s message, the members of which became the archbishop of Montreal and Canada Gabriel, the bishop of Manhattan Theodosius and the bishop of Toronto Spyridon.

Later, the members of the council heard reports from the ruling hierarchs and discussed matters pertaining to the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

At the of the first day of the council’s work reports were heard from the bishop of Great Britain and Western Europe Irenei (Steinberg), the secretary of the Episcopal Council for inter-Orthodox relations, and from archimandrite Roman (Krasovsky), the head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem under the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

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Episcopal Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia opens.

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons