21 December 2018 in the Hall of Church cathedrals of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour under chairmanship of Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill, which is the ruling Bishop of the capital city of Moscow, began the final annual Diocesan Assembly of Moscow, reports patriarhiei.
The Presidium of the meeting present: the Patriarchal vicar of the Moscow diocese, Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna Juvenal; operating Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Varsonofy, Chairman of the Department for external Church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk; the first vicar of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow Metropolitan Arseny of Istra; Secretary of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow Archpriest Vladimir Diakov.
Deputy Chairman of the Diocesan Assembly, was elected first vicar of the Metropolitan Arseny of Istra, the Secretary of the meeting — Protopresbyter Volodymyr Diakov.
In the Diocesan meeting was attended by vicars of the Moscow diocese, members of Diocesan Council and councils of vicariates, deans of Church districts in Moscow, the abbots and the clergy of the Moscow parishes, the governors of the men’s monasteries and Abbesses of convents in Moscow, the presidents of the parish councils.
Opening the meeting, his Holiness presented the agenda.
His Holiness said that during the meeting will be the election of the diocesan ecclesiastical court and presented:
- report of the second Secretary of the Diocesan Council, Archpriest Kirill Shevtsov on the work of the Diocesan Council on the instructions of the Diocesan Assembly in 2017;
- the report of the Chairman of the Commission on missions and catechesis Archpriest Igor Fomin on the work of the Commission in 2018;
- report of the Chairman of the Department of religious education of hieromonk Onesimus (Bumblauskas) the interaction with secondary schools and about the activities of Sunday schools last year;
- the report of the Chairman of the Commission on social service of Archpriest Michael Photokina about the social and charitable activities in the same year;
- the report of the Chairman of the Youth Department of the M. G. Kuksov about the youth work in the city of Moscow.
Was approved by the regulations of reports to the election of persons who, on behalf of the meeting sign resolutions and protocols: the Bishop of Mozhaysk Leonid, Abbot of Vvedensky Optina Hermitage, and abbess Maria (Solodovnikov), abbess of STS Anosina Stavropegial female monastery.
Was also elected a drafting Commission, which will prepare the final document of the Diocesan Assembly. The delegation included Archimandrite Savva (Tutunov), Deputy Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate, rector of the Church of the prophet Elijah in Cherkizovo (Committee chair); Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, Deputy Chairman of the Department for external Church relations, rector of the Church of the Resurrection in Uspensky Vrazhek; Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, the Chairman of the education Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church; Archpriest Oleg Korytko, head of the Referendary of the Moscow Patriarchate; Archpriest Mikhail Prokopenko, a clergyman of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Khoroshevo; Archpriest Kirill Shevtsov, a cleric of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Ostankino, second Secretary of the Diocesan Council.
Next was held the election of the diocesan court. “This year, three-year expire powers of the members of the diocesan ecclesiastical court, which includes: Archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev (Chairman), Archpriest Vladislav Tsypin (Vice-Chairman), Archpriest Leonid Roldugin, Archpriest Vladimir Chuvikin, priest Alexander Mironov (Secretary). The composition of the diocesan court is valid from the end of 2009 and in all fairness we can say that the diocesan judge in the city of Moscow are considering the case with the requisite impartiality and thoroughness,” — said his Holiness Patriarch Kirill and thanked the judges for their work.
“According to the Statute of the court President, his Deputy and Secretary are appointed by the diocesan Bishop. I believe it is fair to re-appoint father Mikhail Ryazantsev, father Vladislav Tsypin and father of Alexander Mironov on the same post, — the Patriarch said. Father Leonid Roldugin and father Vladimir Chuvikin was elected to the court of the Diocesan Assembly 2009 and re-elected in 2012 and 2015. I propose to vote for the extension of their competences.”
The participants of the Diocesan Assembly voted to extend the powers of the members of the diocesan court, after which his Holiness Patriarch Kirill proceeded to the announcement of the annual report.