The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad held a remote session

on February 17, 2026, a remote meeting of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad was held under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York. At the meeting, current issues of church life were considered, reports were heard on past chiarotonies and events in the Orthodox world, as well as the progress of preparations for the upcoming Council of Bishops in Munich, scheduled for late April – early May of this year.

According to an official source on synod.com, the meeting, which was held using remote communication facilities, was attended by Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany, Archbishops Cyril of San Francisco and Western America, Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, and Bishops Iriney of London and Western Europe, Theodosius of Manhattan and Job of Stuttgart.

After the traditional prayer and adoption of the agenda sent out by His Grace Bishop Theodosius, the Chairman of the Synod of Bishops, Metropolitan Nicholas, gave a brief welcome and a report on his ministries and pastoral visits. His Eminence made special mention of the celebrations of the consecrations of Bishops Spyridon of Toronto and Michael of Boston, which took place at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York, on the feasts of the Three Saints and the Presentation of the Lord, and also highlighted other significant events in the life of the Russian Church Abroad.

His Grace Bishop Iriney, who serves as Secretary of the Synod of Bishops for Inter-Orthodox Relations, presented an overview of the events that have taken place in the Orthodox world since the last meeting. In turn, His Eminence Job, who heads the Pre-Sobor Commission, reported on the progress of preparations for an important event – the upcoming Council of Bishops, which is to be held from April 29 to May 5 this year in Munich.

During the meeting, the Synod members also considered a number of petitions from archpastors concerning the presentation of clerics and parishioners for Church awards.

Concluding the meeting, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas addressed the archpastors with wishes for a fruitful Lent and a joyful meeting of the Risen Christ. As a separate item, His Eminence Theodosius congratulated the President of the Synod on his namesake the day before. He wished Metropolitan Nicholas good health, vigor of spirit and God’s almighty help in his First Hierarchal ministry, after which a proclamation of many years to His Eminence was made.

Earlier, Metropolitan Nicholas, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), issued an official statement in which he explained the purpose of his recent visit to Washington, DC. In the statement, he condemned the distorted media coverage of the meetings and called for the defense of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) amid continued pressure.