The Inter-Conciliar Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
The Inter-Conciliar Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
The VI All-Diaspora Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCA) was held January 11-14, 2017 at the Mountain View religious center. The Council focused on the future of the ROCA and a number of important reports were presented and critically discussed. The Council decided that the January 2017 meetings would be considered the First Session of the VI Council and would primarily address the discord that has beset the ROCA as a direct result of the First Hierarch’s canonical violations, abandonment of sobornost and personal misconduct. As reflected in the Council’s resolutions, delegates from many parts of the world achieved a unity of opinion to free the Church from the harmful effects of Met. Agafangel’s unsound stewardship. The delegates further decided that a Second Session of the VI Council should be held, at a date to be determined, to address how to unify the many parts of the ROCA that emerged after the ROCA was shattered by the disloyalty of those who agreed to union with the Moscow Patriarchia.
An important report was presented at the Council explaining the historical precedent for establishing church districts inside of the Russian Church. Holy Patriarch Tikhon with the Holy Synod in their wisdom promulgated Decree No. 362 that foresaw the possibility that the Supreme Church Authority may cease to function for a time. The Decree is the only canonical document instructing us on how to structure the Russian Church in the absence of a Supreme Church Authority. It provides for diocesan bishops to organize themselves into church districts that would be administered by the district’s Bishop’s Sobor, precided by the senior bishop. These districts would remain administratively autonomous but would maintain spiritual and Eucharistic communion with each other. The Decree No. 362 does not provide for a centralized church administrative body as a Supreme Church Authority can only be established once a canonical Local Council is again held. In today’s circumstances, when so many of us are dispersed among various “fragments,” a Eucharistic communion that brings the Church together is a critical imperative for all of the faithful.
There is much work to be done to restore the spiritual unity among us and to resolve the many questions that will arise. The first step is to establish Inter-Conciliar Committees that will deliberate on these issues in preparation for the Second Session of the VI All-Diaspora Council. The Right Reverend Andronik, Archbishop of Syracuse and St. Nicholas, has issued a decree to form such a committee in North America, while the Right Reverend Sofroniy, Archbishop of St. Petersburg and Northern Russia, has done the same for his region. The committees will issue periodic reports on their progress, and with God’s help, a spiritually sound and healthy Church can be established to serve the needs of the members of the traditional church.
Members are urged to stay informed by clicking the VI All-Diaspora Council section of the Church website: