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On 22 March 2011, the first meeting of the summer session of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church opened at the Patriarch’s residence, Chisty side-street. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia presides at the meeting.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine; Metropolitan Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga; Metropolitan Philaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus; Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna; Metropolitan Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldova; Metropolitan Varsonofiy of Saransk and Mordovia, chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate; and Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations are permanent members of the Holy Synod.

Metropolitan Ioannikiy of Lugansk and Alchevsk; Archbishop Feofan of Berlin and Germany; Archbishop Manuil of Petrozavodsk and Karelia; Archbishop Iona of Astrakhan and Yenotayevka; and Archbishop Rostislav of Tomsk and Asino have been invited to take part in the summer session lasting from March to August.

The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church opened the meeting and listed items on the agenda.

The Holy Synod is to consider a draft Regulation for the High Church Council. The decision of its establishment was taken by the Bishops’ Council in February 2011. The Council will consist of the heads of Synodal Departments of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Concept on the development of theological education in the Russian Orthodox Church is supposed to be adopted at the first reading.

The Holy Synod intends to unify the practice of retirement and suspension of clergymen by elaborating the one ‘absolutely transparent procedure,’ as His Holiness put it. Also, the Synod will consider alterations to the text of ordination certificates with the decision made by the Bishops’ Council-2011 regarding celibate clergy taken into account.

The Department for Religious Education and Catechization, the Department for Church Charity and Social Ministry, and the Department for Mission will present their records. Metropolitan Hilarion will report the external activities.

Members of the Synod will also consider a number of issues regarding personnel and will interview candidates to episcopacy, press office of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia reports.