December 3, 2011
New York City: A Meeting was held between Metropolitan Hilarion and the Diocesan Secretary in the Metropolitan’s Synodal Residence

On Thursday, December 1, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, met in his Synodal residence with diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov. The purpose of the meeting was to brief His Eminence on the current state of affairs in the Diocese and to discuss different developments in diocesan life that have occurred during his visit to Australia.

Metropolitan Hilarion began the meeting by expressing his sincere gratitude to the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of the Eastern American Diocese for their continued prayers during his travels. He shared some stories about his travels in Australia, New Zealand, and France, and inquired about the latest news and developments in the life of the Eastern American Diocese.

Fr. Serge briefed His Eminence on the fruitful results of the Autumnal Pastoral Conference in Holy Trinity Monastery. The Metropolitan expressed his joy that the seminarians of Holy Trinity Seminary were included in the conference and encouraged similar joint ventures to be held in the future. The final stages of preparation for the Winter Pastoral Conference in Miami, FL, were also discussed, and Metropolitan Hilarion approved the conference program and schedule. Over 60 clergymen and their spouses have registered for the winter conference.

His Eminence was briefed on the financial state of affairs in the Diocese and reviewed reports on the status of parish dues collecting and several parish audits. He gave instructions for dealing with parishes that are not in compliance with the Diocese’s financial policy and authorized several parish audits.

Fr. Serge reported on the status of several fund raising initiatives which were approved at the last session of the Diocesan Council to alleviate the financial burden on parishes. A proposal was sent to the Fund for Assistance to ROCOR to help launch the Diocese’s Pastoral Resources Program (PRP) so that it would not have to be funded by the parishes. His Eminence stressed the importance of finding alternate sources of revenue for the diocese so that the work of the Church would not be hindered in times of economic crisis, and encouraged ideas that will help fund programs for our clergy to help them in their pastoral service to the Church.

The Metropolitan was briefed on the progress of several joint ventures between the Eastern American Diocese and the Orthodox Business Association. His Eminence gave his approval for the ongoing work of "Project Kellia" and "The Orthodox Farm," which are already providing aid to our monasteries. His Eminence plans to visit the Association’s headquarters in the near future to become more acquainted with the work that is being done to help the clergy and faithful of our Diocese.

The new diocesan gramota, designed by Deacon Paul Drozdowski, was presented, and the Metropolitan approved a new protocol for the awarding of diocesan gramotas. A copy of the protocol will be sent to all of the diocesan rectors.

Metropolitan Hilarion addressed several recent concerns that some parishes in the Diocese are not following the Normal ROCOR Parish By-Laws. His Eminence instructed that this topic be addressed by the Diocesan Council to make sure that all parishes of the Eastern American Diocese are in compliance with ROCOR By-Laws.

During discussions about the upcoming Diocesan General Meeting in 2012, Met. Hilarion informed the diocesan secretary that he will undergo knee replacement surgery for his second knee in February, and therefore proposed that the General Meeting be postponed until after Pascha, when he will return to America. His Eminence blessed that the general meeting be held in conjunction with a pastoral conference and diocesan celebration of the 5th anniversary of reunification with the Moscow Patriarchate.

The first day of the conference will be a general meeting of clerics and delegates of the Eastern American Diocese. The following two days of the conference will be spent together with clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate, discussing various topics dedicated to the restoration of unity within the Russian Orthodox Church. This type of conference would give all diocesan clergy an opportunity to participate in the joyous celebration of the five-year anniversary of Reunification.

His Eminence instructed Fr. Serge to begin making preparations with members of the Diocesan Council for a specific proposal on the time and place of the General Meeting and Pastoral Conference. After discussions are held with the Administrator of Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, His Eminence, Archbishop Justinian, a final proposal will be submitted to Metropolitan Hilarion during the winter session of the Diocesan Council on December 14.

Prior to the meeting’s conclusion, Metropolitan Hilarion discussed a series of issues concerning the life and administration of the Diocese.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese