June 25, 2014
San Francisco: Council of Bishops of Russian Church Abroad Begins

On Tuesday, June 24, the first meeting of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was held at the headquarters of the Western American Diocese in San Francisco, CA. Representing the Eastern American Diocese at the Council is Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of ROCOR, and simultaneously Ruling Bishop of the Eastern American Diocese, as well as the diocesan vicar, Bishop George of Mayfield.

The current Council is dedicated to the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the glorification of the Holy Hierarch John (Maximovitch; +1966) of Shanghai & San Francisco. Upon their arrival in San Francisco, the Hierarchs celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow," where they venerated the holy relics of St. John the Hierarch and Wonderworker. Metropolitan Hilarion and the Hierarchs of the Russian Church Abroad then traveled to St. John’s former residence.

Prior to the beginning of the Council’s work, a moleben was served in the home Chapel of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, before the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, brought from Munich by Archbishop Mark of Berlin & Germany. In St. John’s monastic cell, the Hierarchs venerated relics relating to his life and service, after which they proceeded to the library of Archbishop Anthony (Medvedev, +2000) of Western America.

Calling the Council to order, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion wished his brother-Archpastors "a spirit of wisdom, and heavenly aid in their coming work."

At the Divine Liturgy in Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral on Sunday, June 29, the episcopal consecration of the new vicar of the Eastern American Diocese – the Bishop of Manhattan ‒ will be performed. Elected to this post by a conciliar decision of the Hierarchs of the Church Abroad and with the blessing of His Holiness, Patriarch Kyrill, is Archimandrite Nicholas (Olhovsky), guardian of the Kursk Root Icon.

On Friday, June 27, during the working sessions of the ROCOR Council of Bishops and the national celebrations in honor of the glorification of St. John, the XIII All-Diasporan Orthodox Youth Conference will commence.

 

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese
based on materials from the official website of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops