Journals in human-English

Informational General Sharing: ROCA: In a all-human-English Translation: Journals 1-22, PLUS: The Journals of the ROCA Bishops' Meeting held in Odessa, Ukraine, October 27, 2016    Inbox

Dan Everiss <oregdan@hotmail.com> Mon, Oct 31, 2016 at 1:46 PM Reply | Reply to all | Forward | Print | Delete | Show original *Found on:<http://internetsobor.org>,  where also, the Russian language original text can be found. The Journals [Minutes] of the Council of Bishops of The RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ABROAD  Meetings of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia held a meeting on 27 October, 2016 in Odessa, Ukraine. Participants: His Eminence Metropolitan Agafangel, Chairman and First Hierarch of the Council of Bishops of ROCA; and Their Eminences: Archbishop George (Secretary), Bishop Athanassy, Bishop Gregory, Bishop Nikon, Bishop Nicholas, Bishop Anastassy, Bishop  Roman, Bishop Anthim, and  Archbishop John and Bishop Kirill who took part in the meetings of the Council, over Skype.   Also Present: Members of the Higher Church Authority: Abbot John (Smelic) and Archpriest Leonid Plyats.  JOURNAL №1  Received: Proposition for the Agenda by the Chairman.    Resolved: To adopt the agenda of the meeting of the Synod of Bishops in the following form:  1. Report of the President. [by Metropolitan Agafangel].  2. On the joining into our ROCA of Bishop Anastassy and his  Far East diocese to ROCA . 3. Report of the bishops on the situation in their  dioceses.  4. On the Ecclesiastical Court which was held. 5. On the new non-Orthodox teaching.  6. On the actions and statements of the very reverend Archbishops Andronik and Sofrony and their supporting clergy and laity, after the Ecclesiastical Court.  7. Conference of the territories of North and South America and Canada. 8. Diocesan boundaries. 9. On the Synodal building.[in the USA].  10. Synodal representation [the ROCA Offices next to the  St. Michael's Church], in Odessa. 11. On the composition of the Synod of Bishops.  12. Supreme Church Council.  13. The convening of the 6th All-Diaspora Council.  14. Replenishment of the episcopate.  15. Miscellaneous.  JOURNAL №2 Discussed: The petition of Bishop Anastassy [Anastasius] to be accepted into ROCA.  Resolved: In accordance with his request, His Eminence Anastassy and the Far Eastern Diocese were accepted into ROCA.  JOURNAL №3  Received: The Chairman's report. Resolved: The Council took note of the Chairman's report.  JOURNAL №4  Discussed: The status of widowed priests and those ordained to the priesthood as widowers or while unmarried. Resolved: To recommend that widowed priests and priests ordained to the priesthood as widowers or as the unmarried, should receive the tonsure as rassophore monks.  JOURNAL №5 Received: The reports of the Bishops on the situation in their dioceses. Resolved: The Council took note of the Bishops' reports.   Their Graces sang "Eternal Memory" to Archpriest Gregory Williams. JOURNAL №6 Discussed: Regarding the nourishment [support of]  the Mission in Haiti. Resolved: To instruct His Eminence Vladyka Gregory,[of Sao Paulo, and All-South America][  to undertake the spiritual care for the Mission in Haiti JOURNAL №7 Discussed: The report of the Ecclesiastical Court of the Holy Synod which was held regarding the case of Archbishops Andronik and Sophrony.  Resolved: Since more than two weeks have past, from the announcement of the judgment, and their Eminences Andronik and Sophrony did not follow up with a statement of their  intention to appeal under section 77 of the Regulations on the Ecclesiastical Court of the ROCA, the decision of the Ecclesiastical Court of the Synod of Bishops Court has come into force and it is not subject to discussion in an appeal. It was noted that the Most Reverends Andronik and Sophrony have not complied with the decision of the court, and that they continue to conduct their affairs [as if they were still] ruling bishops. “Bishops sentenced by the Court of the Synod of Bishops have the right to file an appeal against the judgment before the supreme Court of the next regular Council of Bishops within six months after receipt of the Court's judgment.  They must communicate their intention to appeal within two weeks after receipt of the Court's verdict.”   JOURNAL №8 Discussed: The report of the Chairman “on the heresy of schism-ecumenism”  Resolved: The group of believers led by their retired Eminences Andronik and Sophrony have published a doctrine that the local Russian Orthodox Church has split into fragments which are equally saving and grace-filled, but which however, do not have prayerful, administrative communion or sacramental communion with each other.  Further, that these fragments together constitute the Orthodox Russian Church.The Council of Bishops cannot accept this doctrine as Orthodox, and considers it a form of the heresy of ecumenism. Moreover, this teaching is contrary to Decree № 362 [of the Holy Patriarch Tikhon] regarding the Higher Church Authority of the Russian Orthodox Church, which obliges scattered groups of believers to create a unified management, instead of justifying, and multiplying schisms. As regards those who oppose the creation of a unified management, the Decree instructs to: interrupt communion with such.  JOURNAL №9  Discussed: The draft Statement of the Council of Bishops of ROCA in connection with the non-Orthodox teaching of the group of supporters of Archbishops Andronik and Sophrony.  Resolved: To approve the draft Statement proposed by the Chairman of the  Bishops Council of of ROCA,  in connection with the non-Orthodox teaching -of the groups supporting Archbishops Andronik and Sophrony.  JOURNAL №10 Discussed: The actions and statements of their Eminences Andronik and Sophrony and their supporting clergy and laity, following the decisions of the Ecclesiastical Court.  Resolved: 1.To call upon the group of believers, headed by retired Archbishops Andronik and Sophrony to discontinue their preparation for their uncanonical meeting planned by them, and to dissolve their  so-called 'Pre-Council Committee'.They are rather recommended to participate in the preparation of a canonical All-Diaspora Council of our entire Church, in accordance with the Regulations of  ROCOR.  2. To warn them: that in the event of their lack of repentance, and at the very moment of the beginning of their unlawful gathering, which they falsely call the 'All-Diaspora Council', those in priesty rank from among them will be banned from serving and monastics and laity separated from Holy Communion.[excommunicated].   3. Make known that all hierarchical deeds of Archbishops Andronik and Sophrony, committed by them in violation of the decision of the Ecclesiastical Court, placing them in a retired status, are invalid.  4. Prepare an additional appeal to the faithful of this group.  5. In the case that that lawless meeting does take place, the President and the Secretary are authorised to issue a decree on behalf of the Council of Bishops, on banning from serving those hierarchs of ROCA who have participated in this gathering.The ruling bishops are instructed to ban from serving,  their subordinate clergy and to separate from communion [excommunicate] the laity subordinate to those who have taken part in that lawless gathering.  JOURNAL №11  Received: Presentation by the Chairman on the draft "Regulations on the Conference on the territory of North and South America and Canada." Resolved: At present, our Church in America has only one bishop, His Eminence Gregory [of Sao Paulo and All-South America], In connection with this, the discussion of the "Regulations on the Conference on the territory of North and South America and Canada" is postponed until the situation with the other two Bishops is resolved.  JOURNAL №12  Discussed: The suggestion of the Chairman on the boundaries of dioceses.  Resolved: To approve the decision of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops regarding the temporary care of the Canadian and St Nicholas Diocese by His Eminence Gregory.  Appoint His Eminence Gregory to the care of the Mission, along with its communities and parishes. The decision of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops is approved regarding the temporary care of the St Petersburg [Russian Federation], diocese by His Eminence Nikon.  The Far Eastern Federal Disctrict is excluded from the Ishim-Siberia diocese, and is to be included in the Far Eastern diocese.[under Vladyka Anastasius].  The following areas are considered to be part of the Far Eastern diocese: 1. The Far Eastern Federal District (Primorsky Territory, the Khabarovsk Territory, the Amur region, Sakhalin, Magadan, Kamchatka, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Chukotka Autonomous District); 2. China, 3. The Korean Peninsula,  and 4. Japan. JOURNAL №13 Received: The report of the Chairman on the Delegation of the Synod. Resolved: The Council took note of the Chairman's report.  JOURNAL №14 Discussed: The composition of the Synod of Bishops. Resolved: To approve the following composition of the Synod of Bishops: Metropolitan Agafangel - President, Bishop.Gregory – Vice President; members of the Synod: Archbishop George - Synod Secretary, Bishop Athanasius, Bishop Kyrill, Bishop Nikon. JOURNAL №15 Discussed: The Higher Church Authority of ROCA. Resolved: To defer the final decision on the Higher Church Authority of ROCA , until the coming All-Diaspora Council. JOURNAL №16 Discussed: The convention of the 6th All-Diaspora Council.  Resolved: If the group of believers, headed by the retired Archbishops Andronik and Sophrony respond positively to the appeal of the Council of Bishops, and if they discontinue preparations for their  planned uncanonical assembly, furthermore, if the group recognises the need to comply with the requirements of ecclesiastical discipline and dissolves the so-called 'Pre-Council Committee', THEN the Council of Bishops will return to consideration  of the question of convening a Canonical All-Diaspora Sobor, consisting of the fullness of our Church.  JOURNAL №17  Discussed: Replenishment of the episcopate.  Resolved: To implement the episcopal ordination [consecration] of Abbot John (Smelic) as vicar bishop of Australia with the title “of Melbourne”.  JOURNAL №18  Discussed: Aspects of actions by the Chairman and the Secretary of the Synod [Metropolitan Agafangel and Archbishop George]during their talks with retired Archbishops Andronik and Sophrony, which were recently held  in the United States in the presence of the representatives of the Church of the Genuine Christians of Greece, with Metropolitan Demetrios.  Resolved: To remind the First Hierarch and the Secretary of the Synod, that in case of the necessity [of  himself]  to make decisions at variance with the previous decisions of the Synod, they must correspond with and notify the other members of the Synod. JOURNAL №19  Discussed: The actions of the Chairman in connection with ordinations he performed without serving the Divine Liturgy,[outside of the Liturgy]  and regarding his sending antimensia by courier.(i.e. by mailing them).  Resolved: In connection with these admitted violations, to reprimand the Chairman in accordance with paragraph 32, point a) of the Regulations on the Ecclesiastical Court of ROCA.  JOURNAL №20  Received: The report of the Chairman on the status of the Synodal Home, [in the USA] Resolved: The Council took note of the information provided by the Chairman. JOURNAL №21 Discussed: The draft Appeal to the group of believers under the guidance of retired Archbishops Andronik and Sophrony.  Resolved: To adopt the draft with certain  added amendments.  JOURNAL №22  Discussed: The actions and status of Archpriest Oleg Mironov. [currently at St. Xenia Church in Canada]. Resolved: To send a letter on behalf of the Council of Bishops to the His Eminence Demetrios, Metropolitan of America. ====================================================================================================== PLUS this: The Journal of the Synod of Bishops of the RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ABROAD The meeting of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad was held 14/27 October 2016 in Odessa, in the Synodal building., Odessa, Ukraine. Participants: His Eminence Metropolitan Agafangel - Chairman of the Synod of Bishops;Their Eminences Archbishop George - Secretary, Bishop Athanassy, Bishop Gregory - Vice-President, Bishop Nikon.Bishop Kirill took part in the Synod over Skype. The work of the Synod was attended by Archbishop John (over Skype), and by Bishops: Nikolai, Anastassy, Roman and Anthim. JOURNAL №1 Received: Proposition for the Agenda by the Chairman.   Resolved: To accept the agenda of the meeting of the Synod of Bishops in the following form: 1. Awards. 2. Financial Report. 3. Miscellaneous. JOURNAL №2 Discussed: Archbishop George suggests awarding Abbot Damian (Vozian) with a Palitsa for his efforts in the construction of a monastery and church. Resolved: To award of Abbot Damian (Vozian) the right to wear the Palitsa JOURNAL №3 Discussed: Archbishop George suggests awarding priest Roman Kutsitaru with an honorary Cross for his work in establishing a parish and building a Church. Resolved: To award priest Roman Kutsitaru with an honorary Cross JOURNAL №4 Discussed: Archbishop Gregory suggests awarding deacon Eugene Braga with the dignity of Archdeacon, for his zealous 16-year ministry in the Church. Resolved: To grant Deacon Eugene Braga the rank of Archdeacon. JOURNAL №5 Discussed: The financial report was presented by the Chairman. Resolved: The Council took note of the financial report. JOURNAL №6 Discussed: The petition by Bishop Nicholas regarding depriving the previously banned priest Vissarion Tugushi of the priesthood. Resolved: For refusing to obey the ruling bishop, the lack of pastoral activity and conduct defaming the dignity of the priesthood, according to the petition of Bishop Nicholas, priest Vissarion Tugushi is deprived of the priesthood.[defrocked] JOURNAL №7 Discussed: On the management of the ruling bishops of the personal affairs of their subordinate clergy. Resolved: Remind the ruling bishops of their obligation to personally keep accurate records of the personal affairs of subordinate clergy. JOURNAL №8 Discussed: The time and venue of the next meeting of the Synod of Bishops. Resolved: The next meeting of the Synod of Bishops is to be convened from April 19 / May 2 to 21 April / May 4, 2017 at the Synod office in Odessa