VERTOGRAD
Orthodox Journal
Newsletter No. 2, Sunday, December 5, 2004. 10:25 P.M.
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Archbishop Theodore of Borisovskoe and Otradnaya Visits the Communities of the Krasnodar and Stavropol Regions
- Fire in Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Kurgan
- ROCOR (V) Removes Archbishop Varnava (Prokofiev) from the Episcopate
- Decisions of the Hierarchical Sobor of the ROCOR (V), 2004
ARCHBISHOP THEODORE OF BORISOVSKOE AND OTRADNAYA VISITS THE COMMUNITIES OF THE KRASNODAR AND STAVROPOL REGIONS
(Vertograd, Otradnaya - Armavir - Zheleznovodsk - Belorechensk - Suzdal)
Early in the morning on November 3, Right Reverend Archbishop Theodore of Borisovskoe and Otradnaya arrived in Armavir. The hierarch was met at the station by Archpriest Nikolai Khirniy, Dean of Ortradnaya region, who was waiting for Vladika Theodore to arrive at the cossack village of Otradnaya.
In the evening, Archbishop Theodore completed The All-Night Vigil in the 'Kazan' temple of Otradnaya. Vladika was met by the rector and parishioners of the Church with bell ringing and a traditional bread-and-salt ceremony. Archbishop Theodore then concelebrated with Fr. Nikolai Khirniy, the director of the house-church of the Holy Archangel Michael in Volgograd, Archpriest Victor Ulyanov, Priest Vadim Bukatin, Priest Alexei Gorin- the rector of the Church in Belorechensk (Krasnodar region), and the dean of the North Caucasian Deanery, Archpriest George Novakovsky with Deacon Sergius Hubay of Zheleznovodsk.
In the morning on November 4, a moleben with the blessing of the water and the Holy Liturgy were performed. After the Gospel Vladika preached a sermon to the people. At the end of the liturgy was a procession around the block in which the Temple is located. There were about 120 people present at the service. After the chanting of the "many years" all present were invited to the meal. In the evening, Vespers was read with the Akathist to the Kazan icon of the Most Holy Mother of God.
On November 5, Archbishop Theodore completed a requiem Divine Service, and on the following day, November 6, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the house-Church of the Beheading of St John the Forerunner in Armavir in the Krasnodar region. Concelebrating with Archbishop Theodore were Hieromonk Jonah (Rossokha), rector of the Church, and Protopriest George Novakovsky. After the Divine Liturgies a panakhyda was served. At the end of the Divine services Vladika Theodore said a pastoral word to those present.
In the second half of the day on November 6 the Archpastor departed into Zheleznovodsk in the Stavropol region, where Archpriest Roman Novakovsky, the rector of the Church of St. Olga and the parishioners met Vladika with bell ringing and flowers. At St. Olga Church, Archbishop Theodore presided over Sunday All-Night vigil, and in the morning on November 7 peformed the Divine liturgy. Right Reverend Theodore concelebrated with Archpriest George Novakovsky, Archpriest Roman Novakovsky, Priest Anastasie, Hieromonk Dimitri, Deacon Sergius Hubay. In the evening at the same Church, Archbishop Theodore served Vespers with the Akathist to the "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Icon of the Mother of God.
On Monday, November 8, Archbishop Theodore visited Belorechensk (Krasnodar region), where in the house-Church in honor of the "Sovereign" Icon of the Mother of God, concelebrated with of the rector, Priest Aleksy Gorin. A molieben was served to the Most Holy Mother of God and St. Demetrios of Thessalonica. The rector acquainted Vladika with the life of community.
On November 10, Archbishop Theodore and those accompanying him returned to Suzdal.
FIRE IN CHURCH OF ST. SERAPHIM OF SAROV IN KURGAN
(Vertograd, Kurgan)
The Church of St Seraphim of Sarov in Kurgan in the Orenburg Diocese of the ROAC was completely destroyed by fire on December 2. The suspected reason for the fire was apparently coal that fell from the furnace.
The Director of the Church, Priest Anatoly Manakov and his family are now in a very miserable situation, since for many years Fr Anatoly had no secular work.
ROCOR (V) REMOVES ARCHBISHOP VARNAVA (PROKOFIEV) FROM THE EPISCOPATE
(Portal-Credo.Ru - Vertograd, Mansonville)
According to the Resolution of the Archihierarchical Sobor of the ROCOR (V), which gathered in Mansonville
under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov), First-Hierarch of ROCOR (V), Archbishop Varnava (Prokofiev), the former Deputy of the First Hierarch, was deposed from the Episcopate.
The resolution of the Sobor says: "in accordance with the canons, notably the 1st Canonical Epistle of Basil the Great; 4th Ec. Canon 18; 2nd Ec. Canon 6; 6th Ec. Canon 34; Gangra, Canon 6;Sardica, Canon 14; First-Second Council Canons 14 and 15, Archbishop Varnava is deprived of the episcopal dignity ".
The resolutuion bears the signature of Metropolitan Vitaly, Bishop Sergius (Kidyakov), Bishop Vladimir, Bishop Bartholomew, Bishop Antony, Bishop Victor, and also Protopresbyter Benjamin Joukoff, the secretary Of Archihierarchal Synod of the ROCOR (V).
The resolution, most likely, will not be acknowledged canonically by Archbishop Varnava, who threatens to create another division in the ROCOR (V).
DOCUMENTS
DECISIONS OF THE HIERARCHICAL SOBOR OF THE ROCOR (V), 2004
Abstracts from the resolutions of the Sobor:
"The Hierarchical Sobor of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (V) took place from November 5/18 to November 7/20, 2004 in Mansonville (Canada), presided over by Metropolitan Vitaly, First-Hierarch of the ROCOR.
Present were:
Metropolitan Vitaly, First-Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and Chairman of the Hierarchical Sobor, Bp. Sergius of Montreal and Eastern Canada, Bp. Vladimir of San Fransisco and Western America, Bp. Bartholomew of Edmonton and Western Canada, Bp. Antony of Los Angeles and South America, Bp. Victor of Slavyansk and South Russia, Mitred Protopriest Benjamin Joukoff, Secretary of the Hierarchical Synod, Protopriest Nikolai Semenov,
the assistant to Metropolitan Vitaly for the West European diocese.
They decreed:
- to revoke the decision of November 23, 2001 designating the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad as the "Russian Orthodox Church in Exile".
- to abolish the decision relative to the regulations accepted on November 15/28 of 2003, in connection with the practical difficulties of its application in Church life; to return to the previous regulations accepted by the Hierarchal Sobor of the ROCOR in 1964 with principal changes in paragraphs 1 and 2.
Election of the New Member Of Hierarchical Sobor
It was decreed to select as a new member of the Hierarchical Sobor the Right Reverend Bishop Antony of Los Angeles and South America.
Election of Deputy Chairman of the Hierarchical Sobor
It was decreed to select as Deputy Chairman of the Hierarchical Sobor Rt. Rev. Bishop Sergius of Montreal and Eastern Canada.
Anathema of "Sergianism"
After the account of the anti-Christian essence of Sergianism and after a report on the anathema already carried out on this question by the Catacomb Bishops, the Hierarchical Sobor accepted a text anathematizing Sergianism.
Bestowing of the title "Most Blessed" upon Metropolitan Vitaly
For many years of leading the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and more than fifty years service in the hierarchical dignity, the Hierarchical Sobor resolved to honor The Most Reverend Metropolitan Vitaly by title "Most Blessed".
On the Glorification of Metropolitan Philaret
Establishment of a Commission for the preparation of Glorification of Metropolitan Philaret of Blessed Memory.
Documents were signed by:
+Metropolitan Vitaly
+Bishop Sergius
+Bishop Vladimir
+Bishop Bartholomew
+Bishop Antony
+Bishop Victor
Mitred Protopriest Benjamin Joukoff, Secretary of the Hierarchical Sobor of the ROCOR"
[Translated from the Russian by Vertograd]
(C) Vertograd, 2004. http://www.vertograd.blogspot.com/
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