Russian Version
The North American Bishops’ Conference
Of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
Under the Omofor Of Metropolitan Vitaly
With the Participation Of Clergy
7 / 20 April 2002
The Conference took place at Holy Transfiguration Skete, in Mansonville, Quebec (Canada). It started at 12:00, on 7/20 April 2002, with the singing of the prayer "O Heavenly King."
Those present were:
His Eminence, Metropolitan Vitaly, First-Hierarch of ROCOR,
His Grace, Sergii, Bishop of Mansonville,
His Grace, Vladimir, Bishop of Sacramento,
Protopresbyter Victor Melehov, Secretary of the Eparchy of North America,
Protopriest Joseph Sunderland, Dean of the West Coast of the USA,
Protopriest Spyridon Schneider,
Priest Michael Marcinowski, Treasurer of the Eparchy of North America.
We discussed:
The request made by His Grace, Lazar’, Archbishop of Odessa and Tambov, to create an autonomous ecclesiastical administration in Russia.
We resolved:
Despite the fact that His Eminence,
Metropolitan Vitaly, had personally assented to doing
so, the decision concerning the creation of an
ecclesiastical administration in Russia falls within the
scope of authority of the entire Sobor of Bishops. By
virtue of its uncanonicity, no separate ecclesiastical
administration may be formed in Russia prior to, and
outside the bounds of, a conciliar decision, inasmuch as
doing so would violate Canon 34 of the Holy Apostles.
Consequently, hierarchal hierotonias in Russia may only
be carried out at the decision of the ROCOR Sobor of Bishops.
Note: The installation of an archimandrite is effected only at the decision of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops.
We discussed:
The petition of His Grace, Varnava, the Archbishop of Cannes and Europe, to cancel the Sobor of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, scheduled for May, under the omofor of Metropolitan Vitaly.
We resolved:
In connection with Archbishop Varnava’s petition, and the discord and difficulties that have arisen, to request that Metropolitan Vitaly, ROCOR’s First-hierarch, shift the starting date of the Sobor to a much later time.
Metropolitan Vitaly has confirmed the date for the opening of the upcoming Sobor as now being 21 August / 3 September 2002.
We heard:
The report of His Grace, Vladimir, the Bishop of Sacramento, concerning the very real need to provide spiritual nourishment for the flock and to ordain new clergy for the Eparchy of Eastern America and New York, and of his receiving the blessing of Vladyka Metropolitan to effect said ordinations.
We resolved:
To take notice of the report of His Grace, Bishop Vladimir.
We heard:
The report of His Grace, Sergii, the Bishop of Mansonville, concerning the need to ordain new clergy for the Canadian Eparchy, and of his receiving the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Vitaly, to effect said ordinations.
We resolved:
To take notice of the report of His Grace, Bishop Sergii.
The Bishops’ Conference, with ROCOR clergy participating, was concluded with the singing of the prayer "It Is Truly Meet."
+Metropolitan Vitaly (signature),
+Bishop Sergii (signature),
+Bishop Vladimir (signature).