Minutes

of the Meeting of the Provisional Supreme Ecclesiastical Authority

of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

 

May 13-15, 2008 – Richmond Hill, New York, USA.

 

Attendees:

Most Reverend Agafangel, Bishop of Taurida and Odessa, temporary ruling bishop of Buenos Aires and the South American Diocese of the ROCA (PSEA Chairman); Andronik, Bishop of Richmond Hill and New York; Sofroniy, Bishop of St. Petersburg and Northern Russia; Fr. Vladimir Petrenko (representing Archpriest Georgiy Petrenko).

 

Attending by invitation:

Hegumen Georgiy (Kravchenko), Archpriest Valeriy Alekseyev, Archpriest Gregoriy Kotlaroff, Archpriest Sergey Klestov, Archpriest Vsevolod Dutikow, Fr. Victor Dobroff.

 

ROCA PSEA SecretaryHieromonk Arseniy (Manko).

 

The meeting started at 10 AM with the singing of “Christ is Risen.”

 

The meeting began with the approval of the agenda, with some changes.

 

Discussed:

Current situation in all dioceses and administrative districts.

 

The Chairman spoke of the current state of church affairs.  Preparations are being made for the printing of antimins; a master has been created and will soon be given to the printer.  The Chairman also pointed out that we must determine how much Holy Chrism we have.

Relations with the Old Calendar churches are continuing to develop.  The Most Reverend Silvano, Bishop of Luni, visited Odessa.  The Chairman is planning a trip to Romania.  Contact via telephone and Internet has been initiated.  Clergy and laypeople may now visit our parishes.  The Chairman spoke of the ROCA mission in Haiti.  The matter of selecting a bishop for the mission for non-Russian-speaking church members still needs to be resolved.

One priest left the Odessa diocese for the Moscow Patriarchate, but the Chairman believes it was due to his personal circumstances and not for ideological reasons.

The publishing of the official press publication – the magazine “Church Life” – was not possible in the preceding time period.  The Chairman spoke of the liturgical calendar, published in the Odessa diocese.

Fr. Vladimir Petrenko proposed printing a calendar with the Typikon for the clergy and a separate monthly wall calendar for laypeople.

 

Resolved:

The Chairman’s report is approved.

Make clear that the liturgical calendar published by the Odessa diocese is an official publication of the ROCA PSEA.  It was decided to recommend it for use by dioceses and parishes.

 

Discussed:

The PSEA members discussed events affecting the daily life of our Church.

 

Bishop Andronik spoke of the parish in Edmonton, Canada, which joined our Church, and also, about the former parish in Brooklyn under the pastorship of Fr. Sergey Serzhanov.

 

Bishop Sofroniy spoke of matters in the St. Petersburg diocese.  He spoke of the diocesan conference of the St. Petersburg diocese, which took place recently, and that they had acquired a building in St. Petersburg.  He also spoke of the ongoing work at the diocesan monastery.

 

Fr. Vladimir Petrenko reported on matters in the parishes of Brazil.  Father said conditions in the district are generally calm and stable.  ROCOR(MP) Archbishop Hilarion’s visit to South America was discussed.  During a meeting with parishioners, he (Archbishop Hilarion ) declared that Bishop Agafangel is not under censure by the ROCOR(MP) hierarchy.  Father spoke of Fr. Christo Kraltsev’s leaving our Church.  The difficult situation in Argentina was discussed.  Archpriest Vladimir Shlenev is ailing.  The local Patriarchate archbishop is trying to take away his church and property.

 

The Chairman relayed his understanding of conditions in those districts and dioceses of representatives not present at the meeting.

 

Resolved:

To accept all reports given.  It was recommended that the reports be submitted in written form.

 

Discussed:

Candidates for ordination as bishops.

 

The Chairman spoke of the need to establish a vicar cathedra in the Odessa diocese.

He submitted the resolution from the diocesan meeting of the Odessa diocese to the PSEA.

 

Resolved:

To approve the nomination of Hegumen Georgiy (Kravchenko) as candidate for bishop’s ordination as Bishop of Bolgrad and Vicar of the Odessa diocese.  The naming will be performed during the vigil service of the Week of the Paralyzed Man in the Church of St. Sergius in Valley Cottage, New York.  The consecration will be performed during the Divine Liturgy of the Week of the Paralyzed Man in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Astoria, New York.

 

Discussed:

Adding members to the ROCA PSEA.

 

Resolved:

The Chairman proposes to add the future Bishop of Bolgrad, Hegumen Georgiy (Kravchenko), to the ROCA PSEA to the post of Secretary with a right to vote.  Since a bishop is being nominated to the post of Secretary, Hieromonk Arseniy (Manko) should be assigned to the post of Gerent in the chancellery of the ROCA PSEA.

 

Discussed:

Preparations for the Vth All-Diaspora Sobor.

 

The Chairman spoke of the problems organizing the Vth All-Diaspora Sobor.

 

Resolved:

The Sobor will take place in New York.  Registration of delegates will begin November 17, 2008.  The Sobor will begin on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.

To bless the ROCA Assistance Fund to gather funds for the Vth All-Diaspora Sobor and issue an ukase to that effect.  An Appeal to the flock will be issued.

 

Discussed:

Archpriest Valeriy Alekseyev’s report.

 

Resolved:

To thank Archpriest Valeriy Alekseyev, Hegumen Georgiy (Kravchenko), and Fr. Leonid Plyats for their help in preparing the report.  To accept the report.

 

Discussed:

On relations with the Moscow Patriarchate and those who separated from the ROCA before May 17, 2007.

 

The Chairman submitted specific documents, which he proposes to consider at the Vth All-Diaspora Sobor.

Bishop Sofroniy read the given documents.

The Chairman submitted additional official documents of the ROCOR Holy Synod and Synod of Bishops related to the matter in question.

 

Resolved:

To add to the submitted documents in preparation for a discussion at the Vth All-Diaspora Sobor.

To accept a Decision on the matter at hand (attached separately).

 

Discussed:

The legal and financial status of the PSEA, the dioceses, and administrative districts.

 

The Chairman read the financial report of the PSEA.

Bishop Andronik announced the ROCA North American Administrative District was now registered.

 

Resolved:

To accept the information given.

 

Discussed:

Changing the title of the administrator of the ROCA North American Administrative District.

 

Bishop Andronik announced the changing of his title was necessary, as it is needed for the legal status of our diocese in Canada.

 

Resolved:

Change Bishop Andronik’s title to “Bishop of Ottawa and North America.”

 

Discussed:

Report of the subcommittee chairman on administration and organization.

 

Bishop Andronik provided a report on the current state of affairs.  The commission was unable to begin working actively since the location and date of the Sobor had not been decided.

The Chairman announced that Archpriest Valeriy Alekseyev is drafting a service to Met. Philaret, while the sisters of the Monastery of St. John are creating an icon.

 

Resolved:

To bless the subcommittee on administration and organization to organize the nomination and selection of delegates to the Sobor, to oversee the proper manner of nominating and selecting the delegates, and then, to prepare a final list of delegates before the next PSEA meeting.  Submit a preliminary total of delegate candidates before June 10 of this year.

 

Discussed:

Report of the subcommittee chairman on liturgics and the canons.

 

Bishop Sofroniy provided a report on the current state of affairs.

 

Resolved:

To bless the subcommittee on liturgics and the canons to prepare a report evaluating the “Act of Eucharistic Communion.”  To bless the subcommittee on liturgics and the canons to prepare the order of services for the Vth All-Diaspora Sobor.  To bless the subcommittee on liturgics and the canons to prepare everything necessary for the canonization of Metropolitan Philaret (Vosnesensky).  To bless the subcommittee on liturgics and the canons to prepare the preliminary documents regarding “sergianism.”

 

Discussed:

Report of Hieromonk Arseniy (Manko).

 

Hieromonk Arseniy (Manko) reported on preparations to create the Russian Missionary Society.

 

Resolved:

To close the diocesan mission in the name of Holy Marty Joseph, Metropolitan of Petrograd, in light of Hieromonk Arseniy’s (Manko) release to the North American Administrative District.

To bless the creation of the ROCA Mission of the North American Administrative District under the omofor of The Most Reverend Bishop Andronik.

 

Discussed:

A review of all pending requests to join our Church.

 

Bishop Sofroniy spoke of requests received by the ROCA PSEA to join our Church by two bishops from one of the catacomb jurisdictions.

 

Resolved:

To ask these bishops to submit additional explanations and testimony regarding their confession of faith and canonical status.

To have the PSEA subcommittee on liturgics and the canons review the received documents.

To invite these clerics to a discussion at the next PSEA meeting.

 

Discussed:

Regarding awards.

 

The Most Reverends submitted proposals for awards to be decided on this date.

 

Resolved:

To approve the proposals by the Most Reverends for the following awards:

Archpriest Gregoriy Kotlaroff – the right to wear a mitre;

Archpriest Vladimir Savitskiy – the right to wear a mitre;

Archpriest Vladimir Fastovich – the right to wear a cross with ornamentation;

Archpriest Gregory Williams – the right to wear a cross with ornamentation;

Archpriest Sergey Klestov – the right to wear a cross with ornamentation;

Archpriest Vsevolod  Dutikow – the right to wear a cross with ornamentation;

Father Andrew Kencis – elevate to the office of archpriest;

Father Daniel Meschter – elevate to the office of archpriest;

Father Nikita Grigoriev – elevate to the office of archpriest;

Father Elias Warnke – elevate to the office of archpriest;

Father Vladimir Petrenko – the right to wear a kamilavka.

 

Discussed:

Date and time of the next PSEA meeting.

 

Resolved:

The next ROCA PSEA meeting will be held on September 2 - 4, 2008, in Odessa.

 

The meeting concluded on May 14, 2008, at 5 PM with the singing of the prayer “Holy, holy, new Jerusalem…”.

 

 

ROCA PSEA Chairman, Bishop of Taurida and Odessa

+Agafangel

 

ROCA PSEA Vice Chairman, Bishop of Ottawa and North America

+Andronik

 

PSEA Member, Bishop of St. Petersburg and Northern Russia

+Sofroniy

 

On behalf of PSEA Member, Archpriest Georgiy Petrenko

Fr. Vladimir Petrenko

 

PSEA Secretary

Hieromonk Arseniy