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From February 5–8, participants from several states within the Western American Diocese gathered at Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Youngtown, Arizona, for the first Southwest Choral Symposium—several intensive days designed to strengthen the musical life of small parishes and help singers at every level grow in confidence and skill. What began as a group with widely varied backgrounds became, by the end of the weekend, a confident choir offering beautiful, prayerful singing at the divine services. The symposium programming was developed by the Synodal School of Liturgical Music (SSLM), the fourth such event organized under the auspices of SSLM in the United States since 2022, focused specifically on the needs of ROCOR’s English-language parishes. Over the course of the event, people shared experiences, learned from one another, and formed long-lasting connections that enriched the work taking place in the rehearsal room.
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Ukase of the Synod of Bishops
No. 09/12/2025
To Bishop Theodosius of Seattle
To Archpriest Michael Crowley, Cleric of the Eastern American Diocese
To Hieromonk Spyridon (Gusakov), Cleric of the Canadian Diocese
To Hieromonk Peter (Karakozoff), Cleric of the Western American Diocese
During a meeting of the Synod of Bishops held on Tuesday, 26 November/9 December, 2025, it was DETERMINED: on the matter of filling the ranks of the episcopacy:
DECREED: 1) To appoint Bishop Theodosius of Seattle as a Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese with the title “Bishop of Manhattan.” 2) Having deliberated on the results of a survey of the Members of the Council of Bishops, to consider Archpriest Michael Crowley, cleric of the Eastern American Diocese, to be elected as Bishop of Boston; cleric of the Canadian Diocese Hieromonk Spyridon (Gusakov) as Bishop of Toronto; cleric of the Western American Diocese Hieromonk Peter (Karakozoff), Bishop of Seattle. 3) In accordance with the Act of Canonical Communion, to submit a corresponding appeal to the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. 4) The time and location of the episcopal consecrations of the aforementioned clerics will be left to the discretion of the President of the Synod of Bishops.
For which this ukase is issued.
+ NICHOLAS
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York
President of the Synod of Bishops
+ KYRILL
Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America
Secretary of the Synod of Bishops
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From the Editors: During a session of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church on Friday, 26 December, 2025, the election of new Vicar Bishops of the Eastern American, Canadian and Western American Dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was confirmed. Below is the text of the decision:
JOURNAL No. 125
HEARD: A report by His Eminence Metropolitan Antony of Volokolamsk, President of the Department of External Church Relations, on the decisions of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia regarding the election of Vicar Bishops of the Eastern American, Western American and Canadian Dioceses.
Background:
Addressed to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia was an appeal by Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York with the request for the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to confirm the election of Vicar Bishops of the Eastern American, Canadian and Western American Dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
In accordance with the Act of Canonical Communion of 17 May, 2007, “Hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia are elected by its Council of Bishops, or, in instances determined by the Regulations of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, by its Synod of Bishops. The election is to be confirmed on a canonical basis by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.”
DECREED:
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The True Story of the ROMANOV Family
Saint Paisius Monastery of Safford, AZ, is pleased to announce the publication of the true life and fateful events of the Romanov family, beautifully portrayed with vivid colors and memorable images. This large-format book is the work of Diaconesti Monastery in Romania. is a labor of love, motivated by the deep respect for these saints and devotion to those martyred during the communist prosecution of teh 20th century...
