A joint meeting of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church was held

on December 25, 2023, a joint meeting of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council of the Russian Orthodox Church was held in Moscow under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. During the meeting, held in the Patriarchal Hall of the Cathedral Cathedral of Christ the Savior, reports on the activities of key synodal departments and committees covering various aspects of church life and ministry were heard and discussed.

According to the official Telegram channel of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, the meeting was attended by members of the Supreme Church Council, with Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk and Priest Kirill Markovsky participating in the discussion via video link. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church addressed the audience with a welcoming speech, setting the tone for the fruitful work.

The agenda included extensive reports on the work of the most important structures of the Moscow Patriarchate. Among them were reports from the Department of Affairs (Metropolitan Gregory of Voskresensk), the Department for External Church Relations (Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk), the Publishing Council (Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk), the Training Committee (Archpriest Maxim Kozlov), and the Financial and Economic Department (Metropolitan Nikandr of Vladimir and Suzdal).

Reports were also presented on the ministry of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism (Metropolitan Theognost of Kashira), the Synodal Department for Religious Education and Catechesis (Metropolitan Evgeny of Ekaterinburg and Verkhotursk), Synodal Department for Church Charity and Social Service (Archpriest Michael Potokin), Synodal Missionary Department (Archbishop Savva of Zelenograd) and Synodal Department for Youth (Bishop Seraphim of Istra). The reports of the Synodal Department for Cooperation with the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies (Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk) covered topical issues of interaction with state and public institutions, Synodal Department for Prison Ministry (Priest Kirill Markovsky), Synodal Committee for Cooperation with the Cossacks (Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk), and Synodal Department for Relations between the Church and Society and the Media (V. R. Legoida).R. Legoyda). Separately, reports of the Patriarchal Council for Culture (Metropolitan Tikhon of Simferopol and Crimea) and Abbess Xenia (Chernegi) on changes in legislation were heard. Each report was followed by a detailed discussion.

Summarizing the results of the meeting, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the participants. He emphasized the importance of joint work for the strengthening of Orthodoxy in the life of the people and the country, as well as for the worthy performance of service by all Church institutions. “The most important goal is the spiritual education of our people, which is closely connected with the salvation of human souls. May God protect us all on this path! ” concluded the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, wishing God’s help to all in their service.

Recall, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia appealed to intensify prayers for the clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), who, according to him, are being persecuted. Particular attention was paid to Metropolitan Arseny of Sviatogorsk, who has been re-imprisoned despite serious health problems. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church also noted the scale of persecution, including criminal cases, prison terms and deprivation of citizenship against clerics of the canonical Church.