Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of April 13, 2021

Journals of the meeting of the Holy Synod of April 13, 2021

On April 13, in the Throne Hall of the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' chaired the first meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2021.

The permanent members of the Holy Synod are: Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine Onuphry; Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsky and Kolomna; Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova Vladimir; Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, head of the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Metropolitan of Tashkent and Uzbekistan Vincent, head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District; Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Barsanuphius; Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Metropolitan Benjamin of Minsk and Zaslavsky, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus; Metropolitan Dionysius of the Resurrection, manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Invited to participate in the summer session (March-August) 2021: Metropolitan Evgeniy of Tallinn and All Estonia; Metropolitan Theodore of Volgograd and Kamyshin; Bishop of Lyskovsky and Lukoyanovsky Silouan; Bishop Nikanor of Minusinsk and Kuraginsk; Bishop Alexy of Nizhny Tagil and Nevyansk.

MAGAZINE No. 1

LISTENED TO:

Message from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' about the life and activities of the Russian Orthodox Church during the coronavirus epidemic.

Reference:

Currently, in the countries of canonical responsibility of the Russian Orthodox Church, the epidemic situation varies significantly. While the situation has stabilized in Russia and Belarus, in most countries significant restrictions remain in place aimed at countering the spread of coronavirus infection.

As of the beginning of April 2021, 73 diocesan clergy and monastic stauropegial monasteries are sick in Russia, and 16 in Belarus. 151 and 19 clergy have died, respectively. More than 5,200 clerics were ill and recovered. Information on other countries of the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate is currently being collected for presentation to the Council of Bishops.

During the pandemic, the ministry of mercy intensified in the Church. Since the beginning of the pandemic, most dioceses have organized additional food and clothing assistance for those in need. In addition, during the epidemic, shelters for mothers and humanitarian aid centers created by the Church in recent years have become especially in demand. In 2021, philanthropists allocated large sums for the purchase of food and hygiene kits, as well as for paying employees and utility costs of the mentioned institutions.

In addition, the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service organized a fundraiser for food. With the collected 26.3 million, more than 23 thousand food packages were purchased and distributed to those in need in 72 dioceses in Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, East Timor and the Philippines. Fundraising and purchasing of kits continues. Currently, food aid is provided to those in need in 28 dioceses.

In 2021, with the support of the Synodal Department for Charity, the Rus Food Fund, together with 21 dioceses, donated over 990 tons of food to those in need.

The number of requests to patronage services and sisterhoods of mercy regarding the care of seriously ill people has increased.

Many dioceses donated medical equipment and medicine to hospitals.

The Bishkek diocese, in agreement with local authorities, deployed a COVID hospital in its building - it received 40 people a day. Funds for the purchase of equipment and for the salary of a paramedic were transferred by the Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service.

The pressure on church shelters and homeless projects in dioceses has increased.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, in April 2021, rules for performing the Sacraments when visiting people with coronavirus were drawn up. Distance training was organized for priests to perform the Sacraments in the red zone. For this purpose, 4,170 standard sets of protective equipment for priests were sent to 117 dioceses.

The Church also organized pastoral support for the elderly in nursing homes and boarding schools.

In 2021, the Ukrainian Church organized large-scale assistance: hundreds of tons of food, things, and equipment for doctors were donated. At the end of 2021, the social and humanitarian department of the Ukrainian Church, together with the dioceses, provided financial and material assistance to medical institutions and the population in the amount of over 2.5 million hryvnia (6.7 million rubles), 413 tons of food and 62 tons of things were donated to those in need. The Odessa diocese donated 2 ambulances to doctors.

Charitable work was intensively carried out during the epidemic in other parts of the Russian Orthodox Church.

DECIDED:

1. Take note of the message, expressing gratitude to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' for his wise primate care of the Russian Orthodox Church in the context of the coronavirus epidemic and related restrictions.

2. Thank all the clergy, monastics and laity who have worked hard and are working in the field of helping people who find themselves in a particularly difficult life situation due to the spread of the disease.

3. Call on bishops, clergy, monastics and laity to offer a special prayer for the repose of brothers and sisters in Christ who have died from the consequences of the coronavirus infection and for the consolation of their relatives and loved ones, and also not to abandon prayer to the Lord for deliverance from the harmful epidemic that has found itself.

MAGAZINE No. 2

HAD A JUDGMENT on the reorganization of the activities of the Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate.

DECIDED:

1. The Most Reverend Bishop of Naro-Fominsk Paramon, vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', is relieved of his position as chairman of the Financial and Economic Administration, expressing gratitude to him for his efforts.

2. Appoint Archimandrite Elijah (Rudnev) as Chairman of the Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate, releasing him from the post of Deputy Governor of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Valaam Stauropegic Monastery.

MAGAZINE No. 3

LISTENED TO:

Message from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' on the appointment of the chairman of the Synodal Department for interaction with the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies.

DECIDED:

1. To relieve Bishop Stefan of Klin, vicar of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', from the post of chairman of the Synodal Department for interaction with the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies, with an expression of gratitude for the work incurred.

2. Appoint Bishop Savvaty of Tara and Tyukalinsky as the Chairman of the Synodal Department for Interaction with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies, with his release from the management of the Tara diocese and an expression of gratitude for the archpastoral labors incurred.

3. His Grace Savvaty to be Bishop of Bronnitsky, vicar of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

4. Entrust the temporary administration of the Tara diocese to His Grace, Metropolitan of Omsk and Tauride Vladimir.

5. Appoint priest Oleg Ovcharov, cleric of the Yaroslavl diocese, as deputy chairman of the Synodal Department for interaction with the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies.

MAGAZINE No. 4

LISTENED TO:

Proposal of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' on the formation of five dioceses in the Moscow region and their unification into the Moscow Metropolis.

DECIDED:

1. Form the following dioceses in the Moscow region:

— Kolomenskaya in the urban districts: Kolomna, Ramensky, Bronnitsy, Zhukovsky, Zaraysk, Kashira, Serebryanye Prudy, Lukhovitsy, Voskresensk, Yegoryevsk;

— Balashikhinskaya in the territory of urban districts: Balashikha, Reutov, Orekhovo-Zuevsky, Shchelkovo, Losino-Petrovsky, Bogorodsky, Chernogolovka, Shatura, Pavlovsky Posad, Elektrogorsk, Fryazino, Elektrostal, ZATO Zvezdny Gorodok;

— Odintsovskaya in the territory of urban districts: Odintsovo, including the cities of Zvenigorod, Krasnogorsk, Naro-Fominsk, Istra, Volokolamsk, Lotoshino, Mozhaisky, Ruzsky, Shakhovskaya, ZATO Vlasikha, ZATO Krasnoznamensk, ZATO Molodezhny, ZATO Voskhod;

— Podolskaya in the territory of urban districts: Podolsk, Lyubertsy, Dzerzhinsky, Kotelniki, Lytkarino, Serpukhov, Protvino, Pushchino, Domodedovo, Chekhov, Stupino, Leninsky with the administrative center in the city of Vidnoye;

— Sergiev Posad in the urban districts: Sergiev Posad, Pushkin, Mytishchi, Korolev, Lobnya, Dmitrovsky, Taldomsky, Dubna, Khimki, Klin, Dolgoprudny, Solnechnogorsk.

2. To form a metropolitanate on the territory of the Moscow region, including the above-mentioned dioceses.

3. Thank His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' for his willingness to continue caring for the parishes and monasteries of the Moscow region, heading the Moscow Metropolis.

4. The diocesan bishop of the Kolomna diocese should be His Grace Juvenaly, Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna, Patriarchal Vicar, Permanent Member of the Holy Synod.

Assimilate to the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna the rights to govern the Moscow Metropolis with the powers determined by the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church (see Section 1.7).

5. His Eminence Bishop Nikolai of Balashikha and Orekhovo-Zuevsky will be his Eminence, retaining his position as editor-in-chief of the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate.

6. His Grace Panteleimon, Bishop of Orekhovo-Zuevsky, be called Bishop of Vereisky.

7. His Eminence of Odintsovo and Krasnogorsk to be His Eminence Thomas, Bishop of Pavlovo-Posad, retaining for him the position of head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate.

8. His Eminence Irinarch, Bishop of Krasnogorsk, to be called Bishop of Ramensky.

His Eminence Porfiry, Bishop of Odintsovo, be called Bishop of Ozersk.

9. His Eminence of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov to be His Eminence Thomas, Bishop of Sergiev Posad, retaining for him the position of Vicar of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra.

10. His Grace Theophylact, Bishop of Dmitrov, to be called Bishop of Mytishchi.

11. His Grace of Podolsk and Lyubertsy to be His Grace Aksiy, Bishop of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and Kuril.

12. His Grace Tikhon, Archbishop of Podolsk, to be called Archbishop of Ruza.

13. The Most Reverend Nikanor, Bishop of Minusinsk and Kuraginsk, will be the Most Reverend of Yuzhno-Sakhalin and Kuril.

The temporary administration of the Minusinsk and Kuragin diocese will be entrusted to His Grace Panteleimon, Metropolitan of Krasnoyarsk and Achinsk.

14. His Grace Tikhon, Bishop of Vidnovsky, to be vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

His Eminence Roman, Bishop of Serpukhov, to be vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

His Grace Konstantin, Bishop of Zaraisk, to be vicar of the Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna.

His Eminence Peter, Bishop of Lukhovitsky, to be vicar of the Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna.

MAGAZINE No. 5

HAD A JUDGMENT about the state of affairs in the Chelyabinsk diocese.

DECIDED:

Bishop Parmen of Kopeisk, vicar of the Chelyabinsk diocese, is to be appointed vicar of the Kurgan diocese with the title “Vargashinsky”.

MAGAZINE No. 6

HAD A JUDGMENT about the state of affairs in the Chistopol diocese.

DECIDED:

1. Release Bishop Ignatius of Chistopol and Nizhnekamsk from the administration of the Chistopol diocese, appointing him vicar of the Kemerovo diocese with the title “Guryevsky”.

2. Entrust the temporary administration of the Chistopol diocese to His Grace Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, head of the Tatarstan Metropolis.

MAGAZINE No. 7

WE LISTENED to the message of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia about the state of health of His Grace Bishop Nikon of Kudymkar and Vereshchagin.

DECIDED:

1. Bishop Nikon of Kudymkar and Vereshchagin is to be retired for health reasons, assigning his place of residence to the city of Perm.

2. Entrust the temporary administration of the Kudymkar diocese to His Grace Metropolitan Methodius of Perm and Kungur, head of the Perm Metropolis.

MAGAZINE No. 8

LISTENED TO:

Report of His Grace Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, on the meeting of the Synod of the Belarusian Exarchate.

Reference:

According to Article 8 of Chapter XII of the Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church: “The journals of the Synod of the Exarchate are presented to the Holy Synod and approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.”

DECIDED:

Approve the journals of the Synod of the Belarusian Exarchate dated January 13, 2021 (Nos. 1-2) and February 20, 2021 (Nos. 3-14).

MAGAZINE No. 9

WE HAD A JUDGMENT on the report of His Grace Metropolitan of Tashkent and Uzbekistan Vincent, head of the Central Asian Metropolitan District, on the meeting of the Synod of the Central Asian Metropolitan District.

Reference:

According to Article 9 of Chapter XIII of the Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church: “The journals of the Synod of the Metropolitan District are presented to the Holy Synod and approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.”

DECIDED:

Approve the journals of the Synod of the Central Asian Metropolitan District dated December 24, 2021 (Nos. 22-30) and March 29, 2021 (Nos. 1-11).

MAGAZINE No. 10

LISTENED TO:

Report of His Grace Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, on the fact of the participation of a person who does not have canonical ordination in the episcopal ordination performed by the Patriarch of Constantinople.

Reference:

From media reports it became known that on March 21, 2021, at the Divine Liturgy in the St. George Cathedral in Istanbul, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, concelebrated by the hierarchs of the Patriarchates of Constantinople and Alexandria, as well as a representative of one of the schismatic communities of Ukraine, who does not have a canonical consecration, led the ordination of Metropolitan Andrew of Saranda-ecclesiastical confirmed by the publication of relevant photographs.

DECIDED:

1. Express regret in connection with the participation of a person who does not have canonical ordination in the episcopal consecration in the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

2. Note that this event deepens the schism in the Orthodox world caused by the actions of Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.

3. Considering the canonical defect of the consecration of Metropolitan Andrew of Saranda-Ecclesia, it is with regret to note the impossibility of concelebrating with him in the event that, God willing, eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople is restored. The same applies to clergy whom the mentioned metropolitan may eventually ordain.

MAGAZINE No. 11

LISTENED TO:

Report of His Grace Metropolitan of Krasnoyarsk and Achinsk Panteleimon, head of the Krasnoyarsk Metropolis, with a petition to change the boundaries of the Krasnoyarsk and Yenisei dioceses.

Reference:

Metropolitan Panteleimon, in a report addressed to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', petitions for the separation of the Evenki region from the Yenisei diocese and its transfer to the Krasnoyarsk diocese, due to the fact that the only way to get to the Evenki region by direct air is from Krasnoyarsk. Metropolitan Panteleimon also petitions for the separation of the Bolshemurtinsky and Sukhobuzimsky districts from the Krasnoyarsk diocese and their annexation to the Yenisei diocese. This proposal was put forward at a meeting of the Bishops' Council of the Krasnoyarsk diocese on January 14, 2021 by His Grace Bishop Ignatius of Yenisei and Lesosibirsk and was supported by the Council.

DECIDED:

1. Include the Evenki district of the Krasnoyarsk Territory into the Krasnoyarsk diocese, separating it from the Yenisei diocese.

2. Include the Bolshemurtinsky and Sukhobuzimsky districts of the Krasnoyarsk Territory into the Yenisei diocese, separating them from the Krasnoyarsk diocese.

MAGAZINE No. 12

LISTENED TO:

Report from His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Rybinsk and Danilovsky with a request to change the title of the diocesan bishop of the Rybinsk diocese.

Reference:

Bishop Veniamin, in a report addressed to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', asks to designate the second cathedral city of the Rybinsk diocese instead of the city of Danilov as the city of Tutaev, which has great ecclesiastical significance due to the location of revered shrines here, attracting numerous pilgrims and requiring for this reason special pastoral care diocesan bishop. At the same time, Bishop Veniamin asks to use in the episcopal title the name of the city before 1918 - Romanov-Borisoglebsk, combining the names of the three holy princes. The head of the Yaroslavl Metropolis, Metropolitan of Yaroslavl and Rostov Vadim supported this petition.

DECIDED:

Change the title of the diocesan bishop of the Rybinsk diocese from “Rybinsk and Danilovsky” to “Rybinsk and Romanovo-Borisoglebsky”.

MAGAZINE No. 13

LISTENED TO:

Reports of His Grace Metropolitan Konstantin of Petrozavodsk and Karelian, Chairman of the Synodal Liturgical Commission, on the submission of a number of troparions, kontakia and prayers to the holy saints of God for approval by the Holy Synod.

DECIDED:

Approve for general church liturgical use:

1. troparion, kontakion and prayer to the Hieromartyr Nikita, Bishop of Orekhovo-Zuevsky;
2. troparion, kontakion and prayer to the holy martyr Seraphim, Bishop of Dmitrov;
3. troparion, kontakion and prayer to the holy martyr Konstantin (Nekrasov), presbyter;
4. troparion, kontakion and prayer to the Venerable Martyr Nikon (Belyaev);
5. troparion, kontakion and prayer to the holy confessor Theodosius, Bishop of Kolomna and Bronnitsky.

MAGAZINE No. 14

THEY HAD A JUDGMENT on the establishment of the Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky.

Reference:

In accordance with Article 1.4 of the Regulations on Awards of the Russian Orthodox Church, changes and additions to this document are adopted by His Holiness the Patriarch and the Holy Synod with subsequent approval by the Council of Bishops.

DECIDED:

1. To establish among the highest orders of the Russian Orthodox Church the Order of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky.

2. Include the Order of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky in the list of highest orders after the Order of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Kyiv, Moscow and All Rus' with the introduction of appropriate changes to the lists of orders and medals in paragraphs. 3.3.2 and 3.4.2 Regulations on awards of the Russian Orthodox Church.

3. Approve the statute of the Order of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky and include it in the Regulations on awards of the Russian Orthodox Church after the statute of the Order of Saint Alexy, Metropolitan of Kyiv, Moscow and All Rus'.

4. Submit changes and additions to the Regulations on Awards of the Russian Orthodox Church for consideration by the next Council of Bishops.

MAGAZINE No. 15

HAD A JUDGMENT on the preliminary results of the discussion regarding the draft document “Ethical problems associated with the method of in vitro fertilization”, prepared by the Commission of the Inter-Council Presence on Theology and Theological Education.

Reference:

The draft document “Ethical Issues Associated with In Vitro Fertilization” was sent to dioceses for feedback and published for open discussion on February 5, 2021. Feedback and comments were collected until March 29, 2021.

In 2000, the Russian Orthodox Church unanimously spoke out regarding the procedure of in vitro fertilization in the Fundamentals of the Social Concept adopted by the 2000 Anniversary Council of Bishops: “From the Orthodox point of view, all types of in vitro (out-of-body) fertilization that involve the preparation, conservation and deliberate destruction of “excess” are also morally unacceptable. embryos" (XII.4).

DECIDED:

1. Note that some questions raised during the discussion regarding the document “Ethical issues associated with the method of in vitro fertilization” and concerning the possible conditions for using this method require further discussion at a high theological and scientific level.

2. Emphasize the importance of studying bioethical problems from the point of view of Orthodox doctrine with the participation of specialists of different specialties and views, and for this purpose establish a Synodal Commission on Bioethics.

3. Appoint the rector of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Bishop Silouan of Peterhof, as the Chairman of the Synodal Commission on Bioethics, instructing him to form a center for research in the field of bioethics on the basis of the St. Petersburg Academy, including for the development of interaction in this area with the secular scientific world.

4. The Chairman of the Synodal Commission on Bioethics should submit proposals on the composition of the Commission, as well as the draft Regulations on it, for approval by the Holy Synod at its next meeting.

5. Send the discussion materials regarding the document “Ethical problems associated with the method of in vitro fertilization” to the Synodal Commission on Bioethics for further detailed study.

6. In connection with the establishment of the Synodal Commission on Bioethics, abolish the Church-Public Council on Biomedical Ethics, thanking its chairman and members for their efforts.

MAGAZINE No. 16

LISTENED TO:

Report by Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, acting. Rector of the Sretensky Theological Seminary, on the opening at the Sretensky Theological Seminary of a program for training highly qualified personnel - a program for training scientific and pedagogical personnel in graduate school.

DECIDED:

To open a program for training highly qualified personnel at the Sretensky Theological Seminary - a program for training scientific and pedagogical personnel in graduate school, in connection with which this theological educational institution should be given the name “academy”.

MAGAZINE No. 17

LISTENED TO:

Petition from the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk Clement, rector of the Kaluga Theological Seminary, accompanied by a report from Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, for the opening of a master's program at the Kaluga Theological Seminary in the profile "Russian patrolology of the 18th - early 19th centuries."

Reference:

The Holy Synod determined on October 15, 2021 (magazine No. 89) that new master's programs in theological educational institutions will henceforth be opened by decision of the Holy Synod based on the presentation of the Educational Committee and the petition of the diocesan bishop in charge of the theological educational institution.

DECIDED:

Open a master's program at the Kaluga Theological Seminary in the profile "Russian patrolology of the 18th - early 19th centuries."

MAGAZINE No. 18

WE HAD A JUDGMENT on the petition of His Grace Metropolitan Isidore of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh, accompanied by a report from Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, to join the Center for the Training of Church Specialists of the Smolensk Diocese to the Smolensk Theological Seminary.

DECIDED:

Reorganize the Center for Training of Church Specialists of the Smolensk Diocese, joining it to the Smolensk Theological Seminary as a unit of additional education.

MAGAZINE No. 19

LISTENED TO:

Report from His Grace Bishop Pankratius of Trinity, Chairman of the Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints, on the inclusion of additional members in the commission.

DECIDED:

Include the rectors of the Moscow and St. Petersburg Theological Academies in the Synodal Commission for the Canonization of Saints ex officio.

MAGAZINE No. 20

LISTENED TO:

Report of His Grace Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, on the appointment of his deputy.

Reference:

According to the Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church, “The Holy Synod appoints... the heads of synodal institutions and, according to their recommendations, their deputies” (V.27.a).

DECIDED:

Appoint Hieromonk Macarius (Komogorov), assistant to the Chairman of the Publishing Council, as Deputy Chairman of the Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.

MAGAZINE No. 21

LISTENED TO:

Petition from His Grace Metropolitan Vladimir of Omsk and Tauride, accompanied by a report from Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church, for his reappointment as rector of the Omsk Theological Seminary due to the expiration of the five-year statutory term of office.

Reference:

According to the standard charter of seminaries: “The rector of the seminary is appointed to the position for a period of five years (removed from office, including early) on the basis of a decree of the diocesan bishop in accordance with the definition of the Holy Synod (with the right to reappoint the rector of the seminary for a new term without limiting the number of reappointments) "

DECIDED:

To reappoint Metropolitan Vladimir of Omsk and Tauride to the position of rector of the Omsk Theological Seminary until the end of the current academic year, after which His Grace Metropolitan Vladimir must submit a candidacy for the position of rector to the Holy Synod.

MAGAZINE No. 22

HAD A JUDGMENT on the petitions of the Right Reverend Bishops for the approval by their Holy Archimandrites of especially significant monasteries of the dioceses entrusted to them.

Reference:

The Council of Bishops in 2011 decided: “Ruling bishops may be abbots (priest-archimandrites) of historically significant or largest monasteries of the diocese as an exception” (Definition “On issues of the internal life and external activities of the Russian Orthodox Church”, paragraph 25).

According to the Regulations on Monasteries and Monasticism: “The diocesan bishop has special care for the monasteries where he is the holy archimandrite: he regularly performs divine services, takes care of the spiritual structure and splendor of the monastery, and also that the monastery serves as an example for other monasteries of the diocese. The direct leadership of such a monastery is entrusted to the abbot, appointed by the Holy Synod on the recommendation of the diocesan bishop and exercising the full functions assigned to the abbot in the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, in the charter of the monastery, as well as in these Regulations.”

DECIDED:

1. To approve His Grace Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan as the holy archimandrite of the Kazan Mother of God Monastery in the city of Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan.

2. To approve His Grace Metropolitan Tikhon of Oryol and Bolkhov as holy archimandrite of the Dormition Monastery of the city of Oryol.

3. Confirm His Grace Bishop Pitirim of Skopin and Shatsk as the holy archimandrite of the Holy Spirit Monastery in the city of Skopin, Ryazan region.

MAGAZINE No. 23

LISTENED TO:

Report by His Grace Archbishop Feognost of Kashira, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism, regarding the received petitions of the diocesan Right Reverends.

DECIDED:

1. In connection with the request of His Grace Metropolitan Savva of Vologda and Kirillov to relieve Abbot Nikolai (Ananyev) from the post of Abbot of the Zaonikiev Monastery of the Mother of God-Vladimir Monastery in the village of Luchnikovo, Vologda district, Vologda region.

2. In connection with the request of His Grace Metropolitan Sergius of Barnaul and Altai to appoint nun Nina (Lebedeva) to the position of abbess of the Znamensky Convent of the city of Barnaul, Altai Territory.

3. In connection with the request of His Grace Archbishop Zosima of Solikamsk and Chusovsky:

3.1. To appoint Hieromonk Lazar (Semyonov) to the position of abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery in the city of Solikamsk, Perm Territory;

3.2. To appoint nun Pavla (Polyakova) to the position of abbess of the Krasnoselsky St. John the Baptist Convent in the city of Solikamsk, Perm Territory.

4. In connection with the request of His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Rybinsk and Danilovsky to appoint nun Claudia (Anisimova) to the position of abbess of the Mologsky Pokrovsky convent of the town of Bykovo, Nekouz district, Yaroslavl region.

5. In connection with the request of His Grace Bishop Pitirim of Skopinsk and Shatsk to appoint Archimandrite Theodosius (Ivanov) to the position of abbot of the Nikolo-Cherneevsky Monastery in the village of Starocherneevo, Shatsk district, Ryazan region.

6. In connection with the request of His Grace Bishop John of Kalachevsky and Pallasovsky to relieve Hegumen Iakinthos (Glushkov) from the post of rector of the St. Gabriel-Arkhangelsk Monastery of the Barbashi farmstead, Svetloyarsk district, Volgograd region.

7. In connection with the request of His Grace Bishop Spiridon of Birsk and Beloretsk to move the Holy Trinity Convent from the city of Birsk to the village of Krasny Klyuch, Nurimanovsky district of the Republic of Bashkortostan, with the renaming of the monastery at its location.

MAGAZINE No. 24

THEY HAD A JUDGMENT about the state of affairs in the Nilo-Stolobenskaya desert.

Reference:

The Holy Synod at its meeting on August 25, 2021 (journal No. 72) determined: “In connection with the report of His Eminence Metropolitan Savva of Tver and Kashin, reporting on serious violations committed by the abbot of the Nilo-Stolobensk Hermitage, Archimandrite Arkady (Gubanov) in the management of the monastery, to entrust His Eminence of Tver thoroughly investigate the allegations. To remove Archimandrite Arkady from the management of the Nilo-Stolobensk Hermitage for the duration of the investigation and entrust the management of the monastery to the diocesan bishop.” On April 5, 2021, Archimandrite Arkady (Gubanov) sent a request to His Grace Metropolitan of Tver and Kashin Ambrose to release him from the post of vicar of the Nilo-Stolobensk Hermitage and to count him as a staff member with the right to transfer to another diocese.

DECIDED:

1. Release Archimandrite Arkady (Gubanov) from the post of governor of the Nilo-Stolobensk Hermitage in accordance with the submitted petition.

2. In connection with the request of His Grace Metropolitan Ambrose of Tver and Kashin, to appoint Archimandrite Stefan (Tarakanov), deputy chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism, as the abbot of the Nilo-Stolobenskaya Hermitage Monastery, while retaining for him the indicated obedience in the Synodal Department.

MAGAZINE No. 25

LISTENED TO:

Message from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' about dioceses and parishes abroad.

DECIDED:

Berlin-German Diocese

1. Priest Alexander Vasilenko, clergyman of the Kokshetau diocese, is to be placed at the disposal of the administrator of the Berlin-German diocese.

2. Archpriest Pavel Melnikov, a supernumerary clergyman of the Buzuluk diocese, should be placed at the disposal of the administrator of the Berlin-German diocese.

Spanish-Portuguese Diocese

3. Archpriest Nikolai Efimchuk, a supernumerary clergyman of the Khmelnytsky diocese, should be placed at the disposal of the administrator of the Spanish-Portuguese diocese.

Parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in Cairo, Egypt

4. Priest Victor Kulagu, due to the end of his business trip, be relieved of his post as rector of the parish of the Russian Orthodox Church in Cairo and placed at the disposal of the administrator of the Bobruisk diocese.

Early Church

The Russian Orthodox Church was founded in 988.

The clergy adopted the original hierarchical structure in Constantinople. Over the next 9 centuries, the Russian Church was largely dependent on Byzantium. During the period from 988 to 1589, the metropolitan system was practiced. Then, from 1589 to 1720, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church was the patriarch. And from 1721 to 1918 the Church was governed by the Synod. Currently, the sole ruler of the Russian Orthodox Church is Patriarch Kirill. Today the Synod is just an advisory body.

Historical composition of the Synod

Initially this governing body consisted of:

1. President (Stefan Yavorsky - Metropolitan of Ryazan);
2. Vice-presidents in the amount of two people;
3. Advisors and assessors (4 people each).

The members of the Synod were elected from among the archimandrites, bishops, city archpriests and abbots. The Church adopted rules protecting freedom of expression. Thus, abbots and archpriests with the bishops standing above them should not have taken part in the work of the Synod at the same time. After the death of Stefan Jaworski, the position of chairman was abolished. From that moment on, all members of the Synod had equal rights. Over time, the composition of this body changed periodically. So, in 1763 it consisted of 6 people (3 bishops, 2 archimandrites and 1 archpriest). For 1819 - 7 people.

Almost immediately after the decision to create the Synod was made, the monarch ordered the membership of an observing secular person in this body. This representative of the state was elected from respectable officers. The position given to him was called “Chief Prosecutor of the Synod.” According to the instructions approved by the monarch, this man was “the eye of the Sovereign and the attorney for state affairs.” In 1726, the Synod was divided into two parts - spiritual and secular economic.

Location

Immediately after its establishment, the Synod was located in St. Petersburg on City Island. After some time, meetings began to be held in the building of the Twelve Collegiums. In 1835, the Synod moved to Senate Square. From time to time, meetings were moved to Moscow. For example, during the coronation of monarchs. In August 1917, the Synod finally moved to Moscow. Before this, there was only a Synodal office here.

In 1922, the patriarch was arrested. The first meeting of the Synod was held only five years later, in 1927. Then Metropolitan Sergius of Nizhny Novgorod managed to achieve the legalization of the Russian Orthodox Church.

He organized a temporary Patriarchal Synod with him. However, in the spring of 1935, this body was again dissolved on the initiative of the authorities.

“Dark Times” of the Synod of the early 20th century

The main reason for the return to the patriarchate in 1917-18. there was interference in the affairs of G. Rasputin’s church management and an aggravation of the political situation around this body.

The Synod is the inviolability of the hierarchs. The events associated with the death of the leading member of this body, Anthony, and the appointment in his place of Metropolitan Vladimir, and subsequently Pitirim, led to the intensification of unacceptable passions in the highest church administrative echelons and the creation of a heavy atmosphere of mistrust. Metropolitan Pitirim was considered by most clergy to be a “Rasputinist.”

Considering that by the end of 1916 many other members of the Synod were followers of this royal henchman (for example, Chief Prosecutor Raev, the manager of the chancellery Guryev and his assistant Mudrolyubov), the church began to look like almost the main opposition to the royal throne. Members of the administrative body who did not belong to the selected circle of “Rasputinists” were afraid to once again express their opinion, knowing that it would be immediately transmitted to Tsarskoe Selo. It was no longer, in fact, the Synod of the Orthodox Church that was managing affairs, but G. Rasputin alone.

Rules of the Universal Church

According to the general rules of world Orthodoxy, the Synod can have judicial, legislative, administrative, supervisory and administrative powers. Interaction with the state is carried out through a person appointed by the secular government. For the effective work of the Synod, the following bodies are created:

1. Synodal Office.
2. Spiritual Education Committee.
3. Department of Synodal Printing Houses.
4. Office of the Chief Prosecutor.
5. Spiritual School Council.
6. Economic management.

The Russian Orthodox Church is divided into dioceses, the boundaries of which coincide with the boundaries of the regions of the state. The resolutions of the synod are mandatory for clergy and recommended for parishioners. To adopt them, a special meeting of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church is held (twice a year).

The main feature of the Russian Synod

A characteristic feature of the newly created Russian Synod was that it was recognized as hierarchically equal by the Eastern patriarchs. Similar bodies in other Orthodox states played only a secondary role under a single dominant person. Only the Greek Synod had the same power within the church of its country as the Russian one. The Houses of God of these two states have always had much in common in their structure. The Eastern Patriarchs called the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church “brother beloved in the Lord,” that is, they recognized its power as equal to their own.

Return to patriarchal rule

After the revolution in February 1917, the Provisional Government, in order to correct this situation, issued a decree dismissing all members of this body and convening new ones for the summer session.

On August 5, 1917, the post of Chief Prosecutor was abolished and the Ministry of Religions was established. This body issued decrees on behalf of the Synod until January 18, 1918. On February 14, 1918, the last resolution of the Council was published. According to this document, the powers of the Holy Synod were transferred to the patriarch. This body itself became collegial.

Official reasons for the church's acceptance of synodal governance

The prerequisites for which this particular form of government was once adopted in the Russian Orthodox Church (by the command of Peter I),

indicated in the Spiritual Regulations and consisted of the following:

1. Several clergy can establish the truth much faster and better than one.
2. The decisions of the conciliar authority will have much greater weight and authority than the decisions of one person.
3. In the event of illness or death of the sole ruler, affairs will not be stopped.
4. Several people can make a much more impartial decision than one.
5. It is much more difficult for the authorities to influence a large number of clergy than to influence the sole ruler of the church.
6. Such power can arouse pride in one person. At the same time, it will be difficult for ordinary people to separate the church from the monarchy.
7. The Holy Synod can always condemn the unlawful actions of one of its members. To analyze the wrong decisions of the patriarch, it is necessary to call eastern clergy. And this is expensive and time-consuming.
8. The Synod is, first of all, a kind of school in which more experienced members can train newcomers in the management of the church. Thus, work efficiency increases.

A brief history of synodal administration from 1721 to 1918.

In the first years of his reign, Bishop Theophan had great influence on the decisions of the Synod. Not a single church book could be published without his approval.

This man was friends with Bismarck and Osterman and all the bishops, one way or another, were dependent on him. Theophanes achieved similar power after the fall of the Great Russian party in the Synod. At this time, the Soviet government was going through hard times. The confrontation between Anna Ioannovna and the daughters of Peter the Great led to persecution of those who sympathized with the latter. One day, all the members of the Synod except Feofan, following a denunciation, were simply dismissed, and others were appointed in their place, much more loyal to him. Of course, after this he achieved unprecedented power. Feofan died in 1736.

In the end, Elizabeth did ascend to the throne. After this, all the clergy exiled during Theophan’s time were returned from exile. The period of her reign was one of the best for the Russian Orthodox Synod. However, the Empress still did not restore the patriarchate. Moreover, she appointed a particularly intolerant chief prosecutor, Ya. Shakhovsky, who was known as a zealous zealot for state affairs.

During the time of Peter III, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church was forced to tolerate German influence, which, however, ended with the accession of Catherine II to the throne. This queen did not introduce any special innovations into the Synod. The only thing she did was close the savings board. Thus, the Synod became united again.

Under Alexander I, Prince A. N. Golitsyn, who in his youth was known as the patron of various kinds of mystical sects, became chief prosecutor. As a practical person, he was even considered useful to the Synod, especially at first. Filaret, who was elevated to the rank of metropolitan by the emperor in 1826, became a prominent church figure during the time of Nicholas I. Since 1842, this clergyman took an active part in the work of the Synod.