GERMAN DIOCESE: June 7, 2013
South Germany Hosts an Orthodox Pastoral Conference

On May 31, 2013, a meeting of Orthodox clergymen of Southern Germany was held in the Greek Church of SS Peter and Paul in the suburbs of Stuttgart. An off day in this country, the clerics gathered in the local capital of Baden-Wurttemberg. After Divine Liturgy, celebrated in the German language, headed by His Grace Bishop Basil, discussions began on important pastoral topics.

The meeting began with a keynote address by His Eminence Metropolitan Augustine (Constantinople Patriarchate). His Grace Bishop Agapit of Stuttgart of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia then read a lecture on the priesthood and the image of the Orthodox pastor. Vladyka Agapit paid special attention to the role of family and children. Then discussions turned to practical matters facing the Orthodox Church in Germany.

The meeting ended the next day with a moleben of gratitude performed in German by Protopriest Ilia Limberger (ROCOR), while a choir of clergymen of the Russian Church Abroad sang. Most of the singing was in German, but languages of other Orthodox peoples were used as well.

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