Today Russia’s Holy Synod is meeting at Moscow’s St. Daniel’s Monastery to focus on the preparation of the election of a new Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch. The meeting is chaired by the locum tenens of the Patriarchal See Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad. The election of a new Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church is due next Tuesday through Thursday at the Local Council in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. Taking part will be over 700 people from 64 countries, the clergy and laity alike.
Source:The Voice of Russia
23.01.2009
This time it wiil be secret ballout. Russian Tv channel "Vesti" will broadcast the ceremony.
ОтветитьУдалитьThere were 15 Patriarchs in Russia. How many of them were elected by lot and by vote and what form of patriarchal elections do you consider the most appropriate now?
- Tsar chose the first Russian Patriarch St. Job from three candidates suggested by church hierarchs. His successors St. Hermogen, Patriarchs Philaret and Joasaphus I were also elected on tsar’s instruction.
In the 20th century, the Local Council 1917 elected the Holy Patriarch Tikhon by lot. The following Patriarchs Sergy, Alexy I and Pimen were elected by open vote. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II was elected by secret ballot out of three candidates suggested by the Archbishop Council. Years of his ministry proved it was the right choice made by God’s will.
We see that the procedure of patriarchal elections has been changing. However, the elections were always blessed by consulate Church mind.
The Holy Synod recommended that Bishops’ Council should elect three candidates for the patriarchal see. The Local Council can also recommend additional candidates. According to the church statute, a candidate for Patriarch is a bishop older than 40years with higher theological education and experience of diocese administration. It was suggested that the Archbishop and Local Councils elected candidates by secret ballot so that everyone can vote in all fairness.