The Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Opens at Christ the Savior Cathedral

On February 2, 2013, the Hall of Church Councils of Christ the Savior   Cathedral in Moscow was the setting for the opening of the Holy Council   of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, which includes archpastors   of the Moscow Patriarchate in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Azerbaijan,   Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Latvia, Lithuania, Tajikistan, Turkmenia, Uzbekistan,   Estonia, as well as the countries of the “distant diaspora,” from   dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church. In all, 290 archpastors from   247 dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church are taking part.

Divine Liturgy at Christ the Savior Cathedral preceded the opening   of the Council where all the participants prayed. Presiding over the   Church Council, in accordance with the Regulations of the Russian Orthodox   Church, is the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

The Presidium includes the regular members of the Holy Synod: His   Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine; His Eminence   Metropolitan Vladimir of St Petersburg and Ladoga; Patriarchal Exarch   of All Belarus Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk; His Eminence   Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsa and Kolomensk; His Eminence Metropolitan   Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldova; Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate   Metropolitan Varsonofy of Saransk and Mordva; His Eminence Metropolitan   Ilarion of Volokolamsk, President of the Department of External Church   Relations; and also His Eminence Metropolitan Alexander of Astanai and   Kazakhstant; His Eminence Metropolitan Vikenty of Middle Asia, who were   included as regular members of the Holy Synod on October 5, 2011, whose   candidacy was confirmed later by the Council of Bishops.

Included in the Presidium were also those invited to participate in   the winter session of the Synod: His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir   of Omsk and Tauride; His Eminence Metropolitan Veniamin of Penza and   Nizhny-Lomovsk; His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Khust and Vinogradovsk;   His Eminence Archbishop Simon of Murmansk and Monchegorsk, and His Grace   Bishop Savva of Tiraspol and Dubossarsk.

Also, in accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod of January   30, 2013 (Journal No. 8), in recognition of the importance of the participating   in the work of the Council of Bishops of representatives of autonomous   and self-governing parts of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Presidium likewise   included: His Eminence Metropolitan Daniel of Tokyo and All Japan; His   Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York; His   Eminence Metropolitan Alexander of Riga and All Latvia, and His Eminence   Metropolitan Kornily of Tallin and All Estonia.

The Council of Bishops includes diocesan bishops and their vicars,   individuals heading Synodal institutions and theological seminaries   or those who have canonical jurisdiction over their parishes. In accordance   with the Regulations of the Russian Orthodox Church, other vicar bishops   may participate in the meetings of the Council with non-voting status.

A moleben was performed before the plenary session of the council.   His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia read the beginning   prayer.

The attendees adopted the regulations and agenda of the Council and   confirmed the mandate, editorial and counting committees, and elected   the Council’s secretary.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill read the keynote address covering the   life and work of the Russian Church before the Council.

The Council will draw attention to draft documents prepared by the   members of the Inter-Council Presence:

On January 30, 2013, the Holy Synod made a decision to submit for   deliberation by the Council a draft Regulations on the Material and   Social Support of Clergymen, Church Servers and Employees of Religious   Organizations of the Russian Orthodox Church and Their Families, and   a draft amendment and supplement to the Regulations [Ustav] of the Russian   Orthodox Church in accordance with decisions adopted by the Holy Synod   of 2011-2012, and also on the directives issued by the Council of Bishops   of 2011. In addition, the members of the Council will discuss a draft   Regulations on Awards of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Greetings were received by the Council from Russian President Vladimir   Putin; Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovish; Belarus President Alexander   Lukashenko and Prime Minister Vlad Filat of the Moldovan Republic.

Press Service  of the Council of Bishops

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