Delegates from around the Original Province met in Richmond, Virgina, USA for the 18th Provincial Synod.
The Synod Pontifical High Mass was held on the evening of Wednesday 28th (The Feast of St Simon & St Jude) at the Parish Church of St Alban, the host Parish, Fr Robert Hart preached an inspiring sermon.
The Synod Banquet was held on the evening of Thursday 29th and the guest speaker this year was Father Seraphim Stephens from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Each day commenced with Matins and Mass at 7am and concluded with Evensong at 5pm. Bishop Mead celebrated Mass on the morning of Friday 30th.
A Highlight occuring during the Synod was the Synod’s agreement to ratify the permission necessary to divide the Diocese of Southern Africa in the coming year into 2 Dioceses, the second being that of the Eastern Cape. A report from Archbishop John Augustine about the Second Province of the ACC in India and Bishop Garang speaking about the Church in the Sudan. Especially interesting were the reports from the Church in Haiti and Colombia.
Each Synod session began with Prayer led by the Archbishop and upon his invitation by representives from the Church from the non-English speaking Dioceses.
Short video from the Opening Mass of the Synod
The Bishops enter the Church