Patriarch Kirill chaired the first meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2026

on March 12, 2026, at the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow, the first meeting of this year’s Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church was held under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. According to the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate, the meeting began with a welcoming speech by the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, after which the members of the Synod began their work according to the agenda.

The meeting was attended by both permanent and temporary members of the Holy Synod. Among the permanent members were Metropolitan Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldova, Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan, Metropolitan Vikenty of Tashkent and Uzbekistan, Metropolitan Barsonofiy of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, Metropolitan Pavel of Krutitsy and Kolomna, Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, Metropolitan Grigory of Voskresensk, Metropolitan Nikandr of Vladimir and Suzdal. The temporary members of the Synod were Metropolitan Constantine of Cairo and North Africa, Bishop Stephan of Kanash and Belovolzhsk, Bishop Mitrofan of Gatchina and Luga, Bishop Sergius of Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik, as well as Bishop Seraphim of Biysk and Belokurikha.

Recall, earlier we reported that the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church held a meeting on March 10, 2026, presided over by Metropolitan Sava, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland; an official report on the results of the work is expected and will be published later.