Broad range of issues to be considered at Holy Synod of Bishops Spring Session
Members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America will consider a broad range of issues, from the impending return to Russia of the ancient Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God to the Church’s sexual misconduct policies, during their Spring Session at the OCA Chancery here March 31 through April 3, 2003.
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His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, OCA Primate, will open the session in the Chancery’s Chapel of Saint Sergius of Radonezh on Monday evening, March 31, after which he will deliver his address to the hierarchs. In his address, Metropolitan Herman will review his ministry since his election to the primacy of the Church in July 2002. He will also highlight a number of concerns that are on the Holy Synod’s agenda.
Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, OCA Chancellor, will address the Holy Synod on Tuesday morning, April 1. A thorough review of Chancery operations and the work of the recently established Church-wide departments form the bulk of his report.
A presentation by Mr William White of Russin & Vecchi, OCA Legal Counsel, will be offered, with a detailed assessment of the Church’s Sexual Misconduct Policy which is being presented to the Holy Synod. A great deal of attention has been given to this issue, with the intention of continually refining and improving policies and procedures.
Members of the Holy Synod will also be briefed on plans to return the wonder-working icon of Our Lady of Tikhvin, currently located in Chicago, to Russia. The icon, which was brought to the United States in 1949 by the ever memorable Archbishop John [Garklavs] during his tenure in Riga, Latvia. Members of the Holy Synod will welcome the icon at the 99th annual pilgrimage to Saint Tikhon Monastery, South Canaan, PA over Memorial Day weekend.
In addition to reports on the life of individual dioceses and the work of the OCA’s departments and ministries, members of the Holy Synod will hear a preliminary report on the 14th All-American Council, slated to be held in 2005. It is anticipated that a project team will be named to prepare materials for the Pre-Conciliar Commission which will be appointed in the fall of 2003. Reports on interchurch relations, the OCA’s Representation Church of Saint Catherine in Moscow; the ongoing work of Saints Cosmas and Damian Adult Home, Staten Island, NY; and the clergy personal assistance program, health and life insurance, and pension plan will also be reviewed.
During their gathering, the hierarchs will also celebrate the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts at Saint Sergius Chapel. The choir of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary will sing the responses.
In preparation for the Holy Synod’s deliberations, members of the OCA Pension Board and Board of Theological Education met at the Chancery earlier in the day on Monday, March 31.
In addition to Metropolitan Herman, who chairs the Holy Synod, other hierarchs participating in the Spring Session include His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania; His Eminence, Archbishop Peter of New York and New Jersey; His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South; His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate; His Grace, Bishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest; His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of San Francisco and the West; His Grace, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada; His Grace, Bishop Nikolai of Sitka, Anchorage and Alaska; and His Grace, Bishop Nikon of Baltimore, Auxiliary to Metropolitan Herman and Administrator of the Diocese of New England and the Albanian Archdiocese.