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MINUTES of the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, 27 March 2007.
Item No 17.
At the meeting of the Holy Synod under the chairmanship of the PATRIARCH
HEARD:
Report of his Grace Kyrill, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations on the negotiations held with representatives of the Patriarchate of Constantinople regarding the question of his grace Bishop Basil Osborne.
Note:
At the meeting on 6 October 2006 (Item No 104) the Holy Synod resolved to propose to His Holiness Bartholemew, Patriarch of Constantinople, to review by means of mutual discussions the situation which had arisen as a result of the unlawful acceptance of the former bishop Basil (Osborne) of Sergievo into the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Contantinople. There followed a positive response on the part of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
At the meeting on 26 December 2006 the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church resolved to postpone any further judgement regarding the case of bishop Basil (Osborne) until negotiations with representatives of the Patriarchate of Constantinople had been completed.
On 23 January 2007 a meeting took place between delegates from the Patriarchates of Constantinople and Moscow in Geneva (Switzerland). Representing the Russian Orthodox Church were Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, Secretary of the DECR for Inter-orthodox Relations and Archpriestpriest Sergii Govorun, assistant to the Chairman of the DECR.
The Patriarchate of Constantinople was represented by Metropolitan John of Pergamon, Protopresbyter George Tsetsis and Archimandrite Bartholemew Samaras, Deputy Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
RESOLVED:
- To approve the results of the negotiations.
- In response to the request on the part of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, to send the personal file of his grace Bishop Basil to His Holiness Bartholemew, Patriarch of Constantinople.
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