Holy Synod Concludes Spring Session
Meeting under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America concluded the final two meetings of their regular Spring Session on Friday, May 29, 2020. The Spring Session of the Holy Synod began on April 29, 2020, and met via video conference.
In addition to His Beatitude, the members of the Holy Synod who participated in this meeting were His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate, His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco and the West, His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, His Eminence Archbishop Alejo of Mexico City and Mexico, His Eminence Archbishop Melchisedek of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, His Eminence Archbishop Irénée of Ottawa and Canada, His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York City and New York and New Jersey, His Eminence Archbishop Alexander of Dallas, the South, and the Bulgarian Diocese; His Eminence Archbishop David of Sitka and Alaska, His Eminence Archbishop Paul of Chicago and the Midwest.
Participating in the Spring Session by invitation were His Grace Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa; His Grace Bishop Alexis of Bethesda; His Grace Bishop Andrei of Cleveland; and Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America.
On Wednesday, May 27 the meeting opened with a review of Synodal Directives related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Holy Synod then heard the annual reports from the dioceses which included reports on the process of reopening churches.
The Holy Synod also heard and accepted reports from Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, and Mr. Andrew Smith, Treasurer Before the conclusion of the Wednesday meeting, the Holy Synod elevated His Grace Bishop Paul of Chicago to the rank and dignity of Archbishop in recognition of outstanding service as a bishop, leading the Diocese of the Midwest and co-laboring with his brother hierarchs on the Holy Synod.
On Friday, May 29, Metropolitan Tikhon and the members of the Holy Synod heard and accepted a report from the Board of Theological Education.
Before the conclusion of the final meeting of the Spring Session, the Holy Synod reviewed the Metropolitan Council resolution on the relocation of the Chancery, which had been adopted at its February 2020 meeting.