1)
A report from
Metropolitan Hilarion on missionary work in parishes on the
Caribbean islands.
2)
Metropolitan
Hilarion informed Council members that he has given his blessing to
diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov to undertake a
pilgrimage with the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God throughout
the south of the diocese and accompanied by the Media Office. Each
parish will be shown a montage on the historic visit of the Kursk
Icon to Russia.
3)
A report from
diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov on the successful
diocesan pastoral conference for clergy and spouses at St. Mary of
Egypt Church in Atlanta, GA. Council members expressed their
dissatisfaction with the fact that many clergymen in the diocese had
not considered attending the conference to be of importance.
Metropolitan Hilarion called this “unacceptable,” noting that
diocesan clergy “must participate in these conferences. Those who
do not participate in the common life of the diocese sin against the
catholicity of the Church.” The Council also expressed its sincere
gratitude to all of the participants of the conference, in
particular thanking the rector, Archpriest John Townsend, and all of
the parishioners of St. Mary’s for wonderfully conducting the
conference.
4)
A report from
Archpriest Serge Lukianov on the restoration of the New Kursk Root
Hermitage in Mahopac, NY. Parishioners of the recently created
parish of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos have begun
substantial repairs to the church, the grounds, and the rector’s
apartment. Metropolitan Hilarion announced that a rector will be
assigned to the parish in the new feature. Council members expressed
their gratitude to the parishioners and faithful of that holy place.
5)
A report from
diocesan treasurer Priest Jonah Campbell on the financial situation
in the diocese. Council members expressed their dissatisfaction with
the fact that some parishes have hitherto failed to submit their
dues and financial reports to the diocese in accordance with the
Normal Parish By-Laws. The Council tasked the diocesan treasurer
with applying all of his efforts toward the acquisition of financial
reports and dues from all of the parishes in the diocese. In the
past, some parishes were exempted from paying their dues to the
diocese. The Council unanimously resolved to void all exemptions and
require of each parish in the Eastern American Diocese that it
submit its dues to the diocesan administration.
6)
A report from
Archpriest Liubo Milosevich on the state of the Holy Virgin
Protection Church and adjacent Russian cemetery in Buena (Novaya
Kuban), NJ. Archpriest Liubo Milosevich and Deacon Serge Ohotin were
assigned to care for the church and grounds, as well as the
cemetery. The Council resolved to add the signatures of two members
of the Council to all bank accounts tied to the church and cemetery.
Council members expressed their gratitude to Fr. Liubo and Fr. Serge
for their work in preserving this holy place.
7)
A report from S.R.
Lopoukhine on the diocesan property in St. Petersburg, FL. Council
members expressed their desire to sell the church in time.
8)
A report from G.N.
Nikolsky on the state of the sale of abandoned diocesan property
near Philadelphia.
9)
A report from E.A.
Ledkovsky on the work of the diocesan music commission and on the
results of an internet survey to all choir conductors in the Eastern
American Diocese. The Council thanked the members of the diocesan
music commission and resolved to hold a diocesan music conference in
May 2010 at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC.
10)
Archpriest Boris Oparin has been officially accepted into the
Eastern American Diocese and assigned to the New Martyrs and
Confessors of Russia Church in Brooklyn, NY. In January 2010,
Metropolitan Hilarion will assume the position of parish rector.
11)
Council members
discussed the upcoming Pastoral Conference and Lenten Retreat for
clergy and spouses, to take place at St. John the Baptist Cathedral
in Mayfield, PA, March 1-3, 2010. A local committee has been
established that will work with members of the diocesan
administration to set up the conference. The main speaker at the
conference will be Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov, famous writer and
professor and the St. Tikhon Theological Seminary in Moscow, as well
as rector of the Church of All Saints in Krasnoe Selo. A pilgrimage
to St. Tikhon Monastery is also planned. A ukase and more
information will be made available soon on the diocesan site.
12)
The Council
unanimously resolved to appoint Deacon Leonid Roschko as chairman of
the Diocesan Youth Association.
13)
Council members
discussed the need for more members on the diocesan immigration
commission, and have tasked the media office with posting an
advertisement on the diocesan site.
14)
The Council
unanimously resolved to appoint George Temidis, Serge Lopoukhine,
and Michael Wengreen as members
of a commission tasked with researching the possibility of providing
diocesan clergy with health insurance and pensions.
15)
The Council
resolved to conduct an autumnal pastoral conference for clergy and
spouses from November 1-3, 2010 at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in
Washington, DC. Further information will be posted on the diocesan website.
16)
Priest John Moses recommended holding a special conference at
Holy Cross Monastery for men interested in entering the priesthood.
The Council supported Fr. John’s idea and resolved to hold the
conference at Holy Cross Monastery in May 2010.
17)
Priest John Moses
recommended making the parish library of the Church of All Saints
(Virginia) as the official diocesan library, advertising it on the
diocesan site. The Council unanimously resolved to adopt Fr.
John’s proposal.
