MOSCOW: July 17, 2017
Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany Participates in a Meeting of the Inter-Council Presence

On July 17, 2017, upon arriving at Holy Trinity-St Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad, Russia, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia led a meeting of the presidium of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Maly Hall of Moscow Theological Academy.

His Holiness opened the session with the following words:

Your Eminences, Your Graces, Dear Participants in the Presidium of the Inter-Council Presnce of the Russian Orthodox Church:

I greet you on the opening of this event. In accordance with the regulations, we must confirm the agenda of this forum...

We see that the agenda includes a broad array of topics relevant to Church society, based on a survey of the participants, which shows that members of the Church are interested not only in internal ecclesiastical affairs but in the place of our Church in today’s society. The committees must suggest how we can inform our own flock and society at large, and how to help them accept the decisions of the Hierarchy…

It is important to discuss processes on the diocesan level. For instance, seminars can be held on the local diocesan level to discuss topics of the Inter-Council Presence, and draw the participation of interested parties. The exhaustive and multi-faceted study of these questions can help to decide on ultimate documents, and the decision of which entity should make the final decision on them, the Holy Synod or the Council of Bishops…

A creative approach to the work of the committees, including the drafting of documents as well as fruitful discussions between Church and society at large, can form the criteria of establishing priorities for the agenda of the Inter-Council Presence…

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill stressed the importance of every individual member of the Presence to actively participate in the discussions of these topics.

The committee chairmen were led by various hierarchs, including His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, who presided over discussions of Church law.

Proposals for an updated agenda for the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church are henceforth submitted for confirmation by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.