Spring Session of the Archdiocesan Council of the Archdiocese of Canada
The members of the Archdiocesan Council of the Archdiocese of Canada of The Orthodox Church in America held their Spring session at the Archdiocesan Centre in Ottawa, Ontario on Friday and Saturday, May 23-24, 2014. The meeting was chaired by His Beatitude Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, and Locum Tenens of the Archdiocese of Canada.
According to Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko, Secretary of the Archdiocese of Canada, the following were among the highlights of the meeting. On Friday, May 23, after a Moleben at the Cathedral of the Annunciation, and a breakfast prepared by the Cathedral volunteers, the members of the Archdiocesan Council gathered for their semi-annual meeting, chaired for the first time by the Locum Tenens of the Archdiocese of Canada, Metropolitan Tikhon.
The first session was opened by Metropolitan Tikhon, and in his opening remarks, His Beatitude focused on the recent events surrounding the retirement of Archbishop Seraphim.
His Beatitude dedicated the afternoon sessions to the topic, “The Archdiocese of Canada: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” and led a lengthy and informative discussion with the members of the Archdiocesan Council. During the discussion each member of the council was able to share his/her personal vision concerning the future of the Archdiocese of Canada, its work and mission.
Bishop Irénée, Administrator of the Archdiocese of Canada, the Archdiocesan Officers, the regional Deans and Lay Representatives presented their reports.
There was an extensive discussion about missions and the work of each of the Archdiocesan Council Committees.
After supper, the members of the council met for an evening session to make recommendations and to develop a number of action points for the next six months.
On Saturday, May 24, the Archdiocesan Council heard the remaining reports, had a further discussion on the role of each of the Archdiocesan Committees, and formulated the following statement arising from the discussion led by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon:
“On May 23rd, 2014, the Archdiocesan Council of the Archdiocese of Canada, The Orthodox Church in America met at the Archdiocesan Centre in Ottawa, Ontario with His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, and Locum Tenens of the Archdiocese of Canada.
His Beatitude empowered the Archdiocesan Council to serve as a search committee to identify possible candidates for the election of a ruling Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Canada. As well, the Council reviewed the procedures to follow in the election of a ruling Archbishop.
At the conclusion of the ensuing discussion, the Archdiocesan Council unanimously recommended to His Beatitude that the Holy Synod of Bishops consider Bishop Irénée as the candidate for election as the ruling Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Canada.
An Assembly of the faithful is to be convened to nominate to the Holy Synod of Bishops the candidate for election of the ruling Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Canada.
The Holy Synod of Bishops will subsequently take into consideration the result of the Assembly's vote in their decision on the election of the next ruling Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Canada.”
View the approved minutes and reports of the 2013 Fall meeting of the Archdiocesan Council >