NEW YORK: September 12, 2023
A regular session of the Synod of Bishops is held

On Wednesday, September 6, 2023, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York chaired a meeting of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

The meeting was attended by His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany, His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, and His Eminence, Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America, His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe and His Grace Bishop Theodosy of Seattle.

Opening the meeting, the President of the Synod of Bishops reported on the celebrations of the twentieth anniversary of Archbishop Peter's episcopal ministry, which took place on the feast of the First Apostles Peter and Paul in Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Chicago, and the fortieth anniversary of the canonical reception of the Nativity of Christ Old Rite community in Erie, PA.

His Eminence then reported on his recent visit to the Holy Land, where he venerated the great shrines of Christianity, celebrated divine services, and met with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, and with Archimandrite Roman (Krasovsky), Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, and clergy and monastics of the Mission along with other officials.

Having listened to the report of His Grace Bishop Irenei, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops for Inter-Orthodox Relations, the archpastors decided to call the clergy and flock to fervent prayer for the persecuted Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphry of Kiev and All Ukraine.

The Synod of Bishops also discussed issues related to the upcoming celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Holy Trinity Theological Seminary in Jordanville and the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the incorruptible relics of St John (Maximovich), Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco.

The Synod of Bishops blessed the hosting of the All-Diaspora Youth Congress in Germany in June 2024.

Then the Synod of Bishops considered various administrative-economic and ecclesiastical-disciplinary issues, as well as the petitions of the Most Reverend Archpastors, who presented a number of clergy and laity of their dioceses for church-wide awards.

At the end of the meeting, Metropolitan Nicholas warmly congratulated Bishop Irenei on his namesday, and Bishop Theodosius on the 15th anniversary of his episcopal consecration, wishing them good health, good spirits and God's help in their difficult service to the Church of Christ.

The next session of the Synod of Bishops will be timed to coincide with the patronal feast day of the Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York, which will be held on November 27/December 10.