OCA Holy Synod issues further statements at 2008 Spring Meeting
In addition to the previous statements on the Diocese of Alaska, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, meeting at the OCA Chancery, May 13 to 15, 2008, issued the following statements.
“On May 15, 2008, having heard the request and nomination of His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN, the Holy Synod of Bishops released Metropolitan HERMAN from his responsibilities as Locum tenens and Administrator of the Diocese of Western Pennsylvania. His Grace TIKHON, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania is blessed to take the responsibility of Locum tenens and Administrator of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania.”
“Effective May 15, 2008, at the request of His Grace BENJAMIN, Bishop of San Francisco and the West, and with the concurrence of His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN, the Holy Assumption Monastery in Calistoga, California, is released by the Holy Synod from stavropegial status, and returned to the omophor of His Grace, Bishop BENJAMIN, and the Diocese of the West.”
“Effective May 15, 2008, Igumen Sergious (Gerkin) is released from stavropegial status, and transferred, with the Holy Assumption Monastery, to the omophor of His Grace, Bishop BENJAMIN, and the Diocese of the West.”
“His Eminence, Archbishop NATHANIEL presented his report concerning the suspended Priest Alin Stefan Macarie. His Eminence, Archbishop NATHANIEL recommended that Priest Alin Stefan Macarie be deposed from the priesthood.
“After hearing the report from Archbishop NATHANIEL concerning Priest Alin Stefan Macarie, the Holy Synod of Bishops, on May 15, 2008, meeting in Oyster Bay Cove, New York, resolved that Priest Alin Stefan Macarie be permanently deposed from all sacred functions of the priesthood, effective this date. His name is to be removed immediately from the clergy list of the Orthodox Church in America.
“The Holy Synod took this action with great sadness and with the assurance of its prayers on behalf on Alin Stefan Macarie.”
“His Eminence, Archbishop NATHANIEL presented his report concerning the suspended Hieromonk Nicolae (Peciu). His Eminence, Archbishop NATHANIEL recommended that Hieromonk Nicolae (Peciu) be deposed from the priesthood.
“After hearing the report from Archbishop NATHANIEL concerning Hieromonk Nicolae (Peicu), the Holy Synod of Bishops, on May 15, 2008, meeting in Oyster Bay Cove, New York, resolved that Hieromonk Nicolae (Peicu) be permanently deposed from all sacred functions of the priesthood, effective this date. His name is to be removed immediately from the clergy list of the Orthodox Church in America.
“The Holy Synod took this action with great sadness and with the assurance of its prayers on behalf on Monk Nicolae (Peicu).”
“His Eminence, Archbishop NATHANIEL presented to the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America the details of the circumstances surrounding the deposition from the Holy Priesthood of Priest Viorel Dumitrascu and the details both of his repentance and of the canonical reasons for lifting this deposition.
“After hearing the report from Archbishop NATHANIEL concerning Priest Viorel Dumitescu, the Holy Synod of Bishops, on May 15, 2008, meeting in Oyster Bay Cove, New York, resolved that the deposition on October 20, 1999 of Priest Viorel Dumitescu be lifted immediately. He is restored to the active exercise of the Holy Priesthood and his name is to be returned immediately to the clergy list of the Orthodox Church in America.
“Effective immediately, he is placed under the omophor of Archbishop NATHANIEL of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate for further assignment.”
“His Eminence, Archbishop SERAPHIM presented to the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America the details of the circumstances surrounding the deposition from the Holy Priesthood of Hieromonk Raphael (Vereshack) and the details both of his repentance and of the canonical reasons for lifting this deposition.
“After hearing the report from Archbishop SERAPHIM concerning Hieromonk Raphael (Vereshack), the Holy Synod of Bishops, on May 15, 2008, meeting in Oyster Bay Cove, New York, resolved that the deposition on March 23, 1995 of Hieromonk Raphael (Vereshack) be lifted immediately. He is restored to the active exercise of the Holy Priesthood and his name is to be returned immediately to the clergy list of the Orthodox Church in America.
“Effective this date, Hieromonk Raphael (Vereshack) is transferred by Metropolitan HERMAN to the omophor of Metropolitan HILARION of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.”