Proceedings No. 92 of the Holy Synod session on December 6, 2008

Given below are the Proceedings of the Russian Orthodox Church Holy Synod session which takes place at the patriarchal residence at Peredelkino near Moscow. The session is chaired by Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga.

The proceedings of the Holy Synod were signed by:

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, head of the department for external church relations

Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga

Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine

Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch for All Belarus

Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, head of the department for external church relations

Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna

Metropolitan Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldavia

Metropolitan Valentin of Orenburg and Buzuluk

Archbishop Alexander of Kostroma and Galich

Archbishop Tikhon of Novosibirsk and Berdsk

Bishop Feofilakt of Bryansk and Sevsk

Bishop Stefan of Tura and Mozyr

Metropolitan Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate

Proceedings No. 92

At its session chaired under Russian Orthodox Church Statute Chapter IV, Par. 13 by the Most. Rev. Vladimir, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, the Synod stated with profound grief that His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia passed away in the Lord on December 5, 2008, at the patriarchal residence at Peredelkino, at the age of 79 and during the 19th year of his patriarchal ministry.

In accordance with Par. 13, Chapter IV of the Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church, the election of Patriarchal Locum Tenens took place.

From among seven permanent members of the Holy Synod (par. 13, Ch. IV) the Most Rev. Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, was elected by secret vote as Patriarchal Locum Tenens.

Resolved:

1) that the name of the Patriarchal Locum Tenens be mentioned during divine services at every Russian Orthodox church according to the following formula: ‘For our lord Patriarchal Locum Tenens, the Most Reverend Kirill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad’;

2) that in accordance with the Russian Orthodox Church Statute Ch. IV, Par. 15, Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna come into self-governance of the Diocese of Moscow and his name be mentioned during the liturgy after the name of Patriarchal Locum Tenens at all churches in Moscow;

3) that the requiem service for His Holiness Patriarch Alexy be held at the Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour on December 9, 2008, and the burial service, according to his will, at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Moscow.