Communique N° 04-07 of the Council of the Archdiocese

Meeting of 26 June 2007

The Council of the Archdiocese met on 26 June 2007, with His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel in the chair. Among the questions discussed were:

1. The Council heard four presentations, each followed by discussion: ‘The Report on the activities of the Council over the last three years’; ‘The formation of priests and ordination to the priesthood’; ‘Pastoral Assemblies and Diocesan Conferences’; ‘The State of Ecclesial Relations, especially with the Patriarchate of Moscow’.

2. Episcopal Vicariate of Great Britain and Ireland.
A general assembly of the Episcopal Vicariate of Great Britain and Ireland was held on 23 June in London, called by Bishop Basil of Amphipolis, with the blessing of Archbishop Gabriel. Eighty-two participants, clerical and lay, representing seventeen parishes and communities of the Vicariate, were present. The assembly adopted the Statutes of the Vicariate which would be submitted to the Charities Commission, and proceeded to the election of holding trustees.

3. Parishes and clergy
– Priest Roman Michin was relieved of his duties at the parish of St Alexander Nevsky and the Protection of the Mother of God at Biarritz, and placed at the disposal of the Archbishop. He will celebrate with Archpriest Nicolas Cernokrak at the parish of St Seraphim of Sarov and the Protection of the Mother of God in Paris.
– Monk Elias (Herzog) was ordained hierodeacon by Archbishop Gabriel on Saturday 15 June, during the Divine Liturgy celebrated at St Sergius in Paris, and priest-monk, on Sunday 16 June during the Divine Liturgy celebrated in the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. He will be in charge of the Community of the Protection of the Mother of God in Augsburg, Germany.
– Monk Athanasius (Buk) was ordained hierodeacon by Archbishop Gabriel on Sunday 16 June, in the Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky. He is placed at the disposal of the Archbishop, in Paris.
– Subdeacon Mercurii Buk was ordained deacon by Archbishop Gabriel on Saturday 23 June, during the Divine Liturgy celebrated at St Sergius church in Paris, and priest on Sunday 24 June during the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. He will be in charge of the community of St Sergius of Radonezh at Albstadt, Germany.

4.St Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute.
The General Assembly of the St Sergius Institute, meeting on 25 June, has approved the plans for creating a St Sergius Institute Foundation, which had already been accepted in principle by the Council of the Archdiocese at its meeting on 24 April last. The recognition of this Foundation as an institution of public benefit is subject to the decision by the Conseil d’Etat.