On 27 June/10 July, the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia heard: the announcement by the First Hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Vitaly of his retirement. His Eminence Metropolitan Vitaly directed that his announcement be entered into the minutes, which was done.

Resolved: To acknowledge the announcement of Metropolitan Vitaly, in connection wherewith the Synod of Bishops decides:

1) To confirm, in connection with the retirement of Metropolitan, the decision of the Council of Bishops of 2000 concerning the appointment of Archbishop Laurus as Deputy to the First Hierarch, and to entrust to him the conduct of all administrative functions of the governance of the Church until the Council of Bishops of 2001.

2) To commemorate the name of Archbishop Laurus at all divine services directly after that of the First Hierarch: "...and our Lord, the Most Reverend Laurus, Archbishop of Syracuse & Trinity, Deputy of the First Hierarch."

3) Any official documents issued from the Synod without the signature of the Deputy of the First Hierarch, Archbishop Laurus, are invalid.

4) To convoke the Council of Bishops in October of 2001, with the principal objective of electing a new First Hierarch.

5) To entrust, on the basis of the resolutions of the Council of Bishops of 2000, the governing of the Diocese of Eastern America to His Grace, Bishop Gabriel, and that of Canada to His Grace, Bishop Michael.

signatures:
Metropolitan Vitaly