ROC in the USA administrator visits Syosset

I expect this might be somewhat convoluted to many. If you look to the Russian Churches in the US, there are multiple overlapping jurisdictions (OCA, ROCOR, Russian Orthodox Church in the USA). Abp. Justinian does not oversee OCA activities for example, but only his jurisdiction. History plays an important roles in this intra-Russian division and one can only hope that one day a unified Russian Church will form, not to mention a unified Orthodox body in general.

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SYOSSET, NY (OCA) - His Eminence, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, recently appointed Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA, was the guest of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah at the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America here on Friday, May 7, 2010.

Archbishop Justinian was appointed Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes by a decision of His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill and the Holy Synod of the Russian Church on March 5, 2010. Archbishop Justinian succeeds His Grace, Bishop Mercurius, who was appointed to a new position in Moscow last year.

It being the feast of Saint Alexis Toth, Confessor and Defender of Orthodoxy in America, Metropolitan Jonah and Archbishop Justinian prayed together before the relics of Saint Alexis in Saint Sergius Chapel. Metropolitan Jonah warmly welcomed Archbishop Justinian as he begins his archpastoral service in America and presented him with the gift of an icon of Saint Alexis. The hierarchs then held discussions on matters of common interest affecting their respective Churches and explored avenues of possible cooperation in ministry to the faithful of America during a lengthy and productive meeting marked by a positive spirit of mutual understanding.

Archbishop Justinian was accompanied by Igumen Joseph [Krioukov] Secretary of the Patriarchal Parishes, and Priest Evgeny Goncharenko, the Archbishop's personal aide.

Also participating in the discussions were Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, OCA Chancellor, Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky, Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations, and Archpriest Eric Tosi, OCA Secretary.