DIOCESE OF EASTERN AMERICA AND NEW YORK: November 17, 2006
Resolution of the Diocesan Assembly of Eastern America and New York

We, the clergymen and wardens of the parishes of the Diocese of Eastern America and New York, having gathered at the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin in Glen Cove, NY, for prayer and discussion of questions relating to diocesan life, greet the God-loving flock of our Diocese. In addition to lectures and reports of a purely diocesan nature, we paid great attention to the report of the Rector of Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Los Angeles, Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff, Secretary of the Commission on discussions with the Moscow Patriarchate, on the present process of reconciliation between our Russian Church Abroad and the Moscow Patriarchate. From discussing this matter, it is clear that various points of view exist within our Diocese. Despite this fact, we unanimously declare our readiness to obey His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus and our Hierarchy. We must entrust ourselves to God and our Eminent Archpastors, who wisely and lovingly lead our Church. For this reason, we beseech the flock in our Diocese to fervently pray to our Heavenly Father that His will alone, as expressed in the decisions of our Hierarchy, manifests itself in our church life. Let our prayers be set forth as spiritual incense, and may the Lord send down upon us Divine Grace and the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

At the beginning of today's meeting, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus called upon us to prayerfully commemorate the late Metropolitan Vitaly, whose funeral in absentia will be performed by our bishops on November 26/December 9 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign in New York City; and to commemorate Archbishop Nikon of Washington and Florida, who had devoted so many labors in our Diocese, who was laid to rest 30 years ago.

Today we bring heartfelt thanks to our merciful father and First Hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, and His Grace Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan for their leadership of our Diocese and for their fatherly care for us.

Today we bring thanks to God for enabling us to gather, pray together and discuss the urgent matters in church life. We thank the Rector of the Church of the Intercession, Priest Alexandre Antchoutine, the Sisterhood and parishioners who warmly welcomed us here. May the Lord strengthen them in serving the Holy Church of Christ!

The participants of the Diocesan Assembly