NEW YORK: 18 September, 2026
The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad convenes

On Tuesday, September 15, 2026, an online meeting of the Synod of Bishops was held under the chairmanship of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Also participating were 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; His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe; His Grace Bishop Theodosius of Manhattan, and His Grace Bishop Job of Stuttgart.

After a prayer and approval of the agenda, which had been sent out in advance by Bishop Theodosius, the Chairman opened the session with a brief greeting and a report on his services and visits. In particular, His Eminence told the archpastors about the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in New Jersey, which took place on the feast day of the saint, and about other events in the life of the Church.

Then Bishop Irenei, Secretary of the Secretariat for Inter-Orthodox Relations, reported on events in the Orthodox world since the last meeting. The Archpastors included in the Secretariat are Bishop Iob, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia), Archpriest Peter Holodny, and Nicholas Ohotin. During the discussion on issues of inter-Orthodox relations, the Synod drew attention to the unease among Orthodox Christians in the U.S. caused by the upcoming awarding of a government official who has actively persecuted Christ's Church and its faithful. As a result, the Synod of Bishops asks its flock to intensify their prayers for the strengthening of the faith of Orthodox Christians, as prescribed to be prayed at the end of matins. As for the persecutors of the Church of Christ and the People of God, the prophet long ago said: "I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found" (Psalms 37:35-36). This is exactly how the memory of the lawless will be erased from people's hearts, while the Church of Christ will be established forever, noted the Right Reverend members of the Synod.

The archpastors also looked at various church disciplinary, property, and administrative-economic issues, as well as a number of petitions from the ruling bishops, who presented their clergy and parishioners for church awards.