Orthodox Church in conflict over deposed UK bishop

-16/06/06

The Russian Orthodox Chur


Orthodox Church in conflict over deposed UK bishop

-16/06/06

The Russian Orthodox Church has rejected a decision by the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to extend its jurisdiction over the deposed head of the Russian church’s diocese in Britain, writes Jonathan Luxmoore for Ecumenical News International.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate announced on 8 June 2006 it had accepted the deposed prelate, the former Archbishop Basil of Sergievo, as an auxiliary bishop after he was sacked in May 2006 by Moscow Patriarch Alexei II.

But in a 12 June statement, the Russian church said the move was invalid because it had not given permission for Bishop Basil to transfer his allegiance.

“The issue of a letter of release is an indispensable necessary condition for a bishop’s canonically valid move to the jurisdiction of another local Orthodox church,” the Russian statement said.

“Since such a letter was not given to Bishop Basil (and could not be given, since no request for it was made by the Holy Patriarchate of Constantinople), Bishop Basil remains a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church in retirement pending a final consideration of his case.”

The Russian church had forbidden Basil to join another patriarchate until a commission had “completed its investigation into recent events” in the British diocese.

Egyptian-born Basil was dismissed after asking Moscow to be allowed to transfer his allegiance to Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I, seen by some as the most senior Christian Orthodox leader in the world.

Basil said his request followed a campaign against him by Russians in Britain.

Meanwhile, Basil’s successor at the head of the diocese of Sourozh, as the British section of the Russian church is called, has summoned a general council in London for 17 June.

The successor, Archbishop Vladyko Innokentii, warned those failing to attend that they risked being deemed to have left the Russian church.

“I would urge anyone who wishes to participate in this meeting, but who for valid reasons is unable to attend, to send their apology for absence,” he said. “Those who fail to attend the diocesan assembly without such an apology evidently do not see the future of their church life as being within the Sourozh diocese of the Moscow Patriarchate, and this will be noted.”

Background by Martin Revis, ENI

On 14 May 2006, the Russian Orthodox Church head in Britain, Archbishop Basil had been told by the man replacing him that he had been sacked from his post after the London cleric sought to go under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul.

A decree was read to the congregation at the conclusion of a three-hour service at the Cathedral of the Dormition and All Saints in London.

In an earlier letter to Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Alexei II that triggered the action, Bishop Basil had complained of the Moscow Patriarchate supporting some among a new generation of Russians arriving in Britain working against him in the diocese.

Adherents in the Orthodox church in Britain have leapt from around 3,000 to more than 100,000 since the collapse of communism.

The order by Alexei II, was read through a translator, the Rev Michael Gogoleff, by his replacement Archbishop Vladyko Innokentii, who is in charge of parishes in France that adhere to the Moscow Patriarchate.

It said: “Bishop Basil has been released from his duties as administrator of the Diocese of Sourozh [as the British diocese is called] and sent into retirement. He remains a bishop of the Moscow Patriarchate. He is forbidden to join another Patriarchate until a commission headed by Archbishop Innokentii has completed its investigation into recent events in the Diocese of Sourozh. All will be welcome to express their views.”

Born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1938, Bishop Basil was raised and educated in the United States, before going to Britain in 1966.

He said in his reply: “I believe that the present decree is not based on a consideration of all relevant evidence and that I am therefore appealing at once to the Ecumenical Patriarch” who is based in Istanbul and considered by many to be the most senior of Orthodox patriarchs.

The dismissal followed Basil’s refusal to go to Moscow to discuss the situation in the British diocese if he retracted a letter sent to Patriarch Bartholomeos I of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. In it, Basil asked for his clergy and adherents to come under the jurisdiction of the Istanbul-based Patriarch.

[With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches]


Orthodox Church in conflict over deposed UK bishop

-16/06/06

The Russian Orthodox Church has rejected a decision by the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople to extend its jurisdiction over the deposed head of the Russian church’s diocese in Britain, writes Jonathan Luxmoore for Ecumenical News International.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate announced on 8 June 2006 it had accepted the deposed prelate, the former Archbishop Basil of Sergievo, as an auxiliary bishop after he was sacked in May 2006 by Moscow Patriarch Alexei II.

But in a 12 June statement, the Russian church said the move was invalid because it had not given permission for Bishop Basil to transfer his allegiance.

“The issue of a letter of release is an indispensable necessary condition for a bishop’s canonically valid move to the jurisdiction of another local Orthodox church,” the Russian statement said.

“Since such a letter was not given to Bishop Basil (and could not be given, since no request for it was made by the Holy Patriarchate of Constantinople), Bishop Basil remains a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church in retirement pending a final consideration of his case.”

The Russian church had forbidden Basil to join another patriarchate until a commission had “completed its investigation into recent events” in the British diocese.

Egyptian-born Basil was dismissed after asking Moscow to be allowed to transfer his allegiance to Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeos I, seen by some as the most senior Christian Orthodox leader in the world.

Basil said his request followed a campaign against him by Russians in Britain.

Meanwhile, Basil’s successor at the head of the diocese of Sourozh, as the British section of the Russian church is called, has summoned a general council in London for 17 June.

The successor, Archbishop Vladyko Innokentii, warned those failing to attend that they risked being deemed to have left the Russian church.

“I would urge anyone who wishes to participate in this meeting, but who for valid reasons is unable to attend, to send their apology for absence,” he said. “Those who fail to attend the diocesan assembly without such an apology evidently do not see the future of their church life as being within the Sourozh diocese of the Moscow Patriarchate, and this will be noted.”

Background by Martin Revis, ENI

On 14 May 2006, the Russian Orthodox Church head in Britain, Archbishop Basil had been told by the man replacing him that he had been sacked from his post after the London cleric sought to go under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Istanbul.

A decree was read to the congregation at the conclusion of a three-hour service at the Cathedral of the Dormition and All Saints in London.

In an earlier letter to Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Alexei II that triggered the action, Bishop Basil had complained of the Moscow Patriarchate supporting some among a new generation of Russians arriving in Britain working against him in the diocese.

Adherents in the Orthodox church in Britain have leapt from around 3,000 to more than 100,000 since the collapse of communism.

The order by Alexei II, was read through a translator, the Rev Michael Gogoleff, by his replacement Archbishop Vladyko Innokentii, who is in charge of parishes in France that adhere to the Moscow Patriarchate.

It said: “Bishop Basil has been released from his duties as administrator of the Diocese of Sourozh [as the British diocese is called] and sent into retirement. He remains a bishop of the Moscow Patriarchate. He is forbidden to join another Patriarchate until a commission headed by Archbishop Innokentii has completed its investigation into recent events in the Diocese of Sourozh. All will be welcome to express their views.”

Born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1938, Bishop Basil was raised and educated in the United States, before going to Britain in 1966.

He said in his reply: “I believe that the present decree is not based on a consideration of all relevant evidence and that I am therefore appealing at once to the Ecumenical Patriarch” who is based in Istanbul and considered by many to be the most senior of Orthodox patriarchs.

The dismissal followed Basil’s refusal to go to Moscow to discuss the situation in the British diocese if he retracted a letter sent to Patriarch Bartholomeos I of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. In it, Basil asked for his clergy and adherents to come under the jurisdiction of the Istanbul-based Patriarch.

[With acknowledgements to ENI. Ecumenical News International is jointly sponsored by the World Council of Churches, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Conference of European Churches]