ROCOR Synod ceases concelebration with Patriarchate of Constantinople

The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR)The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) has ceased concelebration on the hierarchical level with the Orthodox Church of Constantinople.

The ROCOR also suspends the participation of the Russian Church Abroad in the work of all episcopal assemblies. Such decrees were taken at the latest regular session of the ROCOR Synod on September 20, reports the official site of the ROCOR. 

As a result of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s appointment of two exarch bishops in Ukraine without any blessing from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the ROCOR Synod resolved: "Following the decision of the Hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church, to cease concelebration on the hierarchical level with the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, and suspend the participation of the Russian Church Abroad in the work of all episcopal assemblies, for which to issue a corresponding decree."

The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) held its latest regular meeting in London on September 20, which concluded with the consecration of the new Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God in London.

Participating in the meeting were His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, His Eminence Archbishop Kirill of San Francisco and Western America, His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America, His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, and His Grace Bishop Irenei of Sacramento.

As reported by the UOJ, earlier the ROCOR Synod condemned attempts to create an autocephalous Church in Ukraine and spoke out in support of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine.

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