From the Protocol of the Sessions We heard: About the organization of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad under the omofor of His Eminence, Metropolitan Vitaly. We resolved: To establish the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, consisting of: The President – His Eminence, Metropolitan Vitaly, the First-Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad; Members – The Most-reverend Hierarchs: Deputy to the President – Archbishop Varnava [Barnabas], of Cannes and Europe; Bishop Sergii of Mansonville; Bishop Vladimir of Sacramento; Bishop Varfolomey [Bartholomew] of Grenada; Secretary to the Synod of Bishops – Mitred Protopriest Veniamin Zhukov [Benjamin Joukoff]. We heard: About the activity of hegumen Pitirim (Berestnev). We resolved: To divest hegumen Pitirim (Berestnev) of the dignity of Dean, concerning which he is to be sent an Ukaz. We heard: Of the necessity of notifying all social sectors, in writing, concerning the fact that Prot. Joseph Sunderland, Prot. Spyridon Schneider and Viktor Melehov are not clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile, i.e., of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, under the omofor of His Eminence, Metropolitan Vitaly, and, consequently, are not members of the ROCA Board of Directors. We resolved: To send written notification concerning this to the social sectors, with copies to the above-named personages. We heard: The petition of His Grace, Bishop Vladimir of Sacramento, concerning the award of an ornamented cross to Abbess Yevgenia (Mungalova) of the Vladimir Mother-of-God women's convent in California. We resolved: To award Abbess Yevgenia (Mungalova) with an ornamented cross, for her many years of service to the Church of Christ. We heard: The petition of His Eminence, Archbishop Varnava of Cannes and Europe, about taking under consideration the possibility of the future hierotonias to the episcopate of: Archimandrite Aleksii (Makrinov) and Hieromonk Iosif [Joseph] (Filosofov). We resolved: To take notice of His Eminence, Archbishop Varnava's petition. We heard: The Draft of the Epistle of the Sobor of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, proposed by His Eminence, Metropolitan Vitaly. We resolved: To approve the Draft of the Epistle of the Sobor of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. We heard: The enquiries of our flock in Russia, concerning the relationship of our Church to the Most-reverend Hierarchs, Archbishop Lazar' [Lazarus] and Bishop Veniamin [Benjamin] and to the new hierotonias that they had carried out. We resolved: To confirm the conciliar Decree of the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, dated 8/21 August 2002, and the corresponding Ukaz, dated 1/14 November 2002. Note: In accordance with the specific wish of Archbishop Varnava, the Sobor calls upon all priests and laymen to abandon the schism wrought by Archbishop Lazar' and Bp. Veniamin, and to enter into the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, through the rite of repentance. We heard: The enquiries of our flock, concerning the relationship of our Church to the Synod of Archbishop Lavr [Laurus]. We resolved: To confirm the Epistle of Metropolitan Vitaly, the First-Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, to all the faithful clergy and the flock of the Church Abroad, No. 14/01/M, dated 24 November / 7 December 2001. We heard: The Letter of His Eminence, Archbishop Varnava, dated 6/19 May 2003. We resolved: To take notice of the letter of His Eminence, Archbishop Varnava. The session of the Sobor of Bishops concluded with the singing of the prayer: «Shine, shine, O New Jerusalem… » The Protocol was signed by: +Metropolitan Vitaly +Archbishop Varnava +Bishop Sergii +Bishop Vladimir +Bishop Varfolomey Mitred Prot. Veniamin Zhukov, Secretary |
