The Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church retroactively recognized the unauthorized transfer of priests to the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

On March 27, at a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, a decision was made regarding priests who arbitrarily came under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad.

The resolution of the Synod states: “Taking into account the upcoming restoration of canonical communion with the Russian Church Abroad and taking into account the incoming appeals from its bishops about the canonical settlement of the position of those clergy who earlier, during the period of absence of church communion, moved from various dioceses of the Moscow Patriarchate to the jurisdiction of the Russian Church Abroad Churches without duly executed letters of leave - to recommend to the diocesan Right Reverends, if such clergy are not under canonical sanction, after the restoration of church unity, to send their personal files along with letters of leave to the relevant bishops of the Russian Church Abroad upon receipt of requests from them."

It is clarified that this decree should come into force after the signing of the Act on Canonical Communion.