The Ordinary General Assembly of the Archdiocese held in Paris on 30 April & 1 st May. For our Parish of the Holy Trinity of Saints Cosmas & Damian & we were 2 representatives: Father Christopher and myself (as a lay delegate).
This important gathering took place at the premises of the Institute of St. Sergius I discovered, at the same time in these beautiful spring days: anything that looked like a tree or a bush was in bloom ... to start, right out of the subway, by plane streets and boulevards that looked like huge purple candle!
We were more than 260 people, members and representatives of various parishes of the Exarchate, from so many different countries of Western Europe.
The hall was buzzing silence at the appointed time (14.30) for the opening Moleben (ah, the beautiful voice of Russian basses ...).
The first speech was that of Monsignor Gabriel report but also his moral "activity report" and it is difficult to imagine the amount of work, travel, tasks assumed by our Bishop. His greatest desire would be able to visit more often each parish! Monsignor Gabriel has also repeatedly expressed his need to have (soon, hopefully it) on using an auxiliary bishop. May our ardent prayers to support him in this project!
What changes in the diocese in a few months: new communities and parishes (in England, Norway, Italy, ...) served by many newly ordained priests and deacons. Our bishop has stated: one of its fundamental goals is to strengthen the priests: that each parish, each community has a priest! Difficulties were also mentioned, including the trials endured by the parishes of Biarritz and Nice; financial and human needs were recalled, call the support and assistance of people available were launched. Yes "the harvest is great," Bishop has reminded us, "But the workers (are) few" (as Christ tells us in the Gospel).
Some strong words of our Bishop, gleaned from those he has lavished:
Our bishop said the diocese is not a "sinking ship, far from it! The purpose of the Archdiocese is to build the unified local Orthodox Church, and so: missionary. With love (which means loyalty and obedience) and perseverance.
Other activity reports were presented at the meeting for approval, and among them Michel Sologub was an account of the activity of the Council and the Diocesan Administration over the past 3 years, Alexander read out Victoroff (predictor) of the financial report, Father Rene Boulet communicated approval Accounts by the Audit Commission, Father Cernokrak drew the current panorama of the Institut Saint Serge.
So there was all that "material fact" in such a meeting, but there was more: the relevance of the questions posed by participants and the quality of debate ! These trade is made in careful listening, with restraint and dignity necessary to maintain respect for the views and sensitivities of each (e). Because there are still many outstanding issues that participants most daring (or small) have discussed, such as "we have become servants to the people of the countries in which we live, and not to those we've come ... Dare we go further and exceed our Russianness, "" Go to the bottom line is to follow Christ: dare to become the Church of Christ "...
And of course there were the votes, the election of the various delegates, after each of them ran as he saw fit. Quiet, good mood, method, each "rotating" (with oral use of each voter who put his ballot into a collection of baskets) was effected as a ballet of names, which allowed to associate each of those This in the face of the person called. The meeting ended with even some 8 minutes ahead of schedule ...
However, the great "moments of grace" were the two offices: the Vigil on Friday evening (again, the powerful harmony of the male chorus) and especially the Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning. Concelebrated by Bishop Gabriel, six priests, two deacons and all the People Royal, which was expressed in (almost) as many languages as those representing the participants in this Assembly: A Liturgy (almost) European dimensions, performing a ecumenism as "intra-Orthodox." The breakfast that followed, and the meal mid-day on Saturday, were real treats: festive tables, service impeccably performed by students at the Institut Saint Serge, warm exchanges between the participant (s), peace and joy on so many faces!
I'll leave the last words of our Dear Bishop who finished two beautiful days in words that are much denser powerful invitations to all of us. For priests, he told them "We are priests every day of the week, encouraging them to deepen their priestly life; deacons:" Your obedience is an example to parishioners " ;; lay people: "You celebrate together with the clergy, I invite you to agree to share responsibility and make a commitment to parish."
In short, my lord we sought to translate into action what he had proclaimed in his opening statement as the only (important) task of the Archdiocese: "Celebrating Our God and witness to Him. "
Jacqueline Andrew, lay delegate from the parish of Holy Trinity and Saints Cosmas and Damien in Brussels (Belgium).
