On Friday, 8 December, after Divine Liturgy on the Leavetaking of the feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, a session of the Synod of Bishops commenced at the Synodal Residence of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad in New York City. Participating in this meeting, chaired by Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, are Metropolitan Mark of Berlin & Germany, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada, and Bishops Bishop Irenei of London & Western Europe, Theodosius of Seattle, and Job of Stuttgart.

Opening the session with an introductory remark, Metropolitan Nicholas wished everyone God’s help in their impending work and spoke about his primatial visits, services, and meetings that took place since the last teleconference of the members of the Synod of Bishops in September of this year.

Reports were then heard by Bishop Irenei, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops for Inter-Orthodox Relations, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), head of ROCOR’s Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, and from other members of Synodal institutions.

That evening, the archpastors read a thorough and highly professional report by Zimmerman architectural firm, which specializes in the restoration of historic buildings. The President of the Synod of Bishops asked them to assess the extent of the damage and the necessary repairs for the reconstruction of the Synodal residence in New York. Commenting on the report, His Eminence expressed his hope that the episcopate, clergy, and flock of the Russian Church Abroad will understand the urgent need to restore the House of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" and will make their contributions to the proposed project.

After an evening meal, a film prepared by His Grace, Bishop Job, about the historic Synodal building in New York City was screened.

The next morning, the work of the Synod of Bishops continued, considering a number of ecclesiastical disciplinary cases from dioceses and intercessions from bishops who nominated clergy and laity of their dioceses for church awards. This was followed by a fraternal telephone conversation with Archbishop Michael (Donskoff), in retirement in Switzerland, whom the members of the Synod of Bishops congratulated on his 80th birthday and recent namesday.

The session of the Synod of Bishops will conclude with the conciliar celebration of Divine Liturgy on Sunday, December 10, the feast day of the Cathedral of Our Lady "of the Sign" at the Synodal Headquarters.