Archdiocesan Council concludes meeting

Archdiocesan Council concludes meeting
Archdiocese of Canada (OCA), Ottawa, ON

The Archdiocesan Council of the Archdiocese of Canada, The Orthodox Church in America, met at the Archdiocesan Office in Ottawa, ON, on March 15-16, 2013. His Grace, Bishop Irénée, Administrator of the Archdiocese of Canada, presided at the sessions of the meeting.

According to Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko, Secretary of the Archdiocese of Canada, and Episcopal Secretary, the highlights of the meeting include the following:

• In his opening remarks, His Grace, Bishop Irénée spoke about our new Primate, Metropolitan Tikhon. His Grace informed the members of the Council about the deliberations of the Holy Synod and the Metropolitan Council. He spoke about his regular weekly meetings and the work accomplished by the Archdiocese since the last meeting of the Council in 2012.


• Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Canada, spoke about the first 15 days of his service as Chancellor. He expressed gratitude for the prayers, the trust and the support of His Grace, Bishop Irénée, the officers and the Archdiocesan Council.
• Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko reported to the Council about the various pastoral visitations of Bishop Irénée. He shared details concerning the Enthronement of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon in Washington, D.C. at which both Bishop Irénée and he had served. Protodeacon Nazari outlined some of the meetings and events in the life of the Archdiocese in which he had been involved. He reviewed the continuing work regarding particular concerns about Archdiocesan administration, and stressed the need for continuing progress in the area of financial development and support of the Archdiocese. He reviewed the progress made in implementing action items related to recommendations from the June meeting. He reviewed the goal of building a stable and effective Archdiocesan administration. Fr. Nazari made a recommendation to invite Archpriest Ian Pac-Urar, the new Chair of the OCA Department of Continuing Education, to be the guest speaker at the upcoming 2013 Clergy Synaxis.
• Nikita Lopoukhine, the Treasurer of the Archdiocese of Canada, presented a complete financial report and proposed a budget for 2013. German Ovodov, the Chair of the Auditing Committee, presented a comprehensive internal auditors’ report, highlighting critical budgetary issues and budget-related action items.
• The Archdiocesan Legal Counsel discussed various Church-related legal matters. He stressed the need to form an Archdiocesan legal committee.
• Each Dean and Lay Representative presented his report, including the implementation of the action points approved at the June Archdiocesan Council meeting. Much progress has been made with regard to deanery initiatives, such as leadership, and continuing education.
• The Council members made significant recommendations concerning the Archdiocesan By-Laws, the 2013 Archdiocesan Assembly scheduled to be convened in Ottawa, and other matters concerning the Archdiocesan operation and administration.
• Mary Ann Lopoukhine reported on the progress of the Archdiocesan Assembly planning committee including the dates and venues. Subdeacon Jeremy Scratch presented plans for soliciting ecclesiastical vendors for the assembly and the room in which their wares would be displayed for sale. It was felt that since the assembly will be held during the summer, it is necessary to make a special effort to communicate our program to the other Orthodox Christians in Ottawa, and also to all the Canadian Orthodox hierarchs.
• The next Archdiocesan Council meeting will be held in Ottawa in August
immediately following the 2013 Archdiocesan Assembly. The approved minutes and
reports of the March meeting will be posted on the Archdiocesan web-site as soon as
they become available.