The Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church completes its work

The Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church completed its work on 28 January 2009. Its main action was the election of a new Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

In the evening of January 27, the council members by secret vote elected Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad to the widowed Moscow Patriarchal Throne. He gained 508 out of 702 votes.

During its second day, the Council considered amendments and additions to the Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church. The new Statute was adopted by the Jubilee Bishops’ Council in 2000. In June 2008, the Bishops’ Council amended it in view of the reunification with the Russian Church Outside Russia.

In its Resolution on the Statute of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Council approved the Statute as amended by the Jubilee Bishops’ Council on 6 August 2000 with the amendments and additions made by the Bishops Council on 27 June 2008.

The Council also adopted a Resolution on the Life and Work of the Russian Orthodox Church and a Message of the Local Council to the Beloved-in-the-Lord Pastors, Honorable Monks and Nuns and All the Faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The council members signed the Charter of the Election of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

In a break between two plenary sessions, the elected Patriarch blessed a new icon setting for the miracle-working Fedorovskaya Icon of Our Lady, whose historical icon setting was lost in the years of theomachy.

In conclusion of the Local Council, Metropolitan Kirill, now elected and named Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, addressed himself to the Council members.

• Complete photoreport of Divine Liturgy with Enthronement rite
• Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia after his enthronement at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on 1 February 2009
• New Primate of the Russian Church receives the staff of Metropolitan Peter of Moscow
• Enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
• The Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church completes its work
• Head of the Russian state congratulates Metropolitan Kirill on his election to the Patriarchal Throne
• Metropolitan Kirill is elected to the Moscow Patriarchal Throne
• Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church opens at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
• Patriarchal Locum Tenens officiates at the Divine Liturgy on the first day of the Local Council’s work