Minutes of Oct 25 Synod Meetung

Shared For Study: AND-Awaiting a good human-English translation: The Minutes of the Recent ROCA Bishops' Meeting in Odessa: In original all-Russian text, plus a mixed Russian/rough hard to fully understand, machine-'English' translation:

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Dan Everiss <oregdan@hotmail.com>	Sun, Oct 30, 2016 at 1:22 PM
Warning to English-only readers: This rough and crude machine-'English' translation is not dependable to give us the exact or totally trustworthy meaning of the  original Russian, on each and  every matter discussed or decided upon.  So, take care in reading it. Though, much of it is fairly understandable, some parts and decisions are not clear, ....and keeping in mind, the major differences between  Russian and English sentence  structure, etc. I am still hoping for a good human-English translation of this important text. HELP SOMEBODY! Many here in North America, even of those who  may have a Russian heritage, do not understand the Russian language, or if at all,  only partially. So, if we do not share with them, official church pronouncements in a decent English, they will never understand them. The crude machine-English translations from the Russian is, generally speaking,  worse than useless, as it is open to so many wrong interpretations, and just plain confusion. English is our national language here, and the one language which binds all Orthodox people here. Rd. Daniel in Oregon Found on:<http://internetsobor.org>  ROCA: Minutes of the  Bishops' Council Meetings and Synod, October, 2016   http://www.internetsobor.org/rptsz/tserkovnye-novosti/rptsz/rptsz-zhurnaly-zasedanij-arkhierejskogo-sobora-i-sinoda-2016-goda . The journal of the Council of Bishops of RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ABROAD Meetings of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia held a 12/25 on 14/27 October 2016 in Odessa, in the Synodal building. Participants: His Eminence Metropolitan Agafangel, Chairman and First Hierarch of the Council of Bishops of ROCA;Their Eminences Archbishop George (Secretary), Bishop Athanassy, Bishop Gregory, Bishop Nikon, Bishop Nicholas, Bishop Anastassy, Bishop of Roman, Bishop Anthim.Archbishop John and Bishop Kirill took part in the meetings of the Council over Skype. 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. 2. On the joining of Bishop Anastassy and the Far East diocese to ROCA 3. Report of bishops on the situation in the dioceses. 4. On the Ecclesiastical Court held. 5. On the new non-Orthodox teaching. 6. On the actions and statements of very reverend Archbishop Andronik and Archbishop 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. 10. Synodal representation 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 to be accepted into ROCA. Resolved: In accordance with the 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 unmarried should receive the tonsure as rassophore monks. JOURNAL №5 Received: The reports of the Bishops on the situation in the 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 of the  Mission in Haiti. Resolved: To instruct His EminenceGregory to undertake spiritual care for the Mission in Haiti JOURNAL №7 Discussed: The Ecclesiastical Court of the Holy Synod which was held regarding the case of  Archbishop Andronik and Sophrony. Resolved: Since two weeks from the announcement of the judgment, their Eminences Andronik and Sophrony did not follow up with a statement of  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 is not subject to discussion in an appeal.It was noted that the Most Reverend Andronik and Sophrony have not complied with the decision of the court, and continue to conduct affairs as 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 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, 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 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  Archbishop Andronik and Sophrony. Resolved: To approve the draft Statement proposed by the Chairman of Council of Bishops of ROCA Council 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 the preparation for the uncanonical meeting planned by them, and to dissolve the 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 the ROCOR. 2. To warn them that in the event of their lack of repentance, 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. 3. Make known that all hierarchical deeds of  Archbishops Andronik and Sophrony, committed in violation of the decision of the Ecclesiastical Court to be retired, are invalid. 4. Prepare an additional appeal to the faithful of this group. 5. In the case that the lawless meeting takes place, the President and the Secretary are authorised to issue a decree on behalf of the Council of Bishops, on banning from serving the hierarchs of ROCA who participated in this gathering.The ruling bishops are instructed to ban from serving their subordinate clergy and separate from communion the laity subordinate to them who have taken part in the 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 EminenceGregory.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 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 diocese by His Eminence Nikon. The Far Eastern Federal Disctrict is excluded from the Ishim-Siberia diocese, and to included in the Far Eastern diocese. The following areas are considered 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.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, BishopKyrill, BishopNikon. 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 discontinues preparations for the  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 Canonicity Diaspora Cathedral of the fullness of our Church. JOURNAL №17 Discussed:Replenishment of the episcopate. Resolved: To implement the episcopal ordination 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 during their talks with the Archbishop Andronik and Sophrony in the United States in the presence of the representatives of the Church of the Genuine Christians of Greece. Resolved: To remind the First Hierarch and the Secretary of the Synod, that in case of necessity 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 connectionwithordinations he performed without serving the Divine Liturgy, and regarding sending antimensia by courier. Resolved: In connection with the admitted violations, 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. 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 the added amendments. JOURNAL №22 Discussed:The actions and status of Archpriest Oleg Mironov. Resolved: To send a letter on behalf of the Council of Bishops to the His Eminence Demetrios, Metropolitan of America. 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. 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), Bishop 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: ArchbishopGeorge 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: ArchbishopGeorge 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: ArchbishopGregory 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 Nicholasregarding 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. JOURNAL №7 Discussed: On the management of the ruling bishops of the personal affairs of their subordinate clergy. Resolved: Remind the ruling bishops of the obligation to personally keep accurate records of 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 to be convened from April 19 / May 2 to 21 April / May 4, 2017 at the Synod office in Odessa. .