Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia takes place in Germany

DECR Communication Service, 05/05/2026

From 29^th April to 5^th May 2026, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, timed to the celebrations of the centenary of the German Diocese, was held at the Convent of the Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth in Buchendorf, Germany.

Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, presided at the Council sessions. Among other participants were Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany, Archbishops Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America and Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, Bishops John of Caracas and South America, Irenei of London and Western Europe, Theodosy of Manhattan, Luke of Syracuse, James of Sonora, Job of Stuttgart, Spyridon of Toronto, Michael of Boston and Peter of Seattle.

At its session held on 30^th April, the Council of Bishops resolved to propose to the Supreme Authority of the Russian Orthodox Church that the commemoration day of the translation of the relics of the Holy New Martyrs of Alapayevsk to Jerusalem (17/30 January) be included in the general church calendar.

That same day, a commission on bioethical questions was established. It included Bishops Luke of Syracuse and Job of Stuttgart, who received the right to co-opt into its membership ecclesiastical figures and scholars from among the Orthodox laity.

On 1^st May, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Cathedral of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors in Munich, marking the centenary of the German Diocese. Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, officiated at the divine service. Concelebrating with His Eminence were all ROCOR hierarchs, as well as Metropolitan Peter of Prespa and Pelagonia (Macedonian Orthodox Church); Archbishop Tikhon of Ruza, Administrator of the Diocese of Berlin and Germany; Archimandrite Roman (Krasovsky), Head of the ROCOR’s Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem; Archpriest Nikolai Artemoff, Dean of the Munich Cathedral; and around one hundred clerics of the German Diocese and ordained guests.

On 2^nd May, the Council of Bishops heard a report by Bishop James of Sonora, chairman of the commission for the study of the life, legacy and veneration of the ever-memorable Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose). Having acknowledged the righteous life of Hieromonk Seraphim, the Council gave its blessing to initiate preparations for his glorification as Venerable Father.

On 4^th May, the Council resolved to release Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada from the administration of the Mid-American Diocese, expressing gratitude to him for his labours, and to appoint His Grace Spiridon as Bishop of Chicago and Mid-America.

The Council also elected members of the Synod of Bishops. It includes Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany, First Vice-President; Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, Second Vice-President and Secretary; Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada; Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe, Secretary for Inter-Orthodox Relations; Bishop Theodosy of Manhattan, Deputy Secretary; and Bishop Job of Stuttgart. Bishop Peter of Seattle was elected as an alternate member.

On 5^th May, at the final session of the Council of Bishops, held in the assembly hall of the new Monastery of the Holy Venerable Job in Seifriedsberg, the archpastors discussed and adopted the text of their conciliar epistle. Later that day, an enlarged session of the Synod of Bishops took place, which formalised the resolutions of the Council of Bishops, ROCOR website reports.