Session of the Holy Synod on 7th May 2003, press-release
4.02.2003 · English, Архив 2002, Определения Священного Синода
MEETING OF THE HOLY SYNOD
The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church met on December 26, 2002. It was chaired by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.
The Holy Synod heard a report by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy on the actions taken by the Supreme Authority and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church with regard to the terrorist act committed in Moscow on October 23-26, 2002. The position taken by the Primate of the Church as expressed in the Statement of October 24, 2002, and in many public statements and interviews was approved.
The Holy Synod once again condemned international terrorism sowing death and destruction and using the feelings of believers for low and criminal purposes. Profound condolences were expressed to the families of those who died and to those who suffered during the terrorist action and praise to the Lord was lifted up for the deliverance of most of the hostages from death and severe injury thanks to the selfless efforts of the law-enforcers. The Holy Synod called upon the authorities and society to do all that is possible to preserve inter-ethnic and interreligious peace in Russia so that the forces of evil could not set children of different peoples – Christians, Moslems, adherents to other religions and unbelievers – against one another.
Gratitude was expressed to the clergy who gave prayerful and pastoral support to people at the place of the tragedy. It was deemed necessary to consider the formation of an inter-parish system of urgent pastoral aid to be given to people in emergency situations, such as terrorist actions, natural disasters, man-made catastrophes, etc.
The Holy Synod approved the report of Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna as chairman of the Synodal Commission for Canonization on the materials coming to the Commission concerning the glorification of Russia’s new martyrs and confessors who suffered martyrdom in various dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church. To follow up the Action of the 2000 Bishops’ Council, the Holy Synod authorized the inclusion of new names of God’s people into the community of Russia’s new martyrs and confessors to be venerated by the whole Church.
At the same time the Holy Synod considered regulating the practice adopted in the Russian Orthodox Church dioceses for glorification, reminding of the need to observe strictly the church-wide rules of canonization.
The Holy Synod heard the report by Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad as chairman of the Department for External Church relations concerning the 7th World Russian People’s Council, which took place on December 16-17, 2002, in Moscow, on Faith and Work: Spiritual-Cultural Traditions and Russia’s Economic Future. Satisfaction was expressed with results of this representative church and public forum and its final document, Conciliar Statement, was approved.
The Holy Synod members familiarized themselves with the report of Metropolitan Kirill on the reflection-action conference on Cooperation between State and Religious Organizations in Education, which took place on October 10-11, 2002, in Moscow and Sergiyev Posad. Satisfaction was expressed with the fact of holding such a conference and with its results. It was deemed useful to spread and assert the practice of teaching Basic Orthodox Culture and Ethics on the optional basis within regional or local curricula in federal and municipal schools in the Russian Federation regions and other CIS countries. The ruling bishops were recommended to use on a broader scale the opportunities for teaching Orthodox Culture and Ethics in federal and municipal schools and to develop cooperation with state-run educational institutions and administrative bodies in training teachers and working out the contents and methods of the education. It was considered important that in studying this discipline students should obtain the adequate level of knowledge and that the contents of this education should conform to the Russian Orthodox spiritual and cultural tradition. The Holy Synod also recommended to the ruling bishops to use the experience of those Russian Federation regions where the teaching of Basic Orthodox Culture had already been carried out successfully in federal and municipal schools for several years.
The Holy Synod thanked Archbishop Ioann of Belgorod and Stary Oskol as chairman of the Moscow Patriarchal Mission Department and its staff, as well as public structures and benefactors for having organized and conducted successfully the 8th All-Church Congress of Diocesan Missionaries (October 31-November 3, 2002, Moscow).
The Holy Synod considered the report by Metropolitan Kirill concerning the change made in payments for power and heating by religious organizations in the Russian Federation as was requested by the Interreligious Council in Russia and expressed satisfaction with this decision of the Federal Energy Commission. The ruling bishops whose parishes, theological and parish schools, soup-kitchens, orphanages, pilgrim hotels and other institutions still paid for energy supply services at the rates established for commercial organizations were recommended to use the new instructions for calculating the tariffs and prices for power and heating in consumers’ market.
The Holy Synod considered Metropolitan Kirill’s report on his participation in the first meeting of the European Council of Religious Leaders (November 11-12, 2002, Oslo) and resolved to approve his participation in the Council as representative of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Satisfaction was expressed with the archpastoral visit made by Metropolitan Kirill to the People’s Republic of China, the PRC’s Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong) and the Philippines and his meetings and talks with religious and public leaders there. Blessing was given upon continuation of his pastoral contacts with Russians residing in the People’s Republic of China.
The Holy Synod heard Metropolitan Kirill’s report on the visit of a Russian Orthodox Church delegation to the dioceses of Dabar Bosnia, Belgrade and Sumadija of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Gratitude was expressed to the Supreme Authority of the Serbian Orthodox Church for a warm welcome given to the Moscow Patriarchate delegation.
The Holy Synod heard the report by Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch for All Belarus, as chairman of the Synodal Theological Commission on the seminar on Theological, Ethical and Pastoral Aspects of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Participation in Overcoming HIV/AIDS. It was held on December 24, 2002, in Moscow in cooperation with the Department for External Church Relations. The results of the seminar were approved. It was deemed necessary to prepare a concept of the Russian Orthodox Church’s participation in overcoming HIV/AIDS and her work with HIV-infected people. The establishment of a respective Working Group was authorized.
The Holy Synod members familiarized themselves with the reports of Metropolitan Kirill on the consecration of a Church of the Resurrection in Zurich, Switzerland, on December 15, 2002, and the laying of the foundation of a Church of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on November 13, 2002. Hope was expressed that these events would become new visible signs of the presence of Russian Orthodoxy in uniting Europe and would contribute to the development of a system of spiritual and cultural care of compatriots residing outside the Motherland.
The Holy Synod acknowledged the report of Metropolitan Kirill on the visit made by a delegation of the Council of Society of Believers in the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea from November 8-28, 2002, to Moscow, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok and expressed satisfaction with the dynamically developing bilateral relations.
Acknowledged was also the report by Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk on the meeting of the Belorussian Church Synod, which took place on December 12-13, 2002.
Metropolitan Kirill also reported on the work plan of his Department for 2003. The plan was approved and the directions to be taken by the Moscow Patriarchate in its external church work in the coming year were adopted.
On the basis of the respective reports of Metropolitan Kirill as DECR chairman, the Holy Synod authorized the participation of a Russian Orthodox Church delegation in the 12th Assembly of the Conference of European Churches to take place in Trondhaim, Norway, from June 25 to July 2, 2003. The composition of the Moscow Patriarchate delegation was approved.
The membership of the Russian Orthodox Church corps in the Joint Coordinating Committee for cooperation with the Episcopal Church in the USA was also adopted.
Archbishop Longin of Klin was relieved of his duties as cochairman of the Joint Working Group for Cooperation between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Norway, at his request. The Holy Synod thanked him for the work he had carried out and appointed Bishop Tikhon of Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory as cochairman of the working group.
By the decision of the Holy Synod Bishop Theodosius of Vetluga, vicar of the Nizhni Novgorod dioceses, was appointed Bishop of Tambov and Michurinsk.
Archimandrite George (Danilov), economic manager of St. Sergius’s Laura of the Holy Trinity, was appointed to the diocese of Nizhni Novgorod, which was vacant after Archbishop Eugene’s death. The nomination and consecration of Archimandrite George as Bishop of Nizhni Novgorod and Arzamas will take place in Moscow.
The situation in the Stavropol diocese was considered in view of a prolonged illness of Metropolitan Gedeon of Stavropol and Vladikavkaz. Metropolitan Isidore of Yekaterinodar and Kuban has been put in charge of the Stavropol diocese until Metropolitan Gedeon recovers.
On the basis of the report by Archbishop Eugene of Vereya as chairman of the Synodal Commission for Education the Most Reverend Kirill has been relieved of his duties as rector of the Tula Seminary as he has been appointed Bishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov.
Bishop Alexy of Tula and Belev has been appointed rector of the Tula Seminary.
Having considered the reports by Bishop Irinarch of Perm and Solikamsk and Archbishop Eugene of Vereya, the Holy Synod resolved that the pastoral courses of the Perm diocese be transformed into a two-year pre-seminary.
On the basis of the report by Archbishop Eugene, the higher Orthodox monastery Pre-Seminary of the Meeting of the Lord, which has enjoyed the status of seminary, has been transformed into the Seminary of the Meeting of the Lord.
Having considered the respective reports by Metropolitan Kirill concerning the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church outside Russia, the Holy Synod resolved that:
The Holy Synod has authorized the opening of two monasteries in the St. Petersburg and Kaluga dioceses and two convents in the Voronezh and Ufa dioceses, and a transfer of one monastery in the Ufa dioceses.
The Holy Synod also made other decisions concerning the internal church life.