At the blessing of His Holiness, Patriarch Alexei II of Moscow and all Russia, an official delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, headed by His Eminence Isidore, Metropolitan of Ekaterinodar and Kuban, will be participating in a celebration of the restoration of unity in the Russian Orthodox Church. The delegation, which includes the Sretensky Monastery Choir, will be participating in Divine Services in churches and monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. These guests from Russia will be carrying a holy miracle-working icon treasured by all Orthodox Christians—the “Reigning” icon of the Mother of God.
Archbishop Mark of Berlin
In late December 2005, an Orthodox Conference of the Diocese of Berlin and Germany of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was held. Sergei Chapnin, Editor-in-Chief of Tserkovnij Vestnik ["Church Messenger"], participated in the Conference at the invitation of Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany. His Eminence spoke to him of the attitudes in the Russian Church Abroad, and about the work of the Synodal Commission on talks with the Moscow Patriarchate in an interview with Tserkovnyj Vestnik.
On February 17, having prayed before the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and of the Moscow Patriarchate gathered at Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY.
On February 17, 2006, the sixth working meeting of the Commissions of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and of the Moscow Patriarchate opened at Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY. Participating in this meeting were all the members of the two Commissions with the exception of His Grace Bishop Ambroise of Vevey, who had recently undergone a serious operation. It was agreed that Priest Serafim Gan, Secretary of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, would participate in the meetings.
With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus and of the Synod of Bishops, with the goal of informing the clergy and laity of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on the progress of talks with the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, an Informational Bulletin has been published which will be distributed to all the parishes of our Church.
