On Friday, May 9, a regular session of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad opened in the lower church of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God in London.
The members of the Synod, led by Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, arrived in London the day prior. After venerating the relics of the cathedral and the lower church, dedicated to the Holy Royal Martyrs, the hierarchs were offered a brotherly meal offered by the cathedral sisterhood. Here, the archpastors had the opportunity to converse with both cathedral and visiting clergy.
The following morning, after praying at Divine Liturgy in the cathedral, Metropolitan Mark of Berlin & Germany, Archbishops Kyrill of San Francisco & Western America and Gabriel of Montreal & Canada, and Bishops Irinei of London & Western Europe, Theodosius of Seattle, and Bishop Job of Stuttgart, under the aegis of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" and the presidency of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, approved the agenda proposed by the secretariat and began their work.
The current meeting will conclude with Liturgy in the diocesan cathedral on May 11, the 4th Sunday of Holy Pascha.
