Holy Synod of Bishops to meet October 18-20, 2005

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] — Members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America will gather under the presidency of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, at the OCA Chancery here October 18-20, 2005 for their annual fall session.

The session will open on Tuesday, October 18, with a Service of Prayer in Saint Sergius Chapel in the presence of the wonderworking Sitka Icon of the Mother of God, which is currently on pilgrimage across the US. Following the service, Metropolitan Herman will deliver his opening address to the Holy Synod.

The hierarchs will hear a variety of reports from Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, OCA chancellor, and from representatives of the Church’s numerous departments, boards, and commissions. In the area of finances, the hierarchs will hear the report of the OCA treasurer, review the 2006 budget, and discuss implementation of the “fair share” plan. The Office of Development will report on the work of the Fellowship of Orthodox Stewards and various issues related to special appeals and planned giving.

On Wednesday, October 19, the session will open with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, followed by a report on the 14th All-American Council, which was held in Toronto, ON, Canada in July 2005.

The session will officially close on the afternoon of Thursday, October 20.