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On April 25-27, 2023, the Holy Synod of Bishops met for its Regular Spring 2023 Session in the territory of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., area under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon.
On Tuesday, April 25, the Holy Synod gathered at Saint Mark Church in Bethesda, MD, for Divine Liturgy presided by Archimandrite Nikodhim (Preston). Following the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude served a Panikhida for His Eminence Archbishop Paul and all the hierarchs, clergy, and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America who have fallen asleep in the Lord. April 24 marked the first anniversary of the death of Archbishop Paul.
Following the services, the Holy Synod began its Spring Session and heard the report of Metropolitan Tikhon who discussed various topics concerning the life of the Church and his primatial activities. The Holy Synod elected Archimandrite Nikodhim as Bishop of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese scheduling his episcopal ordination for September 2023.
On the days of Wednesday and Thursday, the Holy Synod continued its Spring Session at the new and temporary Chancery office in Springfield, VA.
The bishops heard reports from the three officers of the Church, Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Chancellor, Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Secretary, and Mr. Andrew Smith, Treasurer. The Synod confirmed the nominations of the members of the Preconciliar Commission submitted by the Metropolitan Council, and who will begin working on the plans of the 21st All-American Council scheduled to take place in July 2025.
The Synod received and discussed a memorandum from Father Alexander regarding the recent reports of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey purportedly investigating parishes of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey.
The bishops heard a Department update from Archpriest Thomas Soroka, reports from Priest Kyle Parrott, Director of Communication, the Property Committee of the Metropolitan Council on the sale of Westwood, the Office of Pastoral Life, the Pension Board, the Board of Theological Education, the Stavropegial Seminaries, and the Sexual Misconduct Policy Advisory Committee. The Synod also received a number of other reports in writing.
Father Alessandro also updated the Holy Synod on the completion of the works in the space at the Florovsky Library, where the Archives of the Orthodox Church in America will be moved in the coming weeks.
On Thursday afternoon, the Holy Synod welcomed Judge E. R. Lanier who presented the legal report. As he prepares for his retirement, Judge Lanier was formally thanked by His Beatitude on behalf of the Holy Synod and the entire Orthodox Church in America for his many years of dedicated and faithful service to the Church.
