e) be at least 40 years old.

Chapter V. Holy Synod

1 ... The Holy Synod, headed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (Locum Tenens), is the governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church in the period between the Councils of Bishops.

2 ... The Holy Synod is responsible to the Council of Bishops and through the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia presents to him a report on its activities for the inter-Council period.

3 ... The Holy Synod consists of a chairman - the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (Locum Tenens), nine permanent and five temporary members - diocesan bishops.

4 ... Permanent members are: in the department - Metropolitans of Kiev and All Ukraine; St. Petersburg and Ladoga; Krutitsky and Kolomensky; Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus; Chisinau and All Moldova; Astana and Kazakhstan, head of the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Tashkent and Uzbekistan, head of the Central Asian metropolitan district; ex officio - Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations and Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate.

5 ... Temporary members are summoned to attend one session, according to the seniority of the episcopal consecration, one from each group into which the dioceses are divided. The summons of a bishop to the Holy Synod cannot follow before the expiration of the two-year term of his administration of this diocese.

6 ... The synodal year is divided into two sessions: summer (March-August) and winter (September-February).

7 ... Diocesan bishops, heads of synodal institutions and rectors of theological academies may be present in the Holy Synod with the right of an advisory vote when considering matters concerning the dioceses, institutions, academies they govern or carrying out general church obedience.

8 ... The participation of permanent and temporary members of the Holy Synod in its meetings is their canonical duty. Members of the Synod who are absent without good reason are subject to fraternal admonition.

9 ... In exceptional cases, the quorum of the Holy Synod is 2/3 of its members.

10 ... Sessions of the Holy Synod are convened by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (Locum Tenens). In the event of the death of the Patriarch, no later than on the third day, the Patriarchal Viceroy - Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna - convenes a meeting of the Holy Synod to elect the Locum Tenens.

11 ... As a rule, the sessions of the Holy Synod are closed. The members of the Holy Synod are seated according to the protocol adopted by the Russian Orthodox Church.

12 ... The Holy Synod works on the basis of an agenda presented by the chairman and approved by the Holy Synod at the beginning of the first meeting. Questions requiring preliminary study, the chairman directs in advance to the members of the Holy Synod. Members of the Holy Synod can make proposals on the agenda and raise issues with prior notification to the chairman.

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14 ... In the event that the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, for any reason, is temporarily unable to exercise presidential duties in the Holy Synod, the duties of the chairman shall be performed by the oldest permanent member of the Holy Synod by episcopal consecration. The temporary chairman of the Holy Synod is not a canonical Locum Tenens.

15 ... The secretary of the Holy Synod is the manager of the affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate. The secretary is responsible for preparing the materials necessary for the Holy Synod and compiling the journals of the meetings.

16 ... Matters in the Holy Synod are decided by the general consent of all members participating in the meeting or by a majority vote. In case of equality of votes, the vote of the chairman is decisive.

17 ... None of those present in the Holy Synod can abstain from voting.

18 ... Each of the members of the Holy Synod, in case of disagreement with the adopted decision, may submit a separate opinion, which must be announced at the same meeting, setting out his reasons and submitted in writing no later than three days from the date of the meeting. Separate opinions are attached to the case without stopping its decision.

19 ... The chairman does not have the right to remove from the discussion, obstruct their decision, or suspend the implementation of such decisions by his own authority, the cases proposed on the agenda.

20 ... In those cases when the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia recognizes that the decision made will not bring any benefit and benefit to the Church, he declares a protest. The protest must be made at the same meeting and then set out in writing within seven days. After this period, the case is again considered by the Holy Synod. If the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia does not find it possible to agree with the new decision of the case, then it shall be suspended and submitted to the Council of Bishops for consideration. If it is impossible to postpone the case and a decision must be made immediately, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia acts at his own discretion. The decision made in this way is submitted to the extraordinary Council of Bishops, on which the final resolution of the issue depends.

21 ... When the Holy Synod is considering a case on a complaint against members of the Holy Synod, the person concerned may be present at the meeting and give explanations, but when deciding the case, the accused member of the Holy Synod is obliged to leave the meeting room. When considering a complaint against the chairman, he delegates the presidency to the oldest hierarch of the episcopal consecration from among the permanent members of the Holy Synod.

22 ... All journals and resolutions of the Holy Synod are signed first by the chairman, then by all members present at the meeting, at least some of them did not agree with the decision and submitted a separate opinion about it.

23 ... The rulings of the Holy Synod come into force after they are signed and are not subject to revision, except for cases when new data are presented that change the essence of the matter.

24 ... The Chairman of the Holy Synod exercises the highest supervision over the exact execution of the decisions adopted.

25 ... The duties of the Holy Synod include:

a) care for the intact storage and interpretation of the Orthodox faith, the norms of Christian morality and piety;

b) serving the inner unity of the Russian Orthodox Church;

c) maintaining unity with other Orthodox Churches;

d) the organization of the internal and external activities of the Church and the solution of issues of general Church significance that arise in connection with this;

e) interpretation of canonical decrees and resolution of difficulties associated with their application;

f) regulation of liturgical issues;

g) issuance of disciplinary orders concerning clergy, monastics and church workers;

h) assessment of the most important events in the field of interchurch, interfaith and interreligious relations;

i) maintaining interfaith and interreligious ties, both in the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate and beyond;

j) coordination of the actions of the entire fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church in its efforts to achieve peace and justice;

k) expression of pastoral concern for social problems;

l) address with special messages to all children of the Russian Orthodox Church;

m) maintaining proper relations between the state and in accordance with this Charter and current legislation;

n) approval of the statutes of the Self-Governing Churches, Exarchates and Metropolitan Districts;

o) the adoption of the civil statutes of the Russian Orthodox Church and its canonical divisions, as well as the introduction of amendments and additions to them;

p) consideration of the journals of the Synods of Exarchates, Metropolitan Districts;

c) resolving issues related to the establishment or abolition of canonical divisions of the Russian Orthodox Church accountable to the Holy Synod with subsequent approval at the Bishops' Council;

r) establishing the procedure for the ownership, use and disposal of buildings and property of the Russian Orthodox Church;

s) approval of decisions of the General Church Court in the cases provided for by the Regulations on the Church Court.

26 ... Holy Synod:

a) elects, appoints, in exceptional cases displaces bishops and dismisses them to retire;

b) summons bishops to attend the Holy Synod;

c) if necessary, upon the proposal of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, examines the reports of the bishops on the state of the dioceses and makes decisions on them;

d) inspect, through its members, the activities of bishops whenever it deems it necessary;

e) determines the content of bishops.

27 ... The Holy Synod appoints:

a) heads of synodal institutions and, on their submission, their deputies;

b) rectors of theological academies and seminaries, abbots (abbesses) and abbots of monasteries;

c) bishops, clergy and laity for the passage of responsible obedience in the far abroad;

d) on the recommendation of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, members of the Supreme Church Council from among the heads of synodal or other church-wide institutions, subdivisions of the Moscow Patriarchate;

e) on the proposal of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, members of the Inter-Council Presence.

28 ... The Holy Synod can create commissions or other working bodies to take care of:

a) on the solution of important theological problems related to the internal and external activities of the Church;

Chapter XI. Self-governing Churches

1 ... Self-governing Churches that are part of the Moscow Patriarchate carry out their activities on the basis and within the limits provided by the Patriarchal Tomos, issued in accordance with the decisions of the Local or Bishops' Council.

2 ... The decision on the formation or abolition of the Self-Governing Church, as well as the determination of its territorial boundaries, is taken by the Local Council.

3 ... The organs of ecclesiastical authority and administration of the Self-Governing Church are the Council and the Synod, headed by the Primate of the Self-Governing Church in the rank of metropolitan or archbishop.

4 ... The Primate of the Self-Governing Church is elected by the Council from among candidates approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod.

5 ... The Primate assumes office after approval by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

6 ... The Primate is the diocesan bishop of his diocese and heads the Self-Governing Church on the basis of the canons, this Statute and the Statute of the Self-Governing Church.

7 ... The name of the Primate is commemorated in all churches of the Self-Governing Church after the name of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

8 ... Decisions on the formation or abolition of dioceses that are part of the Self-Governing Church and on the determination of their territorial boundaries are made by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod on the proposal of the Synod of the Self-Governing Church with subsequent approval by the Bishops' Council.

9 ... The Bishops of the Self-Governing Church are elected by the Synod from candidates approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod.

10 ... The Bishops of the Self-Governing Church are members of the Local and Bishops' Councils and participate in their work in accordance with Sections II and III of this Statute and in meetings of the Holy Synod.

11 ... The decisions of the Local and Bishops' Councils and the Holy Synod are binding on the Self-governing Church.

12 ... The general ecclesiastical court and the court of the Council of Bishops are ecclesiastical courts of the highest instance for the Self-Governing Church.

13 ... The Council of the Self-Governing Church adopts the Charter governing the administration of this Church on the basis and within the limits provided by the Patriarchal Tomos. The charter is subject to approval by the Holy Synod and confirmation by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

14 ... The Council and Synod of the Self-Governing Church act within the boundaries determined by the Patriarchal Tomos, this Charter and the Charter governing the administration of the Self-Governing Church.

17 ... The self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church is the Russian Orthodox Outside of Russia in the historical totality of its dioceses, parishes and other church institutions.

The provisions of this Statute are applied in it taking into account the Act of Canonical Communion of May 17, 2007, as well as the Regulations on the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, as amended and supplemented by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad on May 13, 2008.

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In her life and work, she is guided by the 1990 Tomos of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Charter of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is approved by its Primate and approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

Chapter XII. Exarchates

1 ... Dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church can be united in Exarchates. The basis of such an association is the national-regional principle.

2 ... Decisions on the creation or dissolution of Exarchates, as well as on their names and territorial boundaries, are taken by the Holy Synod with subsequent approval by the Council of Bishops.

3 ... The decisions of the Local and Bishops' Councils and the Holy Synod are binding on the Exarchates.

4 ... The general church court and the court of the Council of Bishops are for the Exarchate the ecclesiastical courts of the highest instance.

5 ... The highest ecclesiastical authority in the Exarchate belongs to the Synod of the Exarchate, chaired by the Exarch.

6 ... The Synod of the Exarchate adopts the Charter governing the administration of the Exarchate. The charter is subject to the approval of the Holy Synod and approval by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

7 ... The Synod of the Exarchate acts on the basis of the canons, this Charter and the Charter governing the administration of the Exarchate.

8 ... The journals of the Synod of the Exarchate are submitted to the Holy Synod and approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

9 ... The Exarch is elected by the Holy Synod and appointed by the Patriarchal Decree.

10 ... The Exarch is the diocesan bishop of his diocese and heads the administration of the Exarchate on the basis of the canons, this Charter and the Charter governing the administration of the Exarchate.

11 ... The name of the Exarch is ascended in all churches of the Exarchate after the name of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

12 ... Diocesan and vicar bishops of the Exarchate are elected and appointed by the Holy Synod on the proposal of the Synod of the Exarchate.

13 ... Decisions on the formation or abolition of dioceses included in the Exarchate and on the determination of their territorial boundaries are taken by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod on the proposal of the Synod of the Exarchate with subsequent approval by the Council of Bishops.

14 ... The Exarchate receives the Holy Myrrh from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

15 ... The Russian Orthodox Church currently has a Belarusian Exarchate located on the territory of the Republic of Belarus. "Belarusian Orthodox" is another official name of the Belarusian Exarchate.

Chapter XIII. Metropolitan districts

1 ... Dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church can be united into Metropolitan districts.

2 ... Decisions on the creation or abolition of Metropolitan districts, as well as their names and territorial boundaries, are taken by the Holy Synod with subsequent approval by the Council of Bishops.

3 ... The decisions of the Local and Bishops' Councils and the Holy Synod are binding on the Metropolitan Districts.

4 ... The general church court and the court of the Council of Bishops are for the Metropolitan District the ecclesiastical courts of the highest instance.

5 ... The highest ecclesiastical authority in the Metropolitan District belongs to the Synod of the Metropolitan District, chaired by the head of the Metropolitan District. The Synod of the Metropolitan District consists of the diocesan and vicar bishops of the dioceses of the Metropolitan District.

6 ... The Synod of the Metropolitan District submits, at the discretion of the Holy Synod and the approval of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, a draft Statute of the Metropolitan District, if necessary - a draft internal regulation on the Metropolitan District, as well as drafts of subsequent amendments to these documents.

7 ... The District Synod submits, at the discretion of the Holy Synod and the approval of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the drafts of the Statutes of the dioceses of the Metropolitan District, parishes, monasteries, theological schools and other canonical divisions, as well as amendments (additions) to them.

8 ... The District Synod acts on the basis of the canons, this Charter, the Charter governing the administration of the Metropolitan District, and (or) the internal regulation on the Metropolitan District.

9 ... The journals of the Synod of the Metropolitan District are submitted to the Holy Synod and approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

10 ... The Bishop, who heads the Metropolitan District, is elected by the Holy Synod and appointed by the Patriarchal Decree.

11 ... The Bishop, who heads the Metropolitan District, is the diocesan bishop of his diocese and heads the administration of the Metropolitan District on the basis of the canons, this Charter and the Charter governing the administration of the Metropolitan District.

12 ... The name of the bishop who heads the Metropolitan District is exalted in all churches of the Metropolitan District after the name of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

13 ... The diocesan and vicar bishops of the Metropolitan District are elected and appointed by the Holy Synod.

14 ... Decisions on the formation or abolition of dioceses included in the Metropolitan District and on the determination of their territorial boundaries are made by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod with subsequent approval by the Bishops' Council.

15 The Metropolitan District receives the Holy Myrrh from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

16 ... The Russian Orthodox Church currently has:

· Metropolitan district in the Republic of Kazakhstan;

· Central Asian Metropolitan District.

Chapter XIV. Metropolises

1 ... Two or more dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church may be united in metropolises.

2 ... Metropolises are formed in order to coordinate the liturgical, pastoral, missionary, spiritual and educational, educational, youth, social, charitable, publishing, informational activities of dioceses, as well as their interaction with society and government bodies.

3 ... Decisions on the creation or abolition of metropolitanates, on their names, boundaries, on the composition of the dioceses included in them are taken by the Holy Synod with subsequent approval by the Council of Bishops.

4 ... The dioceses that are part of the metropolitanates are directly canonically subordinate to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the Holy Synod, and the Bishops' and Local Councils.

5 ... The higher authority for the diocesan church courts of dioceses that are part of the metropolitanate is the Church-wide Court.

6 ... As required, but at least twice a year, the metropolitan council convenes in the metropolis, consisting of all the diocesan and vicar bishops of the metropolis, as well as the secretary of the bishop council appointed by the head of the metropolis.

The powers of the bishops' council, as well as the procedure for its activity, are determined by the Statute on the Metropolitanates, approved by the Holy Synod.

7 ... The vicar bishops of the dioceses of the metropolis participate in the bishops' council with a decisive vote.

8 ... The head of the metropolitanate (metropolitan) is the diocesan bishop of one of the dioceses that make up the metropolitanate, and is appointed by the Holy Synod, receiving a decree from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

9 ... The name of the head of the metropolitanate (metropolitan) is exalted in all churches of the metropolitanate after the name of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia:

· Within the limits of their diocese with the wording “Our Lord, Most Reverend (name), Metropolitan (title)” (in a short form: “Our Lord, Most Reverend Metropolitan (name)”);

· Within other dioceses with the wording “Mister Eminence (name), Metropolitan (title)” (in short form: “Mister Eminence Metropolitan (name)”).

10 ... The affairs of the metropolitanate are handled by the diocesan administration of the diocese, headed by the metropolitan.

11 ... The powers of the head of the metropolitanate (metropolitan) are determined by the Statute on the metropolitanates.

Chapter XV. Dioceses

1 ... The Russian Orthodox Church is divided into dioceses - local Churches headed by a bishop and uniting diocesan institutions, deaneries, parishes, monasteries, metochions, monastic sketes, spiritual educational institutions, brotherhoods, sisterhoods, missions.

2 ... Dioceses are established by decision of the Holy Synod, with subsequent approval by the Council of Bishops.

3 ... The boundaries of dioceses are determined by the Holy Synod.

4 ... Each diocese has diocesan administration bodies operating within the limits determined by the canons and this Charter.

5 ... To meet church needs in dioceses, the necessary institutions can be created, the activities of which are regulated by the provisions (statutes) approved by the Holy Synod.

1. Diocesan Bishop

6 ... The diocesan bishop, by succession of power from the holy apostles, is the primate of the local Church - the diocese, who canonically administer it with the conciliar assistance of the clergy and laity.

7 ... The Diocesan Bishop is elected by the Holy Synod, receiving a decree from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

8 ... As needed, the Holy Synod appoints vicar bishops to assist the diocesan bishop with a range of duties determined by the Regulations on diocesan vicariates, or at the discretion of the diocesan bishop.

9 ... Bishops carry a title that includes the name of the cathedral city. Bishop titles are determined by the Holy Synod.

10 ... Bishop candidates are elected at the age of at least 30 from among monastics or unmarried persons of the white clergy with the obligatory tonsure of monasticism. The elected candidate must correspond to the high rank of a bishop in moral character and have a theological education.

11 ... Bishops enjoy all the fullness of hierarchical authority in matters of doctrine, sacred rites and pastorship.

12 ... The diocesan bishop ordains and appoints clergy to their place of service, appoints all employees of diocesan institutions, and blesses monastic tonsure.

13 ... A diocesan bishop has the right to admit clergy from other dioceses to the clergy of his diocese in the presence of letters of leave, as well as to release priests to other dioceses, providing, at the request of the bishops, their personal files and letters of leave.

14 ... Without the consent of the diocesan bishop, not a single decision of the diocesan administration bodies can be implemented.

15 ... A diocesan bishop may address archpastoral epistles to the clergy and laity within his diocese.

16 ... It is the duty of the diocesan bishop to submit to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia an annual report in the established form on the religious, administrative, financial and economic state of the diocese and on his activities.

17 ... The Diocesan Bishop is the plenipotentiary representative of the Russian Orthodox Church before the relevant state authorities and local self-government bodies on issues related to the activities of the diocese.

18 ... In administering the diocese, the bishop:

a) takes care of the preservation of faith, Christian morality and piety;

b) oversees the correct performance of divine services and the observance of church splendor;

c) is responsible for the implementation of the provisions of this Statute, decisions of Councils and the Holy Synod;

d) convene the diocesan assembly and the diocesan council and preside over them;

e) if necessary, apply the right of veto to decisions of the diocesan assembly with the subsequent transfer of the relevant issue to the Holy Synod for consideration;

f) approves the civil statutes of parishes, monasteries, households and other canonical divisions that are part of the diocese;

g) according to the canons, visits the parishes of his diocese and exercises control over their activities directly or through their authorized representatives;

h) has the highest commanding supervision over diocesan institutions and monasteries included in its diocese;

i) oversees the activities of the diocesan clergy;

j) appoints to office (dismisses) from office rectors, parish priests and other clergy;

k) submit for the approval of the Holy Synod candidates for the posts of rectors of theological educational institutions, abbots (abbesses) and governors of monasteries of diocesan subordination and, on the basis of the decision of the Holy Synod, issues decrees on the appointment of these officials;

l) approves the composition of parish meetings;

m) partially or completely changes the composition of the parish meeting when members of the parish meeting deviate from the canonical rules and regulations of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as when they violate the charter of the parish;

n) decides on the convocation of the parish meeting;

o) approve in office (dismiss) from office the chairmen of the audit commissions and treasurers of the parishes elected by the parish meeting;

p) remove from the membership of parish councils members of parish councils who violate the canonical norms and statutes of parishes;

c) approves financial and other reports of parish councils and audit commissions of parishes;

r) has the right to appoint (dismiss) from office the chairman of the parish council, the assistant rector (church elder) with the introduction of such members (removal from the membership) of the parish meeting and the parish council;

s) approves the minutes of parish meetings;

t) grants vacations to the clergy;

x) takes care of improving the spiritual and moral state of the clergy and raising their educational level;

v) takes care of the training of clergy and clergymen, in connection with which he sends worthy candidates for admission to theological educational institutions;

w) monitors the state of church preaching;

w) petition the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to reward worthy clergy and laity with appropriate awards and, in the established manner, awards them himself;

y) gives a blessing for the establishment of new parishes;

e) gives a blessing for the construction and repair of churches, houses of worship and chapels and takes care that their appearance and interior decoration correspond to the Orthodox church tradition;

y) consecrates temples;

i) takes care of the state of church singing, icon painting and applied church arts;

z1) solicits before state authorities and administrations for the return of churches and other buildings and structures intended for church purposes to the diocese;

z2) resolve issues related to the ownership, use and disposal of the property of the diocese;

z) manages the financial resources of the diocese, concludes contracts on its behalf, issues powers of attorney, opens accounts in banking institutions, has the right to first sign financial and other documents;

z4) exercises control over the religious, administrative and financial activities of parishes, monasteries, educational institutions and other divisions of the diocese;

z5) issues its own executive and administrative acts on all issues of the life and activities of the diocese;

z6) confirms the belonging to the headed diocese of all parishes, monasteries and other canonical divisions of the diocese located on its territory;

z7) cares directly or through appropriate diocesan institutions:

• about deeds of mercy and charity;

· On providing parishes with everything necessary for the performance of divine services;

· About meeting other church needs.

19 ... Observing the canonical order and church discipline, the diocesan bishop:

a) has the right of paternal influence and punishment in relation to clergy, including punishment by reprimand, removal from office and temporary ban in the clergy;

b) admonishes the laity, if necessary, in accordance with the canons, imposes bans on them or temporarily excommunicates them from church communion. Submits grave offenses to the ecclesiastical court;

c) approves the penalties of the ecclesiastical court and has the right to mitigate them;

d) in accordance with the canons, resolves issues that arise during the conclusion of church marriages and divorces.

20 ... The Dowager Diocese is temporarily governed by a bishop appointed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. During the period of the widowhood of the episcopal see, no work was undertaken concerning the reorganization of diocesan life, and no changes were made in the work begun during the administration of the previous bishop.

21 ... In the event of the widowhood of the diocese, the transfer of the ruling bishop or his retirement, the diocesan council creates a commission that proceeds to revise the diocesan property and draws up an appropriate act for transferring the diocese to the newly appointed bishop.

22 ... Church property, which the bishop possessed by virtue of his position and office and which is in the official bishop's residence, after his death is entered into the inventory book of the diocese and transferred to it. The personal property of the deceased bishop is inherited in accordance with the laws in force.

23 ... The diocese cannot be a widow for more than forty days, except in special cases when there are sufficient grounds for extending widowhood.

24 ... Diocesan bishops are granted the right to excommunicate from their dioceses for valid reasons for a period of not more than 14 days, without first requesting permission from the highest ecclesiastical authority; for a longer period, the bishops ask for such permission in the prescribed manner.

25 ... The content of diocesan bishops is determined by the Holy Synod. Upon leaving the service, they are assigned a bishop's pension, the amount of which is determined by the Holy Synod.

26 ... Upon reaching the age of 75, the bishop submits a petition to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia to retire. The question of the time for granting such a request is decided by the Holy Synod.

2. Diocesan vicariates

27 ... The diocesan vicariate is the canonical division of the diocese, uniting one or more deaneries of the diocese.

28 ... The diocesan bishop has supreme authority over the administration of the vicariate.

29 ... The vicar bishop is appointed to office (dismissed from office) upon the proposal of the diocesan bishop by the decision of the Holy Synod.

The vicar bishop assists the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese. The powers of the vicar bishop administering the vicariate are determined by the Statute on diocesan vicariates approved by the Holy Synod, as well as by written or oral instructions of the diocesan bishop.

Vicar bishops who do not manage vicariates may also be appointed to assist the diocesan bishop. The powers of such are determined by written and oral instructions of the diocesan bishop.

30 ... The vicar bishop is ex officio a member of the diocesan council and the diocesan assembly of the diocese with the right to vote.

31 ... To carry out his activities, the vicar bishop:

a) convene a meeting of clergymen of the vicariate;

b) creates a council and a clerical service for the vicariate.

The assembly of clergymen of the vicariate and the council of the vicariate are deliberative bodies under the vicar bishop.

32 ... The assembly of clergymen of the vicariate consists of clergymen from all canonical divisions of the vicariate.

The powers, as well as the procedure for the activity of the assembly of clergymen of the vicariate are determined by the Regulations on the diocesan vicariates.

The decisions of the assembly of clergymen of the vicariate come into force after their approval by the diocesan bishop.

33 ... The vicariate council includes:

a) vicar bishop;

b) Deanery districts that are part of the vicariate;

c) the confessor of the vicariate;

d) one clergyman, elected for a term of three years by the assembly of clergymen of the vicariate from each deanery that is part of the vicariate;

e) no more than three clergymen at the discretion of the diocesan bishop.

The vicariate council is chaired by the vicar bishop. The secretary of the council of the vicariate is a member of the council of the vicariate who has been appointed to this position by order of the vicar bishop.

The composition of the vicariate council is approved by the diocesan bishop.

The powers, as well as the procedure for the activity of the vicariate council, are determined by the Regulations on the diocesan vicariates.

The decisions of the vicariate council come into force after their approval by the diocesan bishop.

34 ... Under the vicariate, a secretariat may function, the employees of which are appointed by the order of the vicar bishop.

35 ... The head of the vicariate's secretariat is subordinate to and appointed by the vicar bishop.

3. Diocesan Assembly

36 ... The diocesan assembly, headed by the diocesan bishop, is the governing body of the diocese and consists of clergy, monastics and laity living in the territory of the diocese and representing the canonical divisions that make up the diocese.

37 ... The diocesan assembly is convened by the diocesan bishop at his discretion, but at least once a year, as well as by decision of the diocesan council or at the request of at least 1/3 of the members of the previous diocesan assembly.

The procedure for convening members of the diocesan assembly is established by the diocesan council.

The vicar bishops are ex officio members of the diocesan assembly with the right to vote.

38 ... Diocesan Assembly:

a) elect delegates to the Local Council;

b) elects members of the diocesan council and the diocesan court;

c) creates the necessary diocesan institutions and takes care of their financial support;

d) develops general diocesan rules and regulations in accordance with conciliar decrees and decisions of the Holy Synod;

e) oversees the course of diocesan life;

f) hears reports on the state of the diocese, on the work of diocesan institutions, on the life of monasteries and other canonical divisions that make up the diocese, and makes decisions on them;

g) considers annual reports on the activities of the diocesan council.

39 ... The chairman of the diocesan assembly is the diocesan bishop. The Diocesan Assembly elects a deputy chairman and a secretary. The vice chairman may preside over the meeting at the direction of the chairman. The secretary is responsible for preparing the journals for the meetings of the diocesan assembly.

40 ... The quorum of the meeting is a majority (more than half) of the members. Decisions are taken by majority vote. In case of equality of votes, the vote of the chairman is decisive.

41 ... The Diocesan Assembly works in accordance with the adopted regulations.

42 ... The journals of the diocesan assembly meetings are signed by the chairman, his deputy, the secretary and two members of the assembly elected for this.

43 ... The Diocesan Council, headed by the Diocesan Bishop, is the governing body of the Diocese.

The diocesan council is formed with the blessing of the diocesan bishop and consists of at least four persons in the priesthood, half of whom are appointed by the bishop, and the rest are elected by the diocesan assembly for three years.

The vicar bishops are ex officio members of the Diocesan Council with the right to vote.

44 ... In the event of violations by members of the diocesan council of the doctrinal, canonical or moral norms of the Orthodox Church, as well as in the event of their being under the ecclesiastical court or investigation, they are removed from their office by the decision of the diocesan bishop.

45 ... The chairman of the diocesan council is the diocesan bishop.

46 ... The Diocesan Council meets regularly, but at least once every six months.

47 ... The quorum of the Diocesan Council is a majority of its members.

48 ... The Diocesan Council works on the basis of the agenda presented by the chairman.

49 ... The chairman presides over the meeting in accordance with the adopted rules.

50 ... The bishop appoints the secretary of the diocesan council from among its members. The secretary is responsible for preparing the materials necessary for the council and compiling the meeting journals.

51 ... If during the examination of the case disagreements arise, then the case is decided by a majority of votes; in case of equality of votes, the vote of the chairman is decisive.

52 ... The journals of the diocesan council meetings are signed by all of its members.

53 ... The Diocesan Council, in accordance with the instructions of the Diocesan Bishop:

a) implements the decisions of the diocesan assembly related to the jurisdiction of the council, reports to it on the work done;

b) establish the procedure for the election of members of the diocesan assembly;

c) prepares meetings of the diocesan assembly, including proposals for the agenda;

d) submits its annual reports to the diocesan assembly;

e) considers issues related to the opening of parishes, deaneries, monasteries, objects of production and economic activity, governing bodies and other divisions of the diocese;

f) takes care of raising funds to meet the material needs of the diocese, and, if necessary, parishes;

g) defines the boundaries of deaneries and parishes;

h) examines the reports of the deans and makes appropriate decisions on them;

i) oversees the activities of parish councils;

j) considers plans for the construction, major repairs and restoration of churches;

k) keep records and take measures for the preservation of the property of the canonical divisions of the diocese, including the buildings of churches, houses of prayer, chapels, monasteries, religious educational institutions;

l) within the limits of its competence, resolve issues related to the ownership, use and disposal of the property of parishes, monasteries and other canonical divisions of the diocese; immovable property of canonical divisions included in the diocese, namely buildings, structures, land plots, may be alienated only on the basis of a decision of the diocesan council;

m) carry out audits of diocesan institutions;

n) takes care of providing for supernumerary clergy and church workers;

o) discusses preparations for anniversaries, general diocesan celebrations and other important events;

p) decides any other matters that the diocesan bishop directs to the diocesan council for their solution or for study in order to present him with the necessary recommendations;

c) considers issues of liturgical practice and church discipline.

5. Diocesan administrations and other diocesan institutions

54 ... The diocesan administration is the executive body of the diocese under the direct supervision of the diocesan bishop and called, together with other diocesan institutions, to assist the bishop in the exercise of his executive power.

55 ... The bishop exercises the highest commanding supervision over the work of the diocesan administration and all diocesan institutions and appoints their employees in accordance with the staffing table.

56 ... The activities of diocesan administrations, as well as other diocesan institutions, are regulated by the provisions (statutes) approved by the Holy Synod, and by bishop's orders.

57 ... Each diocesan administration must have an office, accounting, archives and the required number of other departments that provide missionary, publishing, social and charitable, educational, restoration and construction, economic and other types of diocesan activities.

58 ... The secretary of the diocesan administration is responsible for the administration of the diocese and, within the limits determined by the diocesan bishop, assists him in the administration of the diocese and in the leadership of the diocesan administration.

6. Deanery

59 ... The diocese is divided into deanery districts, headed by deaneries appointed by the diocesan bishop.

60 ... The boundaries of deaneries and their names are determined by the diocesan council.

61 ... The duties of the dean include:

a) concern for the purity of the Orthodox faith and a worthy church-moral education of believers;

b) supervision over the correct and regular administration of divine services, over the grandeur and decency in churches, over the state of church preaching;

c) taking care of the execution of the decisions and instructions of the diocesan authority;

d) care for the timely receipt of parish contributions to the diocese;

e) giving advice to clergymen both regarding the performance of their duties and regarding their personal life;

f) elimination of misunderstandings between the clergy, as well as between the clergy and laity without formal legal proceedings and with a report on the most significant incidents to the ruling bishop;

g) preliminary investigation of ecclesiastical offenses at the direction of the diocesan bishop;

h) a petition to the bishop for rewarding clergy and laity worthy of encouragement;

i) making proposals to the ruling bishop on filling the vacant posts of priests, deacons, psalmists and regents;

j) taking care of meeting the religious needs of believers in parishes temporarily without clergy;

k) supervising the construction and repair of church buildings within the deanery;

l) taking care of the availability at the churches of everything necessary for the correct performance of divine services and normal parish office work;

m) fulfillment of other duties assigned to him by the bishop.

62 ... In carrying out his duties, the Dean at least once a year visits all the parishes of his district, checking the liturgical life, the internal and external condition of churches and other church buildings, as well as the correctness of parish affairs and church archives, getting acquainted with the religious and moral state believers.

63 ... At the direction of the diocesan bishop, at the request of the rector, parish council or parish meeting, the dean may hold meetings of the parish meeting.

64 ... With the blessing of the diocesan bishop, the dean may summon priests to fraternal meetings to consider common church needs for the deanery.

65 ... Every year the dean presents to the diocesan bishop a report on the state of the deanery and on his work in the prescribed form.

66 ... Under the dean, there may be an office, the employees of which are appointed by the dean with the knowledge of the diocesan bishop.

67 ... The activity of the dean is financed from the funds of the parish headed by him, and, if necessary, from the general diocesan funds.

Chapter XVI. Parishes

1 ... A parish is a community of Orthodox Christians, consisting of clergy and laity, united at the church.

The parish is a canonical subdivision of the Russian Orthodox Church, it is under the commanding supervision of its diocesan bishop and under the leadership of the priest-rector appointed by him.

2 ... The parish is formed by the free consent of believers of citizens of the Orthodox faith who have reached the age of majority, with the blessing of the diocesan bishop. To obtain the status of a legal entity, a parish is registered by state authorities in the manner determined by the legislation of the country where the parish is located. The boundaries of the parishes are established by the diocesan council.

3 ... The parish begins its activities after the blessing of the diocesan bishop.

4 ... A parish in its civil legal activity is obliged to observe the canonical rules, the internal regulations of the Russian Orthodox Church and the legislation of the country in which it is located.

5 ... The parish obligatorily allocates funds through the diocese for general church needs in the amount established by the Holy Synod, and for diocesan needs in the manner and amount established by the diocesan authorities.

6 ... The parish in its religious, administrative, financial and economic activities is subordinate and accountable to the diocesan bishop. The parish implements the decisions of the diocesan assembly and the diocesan council and the orders of the diocesan bishop.

7 ... In the event of the separation of any part or the withdrawal of all members of the parish assembly from the parish, they cannot claim any rights to the parish property and funds.

8 ... If the parish meeting decides to withdraw from the hierarchical structure and jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church, the parish is deprived of confirmation of belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church, which entails the termination of the activity of the parish as a religious organization of the Russian Orthodox Church and deprives it of the right to property that belonged to the parish on the rights property, use or on any other legal basis, as well as the right to use the name and symbols of the Russian Orthodox Church in the name.

9 ... Parish churches, houses of worship and chapels are built with the blessing of the diocesan authorities and in compliance with the procedure established by law.

10 ... The parish is managed by the diocesan bishop, rector, parish assembly, parish council, chairman of the parish council.

The Diocesan Bishop belongs to the supreme administration of the parish.

The body of control over the activities of the parish is the audit commission.

11 ... Brotherhoods and sisterhoods are created by parishioners only with the consent of the abbot and with the blessing of the diocesan bishop. Brotherhoods and sisterhoods aim to attract parishioners to participate in the cares and works of maintaining churches in proper condition, to charity, mercy, religious and moral education and upbringing. Fraternities and sisterhoods in parishes are under the supervision of the superior. In exceptional cases, the charter of a brotherhood or sisterhood, approved by the diocesan bishop, may be submitted for state registration.

12 ... Brotherhoods and sisterhoods begin their activities after the blessing of the diocesan bishop.

13 ... In carrying out their activities, brotherhoods and sisterhoods are guided by this Statute, decisions of Local and Bishops' Councils, decisions of the Holy Synod, decrees of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, decisions of the diocesan bishop and rector of the parish, as well as the civil statutes of the Russian Orthodox Church, the diocese, the parish under which they created, and by their own charter, if fraternities and sisterhoods are registered as a legal entity.

14 ... Brotherhoods and sisterhoods allocate funds through parishes for general church needs in the amount established by the Holy Synod, for diocesan and parish needs in the manner and amount established by the diocesan authorities and parish rectors.

15 ... Brotherhoods and sisterhoods in their religious, administrative, financial and economic activities through parish rectors are subordinate and accountable to diocesan bishops. Brotherhoods and sisterhoods carry out the decisions of the diocesan authorities and parish rectors.

16 ... In the event of the separation of any part or the withdrawal of all members of the brotherhood and sisterhood from their composition, they cannot claim any rights to fraternal and sister property and funds.

17 ... If the general meeting of the brotherhood and sisterhood decides to withdraw from the hierarchical structure and jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church, the brotherhood and sisterhood are deprived of confirmation of belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church, which entails the termination of the activities of the brotherhood and sisterhood as a religious organization of the Russian Orthodox Church and deprives them of the right to property that belonged to the brotherhood or sisterhood on the basis of ownership, use or other legal basis, as well as the right to use the name and symbols of the Russian Orthodox Church in the name.

1. Abbot

18 ... At the head of each parish is the rector of the church, who is appointed by the diocesan bishop for the spiritual guidance of the believers and management of the parish and parish. In his activities, the rector is accountable to the diocesan bishop.

19 ... The rector is called to bear responsibility for the proper performance of services in accordance with the Church Statutes, for the church sermon, the religious and moral state and the appropriate upbringing of the members of the parish. He must conscientiously fulfill all liturgical, pastoral and administrative duties determined by his office, in accordance with the provisions of the canons and this Charter.

20 ... The duties of the rector, in particular, include:

a) leadership of the clergy in the performance of his liturgical and pastoral duties;

b) monitoring the condition of the church, its decoration and the availability of everything necessary for the performance of services in accordance with the requirements of the liturgical charter and the instructions of the hierarchy;

c) caring for correct and reverent reading and singing in the temple;

d) taking care of the exact fulfillment of the instructions of the diocesan bishop;

e) organization of catechism, charitable, church-social, educational and educational activities of the parish;

f) calling and presiding over meetings of the parish meeting;

g) if there are grounds for that, the suspension of the execution of decisions of the parish meeting and the parish council on issues of a doctrinal, canonical, liturgical or administrative-economic nature, with the subsequent transfer of this issue to the diocesan bishop for consideration;

h) overseeing the implementation of decisions of the parish meeting and the work of the parish council;

i) representing the interests of the parish in state and local government bodies;

j) submission directly to the diocesan bishop or through the dean of the annual reports on the state of the parish, on the activities carried out in the parish and on his work;

k) the implementation of official church correspondence;

l) keeping a liturgical journal and keeping the parish archive;

m) issuance of baptism and marriage certificates.

21 ... The rector may receive leave and leave his parish for a while only with the permission of the diocesan authority, received in accordance with the established procedure.

2. Divine

22 ... The parish clerk is determined as follows: priest, deacon and psalmist. The number of members of the clergy may be increased or reduced by the diocesan authority at the request of the parish and in accordance with its needs, in any case, the clerk must consist of at least two persons - a priest and a psalmist.

Note: the position of the psalmist can be replaced by a person in the priesthood.

23 ... The election and appointment of clergy and clergymen belongs to the diocesan bishop.

24 ... To be ordained a deacon or priest, you must:

a) be a member of the Russian Orthodox Church;

b) be of legal age;

c) have the necessary moral qualities;

d) have sufficient theological training;

e) have a certificate of confessor about the absence of canonical obstacles to ordination;

f) not be under an ecclesiastical or civil court;

g) take the church oath.

25 ... Members of the clergy can be relocated and dismissed from their positions by the diocesan bishop by personal request, by an ecclesiastical court, or by ecclesiastical expediency.

26 ... The duties of the members of the clergy are determined by the canons and orders of the diocesan bishop or abbot.

27 ... The parish clerk is responsible for the spiritual and moral state of the parish and for the fulfillment of his liturgical and pastoral duties.

28 ... Members of the clergy cannot leave the parish without the permission of the church authority, which is received in accordance with the established procedure.

29 ... A clergyman may take part in the celebration of a divine service in another parish with the consent of the diocesan bishop of the diocese in which this parish is located, or with the consent of the dean or rector, if he has a certificate confirming canonical legal capacity.

30 ... In accordance with Canon 13 of the IV Ecumenical Council, clergymen can be admitted to another diocese only if they have a letter of leave from the diocesan bishop.

3. Parishioners

31 ... Parishioners are persons of the Orthodox faith who maintain a lively connection with their parish.

32 ... Each parishioner has a duty to participate in worship, regularly confess and receive communion, observe the canons and church precepts, perform works of faith, strive for religious and moral improvement and contribute to the welfare of the parish.

33 ... The parishioners are responsible for taking care of the material maintenance of the clergy and the church.

4. Parish meeting

34 ... The governing body of the parish is the parish meeting, headed by the rector of the parish, who is, by virtue of his position, the chairman of the parish meeting.

The parish assembly includes the clergy of the parish, as well as parishioners who regularly participate in the liturgical life of the parish, who are worthy of their commitment to Orthodoxy, moral character and life experience to participate in solving parish affairs, who have reached the age of 18 and are not banned, as well as not held accountable by an ecclesiastical or secular court.

35 ... Admission to membership in the parish meeting and withdrawal from it is carried out on the basis of a petition (statement) by the decision of the parish meeting. If a member of the parish meeting is recognized as not corresponding to his position, he may be removed from the parish meeting by the decision of the latter.

If the members of the parish meeting deviate from the canons, this Statute and other regulations of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as if they violate the statute of the parish, the composition of the parish meeting may be changed in whole or in part by the decision of the diocesan bishop.

36 ... The parish meeting is convened by the rector or, by order of the diocesan bishop, by the dean, or other plenipotentiary representative of the diocesan bishop at least once a year.

Parish meetings dedicated to the election and re-election of members of the parish council are held with the participation of a dean or other representative of the diocesan bishop.

37 ... The meeting is held in accordance with the agenda presented by the chairman.

38 ... The chairman presides over the meetings in accordance with the adopted rules.

39 ... The parish meeting is competent to make decisions with the participation of at least half of the members. The decisions of the parish meeting are adopted by a simple majority vote, in case of equality of votes, the vote of the chairman is decisive.

40 ... The parish meeting elects from among its members a secretary responsible for drawing up the minutes of the meeting.

41 ... The minutes of the parish meeting are signed by the chairman, the secretary and five elected members of the parish meeting. The minutes of the parish meeting are approved by the diocesan bishop, after which the decisions taken come into force.

42 ... The decisions of the parish meeting can be announced to the parishioners in the church.

43 ... The duties of the parish meeting include:

a) preserving the inner unity of the parish and promoting its spiritual and moral growth;

b) the adoption of the civil Charter of the parish, amendments and additions to it, which are approved by the diocesan bishop and come into force from the moment of state registration;

c) admitting and expelling members of the parish meeting;

d) election of the parish council and the audit commission;

e) planning the financial and economic activities of the parish;

f) ensuring the safety of church property and taking care of its augmentation;

g) adoption of plans for expenditures, including the amount of deductions for charity and religious and educational purposes, and their submission for approval by the diocesan bishop;

h) approval of plans and consideration of design estimates for the construction and repair of church buildings;

i) consideration and submission for approval by the diocesan bishop of financial and other reports of the parish council and reports of the audit commission;

j) approval of the staffing table and determination of the content of members of the clergy and parish council;

k) determination of the procedure for disposing of the parish property on the terms determined by this Charter, the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church (civil), the charter of the diocese, the charter of the parish, as well as current legislation;

l) concern for the availability of everything necessary for the canonical administration of the divine service;

m) concern for the state of church singing;

n) initiation of parish petitions before the diocesan bishop and civil authorities;

o) consideration of complaints against members of the parish council, the audit commission and their presentation to the diocesan administration.

44 ... The parish council is the executive body of the parish and is accountable to the parish assembly.

45 ... The parish council consists of a chairman, an assistant abbot and a treasurer.

46 ... Parish council:

a) implements the decisions of the parish meeting;

b) submit for consideration and approval by the parish meeting plans of economic activities, annual plans of expenditures and financial statements;

c) is responsible for the preservation and maintenance in proper order of temple buildings, other structures, structures, premises and adjacent territories belonging to the parish of land and all property owned or used by the parish, and keeps records of it;

d) acquires property necessary for the arrival, keeps inventory books;

e) solves current economic issues;

f) provides the parish with the necessary property;

g) provides housing to members of the parish clergy in those cases when they need it;

h) takes care of the protection and beauty of the church, the maintenance of deanery and order during divine services and processions;

i) takes care of providing the church with everything necessary for the splendid performance of divine services.

47 ... Members of the parish council may be removed from the parish council by decision of the parish meeting or by order of the diocesan bishop, if there are due grounds.

48 ... The chairman of the parish council, without a power of attorney, exercises the following powers on behalf of the parish:

· Issues orders (orders) on the employment (dismissal) of workers of the parish; concludes labor and civil law contracts with parish workers, as well as agreements on material liability (the chairman of the parish council, who is not a rector, exercises these powers in agreement with the rector);

· Disposes of the property and monetary resources of the parish, including concluding corresponding agreements on behalf of the parish and concluding other transactions in the manner prescribed by this Charter;

· Represents the parish in court;

· Has the right to issue powers of attorney to exercise the powers provided for by this Article of the Charter on behalf of the parish, as well as to maintain contacts with state bodies, local governments, citizens and organizations in connection with the exercise of these powers.

49 ... The abbot is the chairman of the parish council.

The Diocesan Bishop has the right, by his sole decision:

a) dismiss, at his own discretion, the rector from the post of chairman of the parish council;

b) appoint to the position of the chairman of the parish council (for a period of three years with the right to appoint for a new term without limiting the number of such appointments) an assistant rector (church elder) or another person, including a parish cleric, with his introduction into the parish meeting and parish advice.

The Diocesan Bishop has the right to remove a member of the parish council from work if he violates the canons, provisions of this Charter or the civil charter of the parish.

50 ... All documents officially issued by the parish are signed by the rector and (or) the chairman of the parish council within their competence.

51 ... Banking and other financial documents are signed by the chairman of the parish council and the treasurer. In civil relations, the treasurer acts as the chief accountant. The treasurer keeps track of and stores funds, donations and other receipts, prepares an annual financial report. The parish keeps accounting records.

52 ... In the event of re-election by the parish meeting or the change by the diocesan bishop of the composition of the parish council, as well as in the event of re-election, dismissal by the diocesan bishop or death of the chairman of the parish council, the parish meeting shall form a commission of three members, which draws up an act on the availability of property and funds. The parish council accepts material values ​​on the basis of this act.

53 ... The duties of the assistant to the chairman of the parish council are determined by the parish meeting.

54 ... The duties of the treasurer include accounting and storage of monetary amounts and other donations, maintaining income and expense books, performing financial transactions within the budget on the instructions of the chairman of the parish council and drawing up an annual financial report.

6. Revision Commission

55 ... The parish assembly elects from among its members a parish revision committee, consisting of a chairman and two members, for a period of three years. The audit committee is accountable to the parish meeting. The Audit Commission checks the financial and economic activities of the parish, the preservation and accounting of property, its use for its intended purpose, conducts an annual inventory, audits the enrollment of donations and receipts and the expenditure of funds. The audit committee submits the results of the checks and the corresponding proposals for consideration by the parish meeting.

In the event of abuse, the Audit Commission immediately informs the diocesan authorities. The Auditing Commission has the right to send the inspection report directly to the diocesan bishop.

56 ... The right to audit the financial and economic activities of the parish and parish institutions also belongs to the diocesan bishop.

57 ... Members of the parish council and the audit committee cannot be closely related.

58 ... The duties of the audit commission include:

a) a regular audit, including checking the availability of funds, the legality and correctness of the expenses incurred and the keeping of expense books by the receipt;

b) conducting, as necessary, checking the financial and economic activities of the parish, the safety and accounting of the property belonging to the parish;

c) annual inventory of the parish property;

d) control over the withdrawal of mugs and donations.

59 ... The Audit Commission draws up acts on the inspections carried out and submits them to a regular or extraordinary meeting of the parish meeting. In the event of abuse, lack of property or funds, as well as errors in the conduct and execution of financial transactions, the parish meeting makes an appropriate decision. It has the right to bring a claim in court, having previously obtained the consent of the diocesan bishop.

Chapter XVII. Monasteries

1 ... A monastery is a church institution in which a male or female community lives and operates, consisting of Orthodox Christians who voluntarily chose the monastic way of life for spiritual and moral improvement and joint confession of the Orthodox faith.

2 ... The decision on the opening (abolition) of monasteries belongs to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod on the proposal of the diocesan bishop.

In accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of the respective country, the monastery can be registered as a legal entity.

3 ... Stavropegic monasteries are proclaimed by the decision of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod in compliance with the canonical procedure.

4 ... Stavropegic monasteries are under the commanding supervision and canonical administration of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia or those synodal institutions, which the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia will bless such supervision and administration.

5 ... Diocesan monasteries are under the supervision and canonical administration of diocesan bishops.

6 ... In the event that one, several or all of the monastery's inhabitants leave its structure, they have no right and cannot make any claims to the property and funds of the monastery.

7 ... Enrollment in the monastery and dismissal from the monastery is carried out by the orders of the diocesan bishop on the proposal of the hegumen (abbess) or governor.

8 ... Monasteries are governed and live in accordance with the provisions of this Charter, the Civil Charter, the Regulations on Monasteries and Monastics, and their own charter, which must be approved by the diocesan bishop.

9 ... Monasteries can have courtyards. A courtyard is a community of Orthodox Christians run by the monastery and outside of it. The activities of the courtyard are regulated by the charter of the monastery to which this courtyard belongs, and by its own civil charter. The courtyard is under the jurisdiction of the same bishop as the monastery. If the courtyard is located on the territory of another diocese, then both the name of the diocesan bishop and the name of the bishop, on the territory of the diocese of which the courtyard is located, are ascended during the service in the church of the courtyard.

10 ... If the monastery makes a decision to withdraw from the hierarchical structure and jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church, the monastery is deprived of confirmation of belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church, which entails the termination of the monastery's activities as a religious organization of the Russian Orthodox Church and deprives it of the right to property that belonged to the monastery as property , use or on other legal grounds, as well as the right to use the name and symbols of the Russian Orthodox Church in the name.

Chapter XVIII. Spiritual educational institutions

1 ... Theological educational institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church are higher and secondary specialized educational institutions that train clergy and clergymen, theologians and church workers.

2 ... Theological educational institutions are under the commanding supervision of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, carried out through the Educational Committee.

3 ... Canonically, theological educational institutions fall under the jurisdiction of the diocesan bishop in whose diocese they are located.

4 ... Theological educational institutions are established by the decision of the Holy Synod on the proposal of the diocesan bishop, supported by the Study Committee.

5 ... The spiritual educational institution is managed and carries out its activities on the basis of this Statute, civil and internal statutes approved by the Holy Synod and approved by the diocesan bishop.

6 ... If a theological educational institution makes a decision to withdraw from the hierarchical structure and jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church, the spiritual educational institution is deprived of confirmation of belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church, which entails the termination of the activity of the theological educational institution as a religious organization of the Russian Orthodox Church and deprives it of the right to property. which belonged to a theological educational institution on the basis of property rights, use rights or on other legal grounds, as well as the right to use the name and symbols of the Russian Orthodox Church in the name.

Chapter XIX. Church institutions in the far abroad

1 ... Church institutions in the far abroad (hereinafter referred to as "foreign institutions") are dioceses, deaneries, parishes, stauropegic and diocesan monasteries, as well as missions, representations and metochions of the Russian Orthodox Church located outside the CIS and Baltic countries.

2 ... The supreme ecclesiastical authority exercises its jurisdiction over these institutions in the manner determined by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod.

3 ... Foreign institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church in their management and activities are guided by this Charter and their own Charters, which must be approved by the Holy Synod while respecting the laws existing in each country.

4 ... Foreign institutions are created and abolished by the decision of the Holy Synod. Representative offices and farmsteads located abroad are stavropegia.

5 ... Foreign institutions carry out their ministry in accordance with the goals and objectives of the external activities of the Russian Orthodox Church.

6 ... The heads and responsible employees of foreign institutions are appointed by the Holy Synod.

Chapter XX. Property and funds

1 ... The funds of the Russian Orthodox Church and its canonical subdivisions are formed from:

a) donations during the performance of divine services, Sacraments, requirements and rituals;

b) voluntary donations from individuals and legal entities, state, public and other enterprises, institutions, organizations and foundations;

c) donations when distributing items of Orthodox religious significance and Orthodox religious literature (books, magazines, newspapers, audio and video recordings, etc.), as well as from the sale of such items;

d) income received from the activities of institutions and enterprises of the Russian Orthodox Church, directed to the statutory goals of the Russian Orthodox Church;

e) deductions from synodal institutions, dioceses, diocesan institutions, missions, households, representations, as well as parishes, monasteries, brotherhoods, sisterhoods, their institutions, organizations, etc .;

f) deductions from the profits of enterprises established by the canonical divisions of the Russian Orthodox Church independently or jointly with other legal entities or individuals;

g) other income not prohibited by law, including income from securities and deposits placed on deposit accounts.

2 ... The general church plan of expenditures is formed at the expense of funds allocated by dioceses, stauropegic monasteries, parishes of the city of Moscow, as well as funds received by earmarking from the sources mentioned in Article 1 of this chapter.

3 ... The administrator of the general church financial resources is the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod.

4 ... The Russian Orthodox Church may own buildings, land plots, industrial, social, charitable, cultural and educational and other purposes, religious items, money and other property necessary to ensure the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church, including those classified as historical monuments and culture, or to receive it for use on other legal grounds from state, municipal, public and other organizations and citizens in accordance with the legislation of the country where this property is located.

1 ... The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is self-governing with broad autonomy rights.

2 ... The Ukrainian Orthodox Church was granted independence and independence in its governance in accordance with the Definition of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church on October 25-27, 1990 "On the Ukrainian Orthodox Church."

3 ... In its life and work, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is guided by the Definition of the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church of 1990 "On the Ukrainian Orthodox Church", the Diploma of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia 1990 and the Charter of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which is approved by its Primate and approved by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

4 ... The organs of ecclesiastical authority and administration of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are its Council and Synod, headed by its Primate, who bears the title of "His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine." The control center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is located in the city of Kiev.

5 ... The Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is elected by the episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and is blessed by His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

6 ... The name of the Primate is commemorated in all churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church after the name of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

7 ... Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are elected by its Synod.

8 ... The decision on the formation or abolition of the dioceses that are part of the Ukrainian Orthodox, and on the determination of their territorial boundaries are taken by its Synod with subsequent approval by the Council of Bishops.

9 ... Bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church are members of the Local and Bishops' Councils and participate in their work in accordance with Sections II and III of this Statute and in meetings of the Holy Synod.

10 ... The decisions of the Local and Bishops' Councils are binding on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

11 ... The decisions of the Holy Synod are valid in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, taking into account the peculiarities determined by the independent nature of its governance.

12 ... The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has its own highest ecclesiastical court. Moreover, the court of the Council of Bishops is the ecclesiastical court of the highest instance for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, such canonical prohibitions as a life-long ban in the priesthood, ejection from dignity, excommunication from the Church, are imposed by the diocesan bishop with the subsequent approval by the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine and the Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

13 ... The Ukrainian Orthodox receives the holy myrrh from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. "

2 ... Delete Article 18 from Chapter XI of the Charter.

3 ... State point e) of Article 5 of Chapter III ("Council of Bishops") of the Charter in the following wording: "e) canonization of saints and general church glorification of locally venerated saints";

4 ... Introduce into Article 25 of Chapter V of the Charter (“The Holy Synod”) the following clause: “f) the canonization of locally revered saints and the submission of the issue of their general church glorification for consideration by the Bishops' Council”;

5 ... State paragraph c) of Article 15 of Chapter IV of the Charter in the following wording: "c) The Locum Tenens shall perform the duties of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia as they are set forth in Article 7 of Chapter IV of this Charter, except for items c, h and e."

6 ... Supplement Article 4 of Chapter IX ("Church Court"), retelling it as follows:

“The court in the Russian Orthodox Church is carried out by the ecclesiastical courts of the following instances:

a) diocesan courts having jurisdiction within their dioceses;

b) the highest ecclesiastical courts of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Autonomous and Self-governing Churches, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Exarchates and Metropolitan districts (if there are higher ecclesiastical courts in the indicated parts of the Russian Orthodox Church) - with jurisdiction within the respective parts of the Russian Orthodox Church ;

c) the highest general church court, with jurisdiction within the Russian Orthodox Church, with the exception of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church;

d) by the court of the Council of Bishops, with jurisdiction within the entire Russian Orthodox Church. "

7 ... In all articles of the Charter, which mentions the "General Church Court", change its name to "Supreme Church General Court".

8 ... State Article 9 of Chapter XVII ("Monasteries") of the Charter in the following wording:

“Monasteries can have courtyards. A courtyard is a community of Orthodox Christians run by the monastery and outside of it. The activities of the courtyard are regulated by the charter of the monastery to which this courtyard belongs, and by its own civil charter. The metochion in the church-hierarchical (canonical) order is subordinate to the diocesan bishop of the diocese on whose territory it is located, and in the economic one - to the same bishop as the monastery. If the courtyard is located on the territory of another diocese, then both the name of the diocesan bishop and the name of the bishop, on the territory of the diocese of which the courtyard is located, are ascended during the service in the church of the courtyard. "

II. Introduce the following changes to the Regulations on the Church Court of the Russian Orthodox Church:

1 ... In all articles of the Regulations on the Church Court, where the “Church-wide court” is mentioned, change its name to “High Church-wide court”.

2 ... Supplement the third paragraph of clause 2 of Article 1 of the Regulations on the Church Court, stating it as follows:

"2. The judicial system of the Russian Orthodox Church includes the following ecclesiastical courts:

· Diocesan courts with jurisdiction within the respective dioceses;

· The highest ecclesiastical courts of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Autonomous and Self-governing Churches, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Exarchates and Metropolitan districts (if there are higher ecclesiastical courts in the indicated parts of the Russian Orthodox Church) - with jurisdiction within the respective parts of the Russian Orthodox Church;

· The Supreme Church-wide Court - with jurisdiction within the Russian Orthodox Church, with the exception of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church;

· The Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church - with jurisdiction within the entire Russian Orthodox Church. "

3 ... Supplement paragraph 2 of Article 31 of the Regulations on the Church Court, stating it as follows:

"2. The Council of Bishops considers, as an ecclesiastical court of second instance, cases against bishops:

· Considered by the General Church Court of First Instance and sent by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia or the Holy Synod for consideration by the Council of Bishops for a final decision;

· On the appeal of bishops against the decisions of the Supreme Church-wide Court of First Instance and the highest ecclesiastical courts of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Autonomous and Self-governing Churches that have entered into legal force.

The Holy Synod or the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia has the right to send for consideration to the Council of Bishops other cases that fall within the jurisdiction of lower church courts, if these cases require an authoritative judicial-conciliar decision. "

4 ... State paragraph 2 of Article 28 of the Regulations on the Church Court in the following wording:

“The Supreme Church-wide Court considers as an appellate instance, in the manner prescribed by Chapter 6 of these Regulations, cases:

· Reviewed by diocesan courts and sent by diocesan bishops to the Supreme Church-wide court for final resolution;

· On appeals of the parties against decisions of diocesan courts;

Considered by the highest ecclesiastical courts of the Autonomous and Self-Governing Churches, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Exarchates and Metropolitan Districts (if there are higher ecclesiastical courts in the indicated parts of the Russian Orthodox Church) and transferred by the primates of the respective parts of the Russian Orthodox Church to the Supreme Church-wide Court;

· On appeals of the parties against the decisions of the higher ecclesiastical courts of Autonomous and Self-governing Churches, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Exarchates and Metropolitan districts (if there are higher ecclesiastical courts in the indicated parts of the Russian Orthodox Church).

This article does not apply to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. "

5 ... To exclude clause 6 of article 50 of the Regulations on the Church Court.

6 ... Supplement Chapter 6 of the Regulations on the Church Court with a new article of the following content with a shift in the numbering of subsequent articles:

“Consideration of cases in individual higher ecclesiastical courts.

1 ... Appeals against decisions of the diocesan courts of the dioceses of Autonomous and Self-Governing Churches, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Exarchates and Metropolitan Districts are directed to the higher ecclesiastical courts of the indicated parts of the Russian Orthodox Church (if there are higher ecclesiastical courts in those).

2 ... The Supreme Church-wide Court hears appeals against decisions taken both in the first consideration and on appeal by the highest ecclesiastical courts of the Autonomous and Self-Governing Churches, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the Exarchates and Metropolitan Districts.

3 ... This article does not apply to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. "

III. State clause 15 of article 2 of the Regulations on the composition of the Local Council in the following wording:

“Two delegates - one cleric and one layman:

From the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States,

From the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada,

From the Patriarchal parishes in Italy,

From the Patriarchal parishes in Finland,

From the Patriarchal parishes in Turkmenistan,

From the Patriarchal Parishes in the Republic of Armenia,

· From the Patriarchal parishes in the Kingdom of Thailand and the parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Southeast and East Asia.

Elected delegates are approved by the Patriarch (during the period of local tenure - by the Holy Synod).

Church institutions in the far abroad that are not part of the dioceses or parish associations listed in this article are represented at the Local Council by the head of the Office for Institutions Abroad ”.

STATEMENT OF AWARDS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

INTRODUCTION

The awards of the Russian Orthodox Church are a form of encouraging the clergy and laity to pay attention to pastoral service, theological, scientific and administrative activities, the revival of spiritual life, the restoration of churches, missionary, charitable, social, educational and other works for the glory of God for the good of the Holy Church.

This Regulation on awards contains information about liturgical hierarchical awards for the clergy, general church awards: orders, medals - and other awards existing in the Russian Orthodox Church.

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (hereinafter - His Holiness Patriarch) heads the award system of the Russian Orthodox Church.

1.2. The decision to award Patriarchal liturgical hierarchical and church-wide awards is made exclusively by His Holiness the Patriarch.

1.3. The decision of His Holiness the Patriarch about the award is not revised.

1.4. The regulation on awards of the Russian Orthodox Church is adopted by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. Changes and additions to it are adopted by the Holy Patriarch and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church (hereinafter referred to as the Holy Synod), with subsequent approval by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church.

1.5. The jurisdiction of the Patriarchal Awards Commission includes the liturgical hierarchical and church-wide awards of the Russian Orthodox Church.

1.6. The Patriarchal Award Commission is a structural subdivision of the Moscow Patriarchate.

1.7. The head of the Award Commission is the chairman, who is appointed (dismissed from office) by the decree of His Holiness the Patriarch.

1.8. The structure of the Rewards Commission includes: the Heraldic Council under the Patriarchal Rewards Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Heraldic Council), the apparatus of the Rewards Commission, the treasurer of the Rewards Commission. The members of the Award Commission and the members of the Heraldic Council are appointed by the order of His Holiness the Patriarch.

1.9. The awards commission checks the received documents for compliance with the criteria for the requested award, if necessary, requests missing information, sends documents for consideration to the Most Holy Patriarch, implements the decisions of the Most Holy Patriarch on awards: prepares certificates for orders and medals, Patriarchal certificates, Decrees on rewarding, as well as other documents.

1.10. The chairman reports directly to His Holiness the Patriarch.

1.11. The Deputy Chairman, members of the Award Commission, the Heraldic Council, staff members and the treasurer of the Award Commission are subordinate to the Chairman.

1.12. The Heraldic Council develops sketches for new general church awards, examines the awards established by the Autonomous and self-governing Churches, exarchates and metropolitan districts of the Russian Orthodox Church, awards of synodal departments and institutions, diocesan awards, as well as anniversary medals and signs of the Russian Orthodox Church.

1.13. The staff of the Award Commission carries out technical office work within the framework of its competence.

1.14. The Chairman chairs the meetings of the Rewards Commission and manages the staff of the Rewards Commission.

1.15. In the absence of the chairman or inability by him to fulfill the duties assigned to him, the leadership of the Rewards Commission is assigned to the Deputy Chairman of the Rewards Commission (hereinafter - the Deputy Chairman).

1.16. The treasurer keeps records of orders and other decoration signs and things, monitors the quality of production of award signs in accordance with the approved samples, as well as their storage and accounting. The Treasurer of the Rewards Commission is the financially responsible person.

2. LORD-HIERARCHICAL AWARDS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

2.1. General provisions on liturgical hierarchical awards

2.1.1. Liturgical hierarchical awards serve to encourage bishops and clergy, testifying to their worthy service.

2.1.2. The liturgical hierarchical awards of the clergy are:

1) elevation to dignity;

2) parts of liturgical vestments bearing spiritual and symbolic meaning;

3) liturgical distinctions (the service of the Divine Liturgy with the opened royal gates according to "Izhe Cherubim ..." or according to "Our Father ...").

2.1.3. Liturgical hierarchical awards are awarded in a strict sequence.

2.1.4. The initiative to award bishops and the right to present them with awards belongs to His Holiness the Patriarch.

2.1.5. The rewarding of the clergy is carried out by the ruling diocesan bishop or, with his blessing, by the vicar bishop.

2.1.6. Liturgical hierarchical awards determine the hierarchical place of the clergyman in the conciliar worship. In the presence of the same awards, priority belongs to the senior in ordination.

2.2. Liturgical hierarchical awards of bishops

2.2.1. The elevation to the rank of archbishop and the elevation to the rank of metropolitan are determined by the place of service.

The metropolitan is the archbishop of the main city of the metropolis and the metropolitan of the region. An archbishop is a diocesan bishop of a city and region that is not part of the metropolitanate.

The rank of archbishop and the rank of metropolitan may be conferred on bishops carrying especially responsible general church obediences.

2.2.2. When elevated to the rank of archbishop, the bishop is awarded the right to wear a cross on a klobuk, and when elevated to the rank of metropolitan - the right to wear a white klobuk with a cross and a blue mantle.

2.2.3. The right to wear the second panagia belongs to His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine.

2.2.4. The right to wear the second panagia belongs to the heads of the Autonomous Church of Japan, the Self-governing Orthodox Church in Moldova, the Latvian Orthodox Church, the Estonian Orthodox Church, the Belarusian Exarchate, the Metropolitan District in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Central Asian Metropolitan District, as well as the Chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. ...

2.2.5. The right to wear a second panagia within the limits of his canonical destiny may be awarded to a metropolitan for special merit.

2.2.6. The right to present the cross during divine services belongs to His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine (within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church).

2.2.7. The right to present the cross during divine services can be awarded as the highest hierarchical reward, within the confines of their estates, to the metropolitans, who have the right to wear two panagias.

2.3. Liturgical and hierarchical priestly awards

2.3.1. Consecutive liturgical hierarchical awards for elders are:

1) the right to wear a legguard;

2) the right to wear a kamilavka;

3) the right to wear a gold-colored pectoral cross;

4) the right to wear a club;

5) the right to wear a pectoral cross with decorations;

6) elevation to the rank of archpriest;

7) the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the opened royal gates according to "Izhe Cherubim ...";

8) the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the opened royal gates according to "Our Father ...";

9) the right to wear a miter (for archpriests), elevation to the rank of archimandrite (for hieromonks and abbots);

10) the right to wear a second cross with decorations

2.3.2. Special liturgical hierarchical awards, the initiative of which belongs exclusively to His Holiness the Patriarch, are:

1) the right to wear the Patriarchal pectoral cross;

2) elevation to the rank of protopresbyter.

2.3.3. The right to wear a legguard. Rewarding is carried out by decree of the diocesan bishop no earlier than three years after the ordination of the priest (five years for hieromonks and priestly monks).

Wearing rules: worn under the phelonne on the left shoulder and worn on the right side during divine services.

2.3.4. The right to wear a kamilavka. Rewarding is carried out by decree of the diocesan bishop no earlier than three years after the awarding of the right to wear the leggings (hieromonks and priestly women are not awarded).

Wearing rules: The camilac must be purple. It is put on during divine services (removed in cases stipulated by the liturgical charter), as well as during official and solemn events. Rewarding the right to wear a kamilavka provides for the right to wear a purple skuphia (the right to wear a black skuphia, both in church and in everyday life, belongs to each presbyter from the day of his ordination).

2.3.5. The right to wear a gold-colored pectoral cross. Rewarding is carried out by decree of the diocesan bishop no earlier than four years after being awarded the right to wear a kamilavka (for hieromonks and priestly monks - no earlier than five years after being awarded the right to wear a legguard).

Wearing rules: worn during divine services over the vestments, in everyday situations - over the cassock.

Note: an eight-pointed silver-colored pectoral cross is placed on the priest at ordination.

2.3.6. The right to wear the club. The award is made by the decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than five years after the awarding with the right to wear a gold-colored pectoral cross. The duration of the ministry in the rank of presbyter must be at least fifteen years.

Wearing rules: worn under the phelonne on the left shoulder and worn on the right side exclusively during divine services (while the leggings are worn on the left).

2.3.7. The right to wear an ornamented pectoral cross. The awarding is carried out by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than five years after the awarding of the right to wear a club. The duration of the ministry in the rank of presbyter must be at least twenty years.

Wearing rules: worn during divine services over the vestments, in everyday situations - over the cassock.

2.3.8. Elevation to the rank of archpriest. The awarding is carried out by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than five years after the awarding the right to wear a pectoral cross with decorations. The duration of service in the rank of presbyter must be at least twenty-five years (hieromonks and priesthood are not awarded).

2.3.9. The right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the opened royal gates according to "Izhe Cherubim ...". The award is made by the decree of His Holiness the Patriarch not earlier than five years after elevation to the rank of archpriest (not earlier than ten years after the awarding of the right to wear a pectoral cross with decorations for hieromonks and priestly monks).

2.3.10. The right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the opened royal gates according to "Our Father ..." Rewarding is carried out by the decree of His Holiness the Patriarch not earlier than five years after the awarding of the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the opened royal gates according to "Izhe Cherubim ..."

2.3.11. The right to wear a miter (for archpriests), elevation to the rank of archimandrite (for monastic clergy). The award is made by the decree of His Holiness the Patriarch for special merit, but not earlier than five years after the awarding of the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the opened royal gates according to "Our Father ...". The duration of service in the rank of presbyter must be at least forty years. The term may be reduced in connection with the appointment of the rector of the cathedral or the governor of the monastery, the holy archimandrite of which is the diocesan bishop.

Wearing rules: during divine services (removed in cases stipulated by the liturgical charter).

Note: When elevated to the rank of archimandrite, a mitra is simultaneously placed.

2.3.12. The right to wear a second ornamented pectoral cross. The award is made by the decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than ten years after the awarding of the right to wear the miter. The duration of the ministry in the rank of presbyter must be at least fifty years.

2.3.13. The right to wear the Patriarchal Pectoral Cross. Rewarding is made in exceptional cases in consideration of hard work for the good of the Holy Church on the initiative and decision of His Holiness the Patriarch, regardless of the length of service and previous awards.

Rules for wearing: a cleric who has been awarded the right to wear the Patriarchal Pectoral Cross may wear it along with an ornamented cross. Clerics who have been awarded the right to wear the Patriarchal Pectoral Cross and have been ordained bishop may wear this cross during divine services instead of a decorated cross.

2.3.14. Elevation to the rank of protopresbyter. Rewarding is carried out in exceptional cases, taking into account the hard work for the good of the Holy Church, at the initiative and decision of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, regardless of the length of service and previous awards.

2.3.15. By the Decree of His Holiness the Patriarch, the celebration of the Divine Liturgy with the opened royal gates according to "Our Father ..." can be blessed in the church.

2.3.16. In the cathedrals of all dioceses, the celebration of the Divine Liturgy with the opened royal gates according to "Our Father ..." is blessed.

2.4. Liturgical hierarchical awards of deacons

2.4.1. Successive liturgical hierarchical awards for deacons are:

1) the right to wear a double orarion;

2) the right to wear a kamilavka;

3) elevation to the rank of protodeacon;

4) elevation to the rank of archdeacon.

2.4.2. The right to wear double orarion. Rewarding is carried out by decree of the diocesan bishop not earlier than five years after the consecration of the person to be awarded.

Wearing rules: on the left shoulder, over the surplice; the front end of the orarion descends from the left shoulder under the right arm, then the back is girded with the orarion, and then it goes down over the left shoulder.

2.4.3. The right to wear a kamilavka. The award is made by the decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than ten years after the awarding of the right to wear a double orarion (hierodeacons are not awarded). The duration of service in the priesthood must be at least fifteen years. An exception may be the cases of a special petition by the diocesan bishop before His Holiness the Patriarch for the awarding of senior deacons of cathedrals and especially significant monasteries.

Wearing rules: The camilac must be purple. It is put on during divine services (removed in cases stipulated by the liturgical charter), as well as during official and solemn events. A protodeacon who has been awarded the right to wear a kamilavka may wear a purple scuffia (the right to wear a black scuffia belongs to each cleric from the day of his ordination).

Note: The right to wear a black kamilavka during divine services belongs to each hierodeacon from the day of his ordination.

2.4.4. Elevation to the rank of protodeacon. The awarding is carried out by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch no earlier than five years after the awarding of the right to wear a kamilavka. The duration of service in the priesthood must be at least twenty years (monastic clergy are not awarded). An exception may be the cases of a special petition by the diocesan bishop before His Holiness the Patriarch for the awarding of senior deacons of cathedrals and especially significant monasteries.

2.4.5. Elevation to the rank of archdeacon. The awarding is carried out on the initiative of His Holiness the Patriarch, regardless of the length of service and previous awards. This award can be awarded to senior protodeacons of Patriarchal cathedrals, senior hierodeacons in Lavra, as well as in especially significant male stauropegic monasteries.

2.5. Awards of abbess and nuns of convents

2.5.1. Nuns appointed by the Holy Synod as abbesses of monasteries are elevated to the rank of abbess with the presentation of a staff and the laying on of a gold-colored pectoral cross. If they leave their post, they retain the dignity of abbess and the right to wear a gold-colored pectoral cross, but are deprived of the right to use the staff.

2.5.2. In view of the long-term work for the good of the Holy Church in the position of abbess, by decree of the Most Holy Patriarch, the abbess of the monastery can be awarded the right to wear a pectoral cross with decorations, which is preserved for life.

2.5.3. For special merits in labors for the good of the Holy Church, by the decree of the Holy Patriarch, a nun of a monastery, as well as an abbess of a bishop's courtyard, may be awarded the right to wear a gold-colored pectoral cross, which is preserved for life.

2.5.4. In exceptional cases, on the initiative and by decree of His Holiness the Patriarch, regardless of the length of service and previous awards, the abbess may be awarded the right to wear the Patriarchal pectoral cross. At the same time, the Patriarchal Pectoral Cross is worn as a second cross.

2.6. About the abbot title

The rite of ordination to abbot, provided for in a bishop's official, is performed over persons appointed by the Holy Synod as abbots or abbots of monasteries, even in cases when such are bishops or archimandrites. At the same time, the staff is handed over to the abbot. The hegumen takes the first place among the elders in the performance of divine services in the monastery entrusted to him during the period of his reign. In case of leaving the post, the title of abbot is retained in memory of the labor incurred.

2.7. Rules for using the wand and staff

2.7.1. The rod serves as a sign of authority over subordinates and their legitimate control. A kind of wand used outside of worship is the staff. Only His Holiness the Patriarch uses a rod without a sulk during divine services and enters the altar with it through the royal gates. His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has the same right.

2.7.2. When His Holiness the Patriarch visits dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church, the diocesan bishop of this diocese has the right to use a rod and staff in the presence of His Holiness the Patriarch. In all other cases, the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church do not use the baton and staff in the presence of His Holiness the Patriarch.

2.7.3. During conciliar episcopal service outside the Patriarchal diocese or stavropegic monastery, the rod is used by the leading hierarch and the diocesan bishop. Outside of divine services, each bishop can use a staff.

2.7.4. Vicar bishops do not use the staff when concelebrating with the diocesan bishop and the staff in his presence.

2.7.5. The abbots (governors) and abbess of monasteries have the right to use a wooden hegumen's staff without a cross and ornaments according to their position, within the confines of their monastery. In case of leaving the post, the abbot (governor) or abbess has no right to use the abbot's staff.

2.7.6. During the episcopal divine service, co-serving rectors (governors) do not have the right to use the hegumen's staff. In the presence of the Patriarch praying in the church, but not performing the divine service, as well as the diocesan bishop of the monastery, the abbot (abbot) has no right to use the hegumen's staff when performing the divine service. In the presence of another bishop praying in the church, but not performing the divine service, the abbot (abbot) may use the hegumen's staff when performing the divine service. In the presence of a bishop outside of divine services, abbots (abbots) and abbess of monasteries are not allowed to use the staff.

2.8. Procedure and terms for filing applications on awarding the clergy with liturgical hierarchical awards

2.8.1. The main condition for rewarding a cleric with a liturgical hierarchical award is the diligent fulfillment of the church obediences assigned by the hierarchy. When applying for liturgical hierarchical awards, the age, duration of service to the Holy Church, as well as the educational qualification of the candidate for the award may be taken into account. In this regard, the inter-award periods established by this Regulation on awards are a necessary, but not a determining condition for awarding.

2.8.2. The decision to award the elders: the right to wear a legguard, kamilavka and a gold-colored pectoral cross, and for deacons - the right to wear a double orarion - is within the competence of the diocesan bishops.

2.8.3. Information about those awarded during the year with the right to wear a legguard, a kamilavka and a gold-colored pectoral cross is indicated in the annual reports of diocesan bishops sent to His Holiness the Patriarch. In the event of a reduction in the inter-award terms established by this Regulation on awards, the reasons for the reduction shall be indicated in the report.

2.8.4. The decision to award subsequent liturgical hierarchical awards is made by His Holiness the Patriarch. To this end, the diocesan bishops submit to the office of the Moscow Patriarchate petitions addressed to His Holiness the Patriarch for rewarding worthy candidates.

2.8.5. In the event that a clergyman accepts the monastic tonsure, the diocesan bishop may turn to His Holiness the Patriarch with a report on the confirmation (restoration) of the awards that the cleric had. Until the corresponding Patriarchal resolution is received, the cleric does not impose upon himself the previous awards, but wears an eight-pointed priestess pectoral cross of silver color and the awards that the diocesan bishop conferred on him in his competence.

2.8.6. Liturgical hierarchical awards are awarded for the holiday of Holy Easter.

2.8.7. Documents on awarding with liturgical hierarchical awards are submitted in the fall, before December 1 of the year preceding the awarding.

2.8.8. Applications for rewarding are drawn up in the form specified in Appendix No. 1 and sent to the office of the Moscow Patriarchate.

The following reasons may be exceptions:

· The great consecration of the temple, in the construction of which this cleric has labored;

· 50th and 75th birthday anniversaries;

· 25th and 50th anniversary of service in the priestly dignity (only for clerics in the deacon dignity);

· 25th and 50th anniversary of the priestly ordination.

2.8.10. The right to apply for awards to employees of the Synodal departments and structural subdivisions of the Moscow Patriarchate belongs to the heads of these institutions and subdivisions. Notions about the awarding of clergy should be agreed with the diocesan bishops or governors of the vicariates of the city of Moscow.

2.9. On extraordinary liturgical hierarchical awards for the clergy

2.9.1. A nomination for an extraordinary liturgical hierarchical award is submitted to the name of His Holiness the Patriarch with a justification of the reasons for the reduction of the established international awards.

2.9.2. The appointment of a cleric to a senior position does not in itself entitle him to apply for an extraordinary liturgical hierarchical award. Such a petition can be filed if the clergyman has positively recommended himself in the new obedience for at least three years.

2.9.3. In the event that a decision is made to ordain a protodeacon and archdeacon to the priesthood, the diocesan bishop may send a petition addressed to His Holiness the Patriarch for the imposition of a club on the cleric during consecration.

2.9.4. The head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, elevated to the rank of archimandrite, while serving in the churches of the Spiritual Mission, has the right to wear a miter with a cross and use a staff with a sulk.

2.10. On rewarding graduates of theological educational institutions and persons with a religious education and a scientific degree

2.10.1. Graduates of theological educational institutions in the rank of presbyter can be awarded by the diocesan bishop the following awards:

1) masters of theology, as well as graduates of the academy who have defended their final qualifying work - the right to wear a legguard and kamilavka;

2) candidates for theology - the right to wear a legguard, a kamilavka and a gold-colored pectoral cross.

2.10.2. Deacons who have defended their dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Theology may be awarded by the diocesan bishop the right to wear a double orarion.

2.10.3. This rule also applies to persons ordained to the priesthood after graduating from theological educational institutions and defending their final qualifying works, as well as after defending their candidate dissertation. This rule also applies to clergy who have received a spiritual education and have defended their final qualifying work or Ph.D. thesis after accepting the holy dignity.

2.10.4. Persons in the priesthood who have defended their dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Theology in the educational system of the Russian Orthodox Church are honored by the Holy Patriarch with the right to wear the doctoral cross. The same applies to persons who have a doctorate in theology and take the priesthood. The doctor's cross can be worn as a pectoral cross of the priesthood, but cannot be used as a second cross.

3. GENERAL CHURCH AWARDS OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

3.1. General Provisions

3.1.1. Church-wide awards include orders, medals of the Russian Orthodox Church, medals of orders of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarchal insignia, Patriarchal letters, Patriarchal commemorative medals and insignia.

3.1.2. Church-wide awards can be awarded to bishops, clergy, laity, as well as secular persons and representatives of traditional religions and confessions.

3.1.3. For the awarding of a general church award, grounds and a reason are needed.

3.1.4. Church-wide awards are awarded on the following grounds for specific deeds for the glory of God for the good of the Holy Church: the construction of churches, orphanages, schools and other church and social buildings; heroic socially significant deeds (for example: saving a person); material sacrifices for a good cause; long (at least 20 years) productive work in the field of pastoral, educational, missionary service, other administrative, diocesan, parish church obediences; conscientious deeds in the field of social, spiritual and moral education; contribution to the preservation of traditional values ​​in society.

3.1.5. The reasons for awarding a general church award may be:

· Anniversary (multiples of 25 years) significant events in church life;

· Great consecration of the temple, completion of construction and restoration work;

· Anniversaries (50th and 75th birthday), as well as round dates: 60th, 70th, 80th birthday and further dates in multiples of five years;

· Round dates of consecration in multiples of 10 years (from 20 years and above) - for clerics;

In April and May 2015, in accordance with the Decrees of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the following changes took place in the composition of the clergy and rectors of the churches of the Trinity Deanery.

ORDER No. U-02/57 OF 15 APRIL 2015

Priest Evgeny Vladimirovich GUSHCHIN, cleric of the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in the Alekseevsky city of Moscow

Priest Yevgeny GUSHCHIN, cleric of the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky city of Moscow, is freed from unrelenting obedience and is appointed rector and chairman of the Parish Council of the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos in Raev in Moscow and the attached chapel-chapel of sshmch. Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev in Sviblov in Moscow.

ORDER No. U-02/64 OF MAY 4, 2015

Priest Alexy Stanislavovich YAKOVLEV, rector of the church of St. equalap. led. book Olga - the Patriarchal Compound in Ostankino in Moscow, supernumerary cleric of the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky in Moscow

Priest Alexy YAKOVLEV, rector of the church of St. equalap. led. book Olga - Patriarchal Compound in Ostankino in Moscow, supernumerary cleric of the Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky in Moscow, is freed from incurred obediences and is appointed rector and chairman of the Parish Council of the Church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Raev in Moscow and the temples and chapels assigned to him.

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

ORDER No. U-02/65 OF MAY 4, 2015

Priest Pavel Konstantinovich SIMONOV, cleric of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" in Maryina Roshcha in Moscow

Priest Pavel SIMONOV, cleric of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Unexpected Joy” in Maryina Roshcha in Moscow, is freed from unrelenting obedience and is appointed rector and chairman of the Parish Council of the Church of Blgv. book Demetrius Donskoy in Raev in Moscow and the attached chapel-chapel of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, in Raev, Moscow.

PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA

ORDER No. U-02/72 OF MAY 6, 2015

Priest Philip Alexandrovich PONOMAREV, cleric of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity at the Pyatnitskoye cemetery in Moscow

Priest Philip PONOMAREV, cleric of the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity at the Pyatnitskoye cemetery in Moscow, is appointed acting rector of the church of St. equalap. led. book Olga - the Patriarchal courtyard in Ostankino in Moscow, with the task of overseeing the construction of the church and parish buildings, the canonical arrangement of the temple, the registration of property and other documentation, in accordance with the status of the Patriarchal courtyard.

In our time, when the church-legal consciousness is in a difficult state, there is no precisely formulated attitude to the ancient church decrees; reference to them may be unconvincing. At the same time, in the Russian Church of the modern period there is a whole mass of useful documents adopted over the past decades. These documents express the official church position on many issues, in the solution of which, one can and should be guided by these latest decrees. Execution and adherence to these decisions is obligatory for all members of the ROC, from layperson to patriarch. Unfortunately, many clergy and laity are unfamiliar with their content, knowledge of which could have prevented many unwanted problems. Therefore, we decided to start publishing the most interesting and relevant collections of the latest decrees of the Russian Church. We express the hope that acquaintance with them will be of great benefit to our believers.

1. "In the process of dialogue(with gentiles and heterodox)our Church does not accept attempts to "mix faiths", joint prayer actions that artificially unite confessional or religious traditions. However, for Orthodox Christians it has always been permissible to worship common Christian shrines that are not in Orthodox churches. In the practice of the Orthodox Church, the respectful presence of non-Orthodox and non-believers in an Orthodox church during divine services is not prohibited either - thus, it was the opportunity for the ambassadors of the Grand Duke Vladimir to visit the Church of St. Sophia that opened the way for Russia to the adoption of Orthodoxy. "("On questions of the internal life and external activities of the Russian Orthodox Church." The Bishops' Council of the ROC 2008)... “The Orthodox Church excludes any possibility of liturgical communion with non-Orthodox. In particular, it seems unacceptable for Orthodox Christians to participate in liturgical activities associated with the so-called ecumenical or interfaith services. "(“On the attitude of the Orthodox Church towards heterodox confessions and interfaith organizations.” The document was approved at a meeting of the Holy Synod on April 20, 2005).

2.“The Church maintains that the state has no right to interfere in family life, except in cases where there is a proven danger to the life, health and moral state of the child and when this danger cannot be eliminated through assistance to parents and through methods of persuasion. At the same time, the actions of state bodies should be based on clear and unambiguous legal criteria. It is the parents who must determine the methods and forms of raising children within the boundaries outlined by the need to ensure the life, health and moral state of the child. This is a God-ordained right and duty of parents .. The existing practice of removing a child from a family under the pretext of “insufficient level of material well-being” is completely unacceptable. Parents' lack of sufficient material resources should be the basis for providing financial support to the family, primarily from state or municipal budgets. The lack of funds from the parents cannot be considered as a condition for the application by the guardianship and guardianship authorities of measures aimed at the actual destruction of a low-income family, in particular, by removing children from their parents "(Council of Bishops 2013 "The position of the Russian Orthodox Church on the reform of family law and problems of juvenile justice").

3. The Holy Synod decreed (determination of December 25-26, 2012, journal 130) “To remind the archpastors and pastors of the need to explain the meaning of the Sacrament of Blessing to the flock taking part in it, especially when during the days of Great Lent it is performed in monasteries and parishes with a large crowd of worshipers, and to draw the attention of the latter to the fact that in the absence of diseases and injuries, participation in this Sacrament more than once a year indicates a misunderstanding". The Synod also approved the "Follow-up of Holy Helea, which is done quickly," for those cases when the Sacrament of the Sanctification must be performed on sick people who are undergoing hospital treatment.

4. The practice of “surrogate motherhood” is condemned by the Church as unnatural and “ is a humiliation of the human dignity of a woman, whose body in this case is regarded as a kind of incubator. " A child born in this way is not to blame for anything. But since his baptism takes place according to the faith of his parents and godparents, who undertake to educate him in Orthodoxy, then “If the parents do not bring explicit repentance for their deed, and the recipients in fact express their agreement with the sinful act that has been committed, then there can be no talk of a Christian upbringing. The refusal to baptize infants in such a case will correspond to the Orthodox tradition, which presupposes the consent of the baptized person, and in the case of the baptism of an infant, his parents and recipients with the teachings of the Church. Such a refusal will also have a pastoral meaning, since thereby society will receive a clear signal from the Church that the practice of “surrogate motherhood” is unacceptable from the Christian point of view. about baptism is postponed until the child's conscious personal choice "... The question of the baptism of such a child can be resolved through the diocesan bishop. “The performance by a priest of the Sacrament of Baptism in such a case without the blessing of the bishop serves as the basis for the application of canonical restraints to this priest. In mortal danger, the baptism of infants is blessed, regardless of the circumstances of their birth "("On the baptism of infants born with the help of a" surrogate mother ". The document was approved by the Council of Bishops in 2016).

5. The Church does not believe that cremation can somehow harm the soul of a deceased person and his posthumous fate, but recognizes burial in the ground as the norm, as more consistent with biblical symbolism and reverent attitude towards the body - the temple of the Holy Spirit ( 1 Cor. 6:19). “In the event that such burial is not provided for by local secular legislation or is associated with the need to transport the deceased over long distances or it is impossible for other objective reasons, the Church, considering cremation an undesirable phenomenon and not approving of it, may condescend to the fact of cremation of the body of the deceased ... After cremation, the ashes must be buried .. The Church does not deprive the prayerful remembrance of Christians who, for various reasons, were not honored with burial, in accordance with the church tradition. "(“On the Christian burial of the dead.” The document was approved by the Council of Bishops in 2016).