Minutes
of
the Meeting of the Provisional Supreme Ecclesiastical Authority
of
the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
May 13-15, 2008 –
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.
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
One priest left the
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
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
Discussed:
The PSEA members discussed events affecting the daily life of our
Church.
Bishop Andronik spoke of the
parish in
Bishop Sofroniy spoke of matters
in the
Fr. Vladimir Petrenko reported on matters in the parishes of
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
He submitted the resolution from the diocesan meeting of the
Resolved:
To approve the nomination of Hegumen
Georgiy (Kravchenko) as
candidate for bishop’s ordination as Bishop of Bolgrad
and Vicar of the
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
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
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
Resolved:
Change Bishop Andronik’s
title to “Bishop of Ottawa and
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
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
+Agafangel
ROCA PSEA Vice Chairman,
Bishop of
+Andronik
PSEA Member, Bishop of
+Sofroniy
On behalf of PSEA Member,
Archpriest Georgiy Petrenko
Fr.
Vladimir Petrenko
PSEA Secretary
Hieromonk Arseniy