Archdiocese of Orthodox Churches of Russian Tradition in Western Europe

Moscow Patriarchate

Act of Canonical Subordination concerning the Parishes of our Archdiocese in Western Europe

This act revokes the Patriarchal and Synodal Tomos of 1999, and arranges the illegal plundering of the parishes and of all the institutions of the Archdiocese by the Greek Metropolitans of Western Europe.

Our parishes, forming part of the GOVERNING UNION OF RUSSIAN ORTHODOX ASSOCIATIONS in Western Europe, have a duty themselves following the meeting of the General Assembly on 23 February 2019 to determine according to the statutes the canonical continuity to provide for the future of the Archdiocese.

We are publishing this “Act” in order to inform the clergy and members of the Archdiocese about the new situation created by this “Act” in the light of preparations for the General Assembly on 23 February 2019.

Ref. Nr. 1042

ACT
OF CANONICAL SUBORDINATION
OF THE ORTHODOX PARISHES OF RUSSIAN TRADITION IN WESTERN EUROPE
TO THE LOCAL DIOCESES
OF THE HOLY ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

Bartholomew, by the mercy of God Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch.

The Church of Christ, as a loving mother, providing all that is necessary and useful for those who are near and those who are far, considers also as her worthy duty, not to leave in any place anything disorderly and disorganized, adapting the governance and salvation of the Christian Flock to requirements and circumstances; and also, not to abandon the care for the most advantageous administration and pastoral ministry, through which one secures and succeeds in guiding [the people of God] to the pastures of salvation. For our Holy and Great Church of Christ knows well how to change those structures made by Her from time to time in accordance with the needs of the people of God, always basing Herself on the historical circumstances so as to secure her canonical privileges.

Thus, accordingly, She also took care for the existence in Western Europe, of Orthodox Parishes and other Church Foundations, of the so-called “Russian Tradition”, constituted, by means of ekonomia and concession by our Holy and Sacred Synod, through the Tomos of 19th June of the year of salvation 1999 (Ref. No. 616), into a special Patriarchal Exarchate under our Most Holy, Apostolic and Ecumenical Throne – thus joining together, in a God-pleasing way, the canon of precision and the canon of love to man and sympathy, so that neither mildness is left to become unrestrained, nor strictness to become bitter – (She took care), in order that the bond of love and unity of the faithful with the Mother Church might not become upset. But with the passing of the time, the Mother Church, overseeing with sympathy the particular problems of this Exarchate, and also bearing in mind the counsels of the Holy Hierarchs who have Parishes of the aforementioned Exarchate within the boundaries of their Dioceses, has made certain that there is a need for a more canonical and precise arrangement of this Exarchate’s affairs, so that two Church Authorities of the same jurisdiction might not co-exist in the same place, in violation to the Divine and Sacred Canons.

For which reason, having assembled together as a synod and in the name of the Holy Spirit, and having thoroughly examined the [various] views that came forth, in an apostolic way looking after and caring for both the stability and canonical good conduct, we have come to the decision:

1) That we revoke – as is our exclusive right – the, Patriarchal and Synodical Tomos of the year 1999 for the re-establishment of the Patriarchal Exarchate in Western Europe, granted by means ekonomia and concession.

2) That all the Parishes and other Church Foundations of the former Exarchate become canonically subordinate to the Dioceses of the Ecumenical Throne, within the geographical boundaries of which they happen to be, namely to the Holy Archdiocese of Thyateira & Great Britain and to the Holy Metropolia of France, of Germany, of Sweden & All Scandinavia, of Belgium and of Italy & Malta.

3) That the Clergy henceforth commemorate, during the Divine Liturgy and in the other Holy Services, the name of the local Bishop, having and recognizing him as [their] head and authority.

4) That our Most Holy brothers in Christ and concelebrants, Mgr Gregorios of Thyateira & Great Britain, Mgr Emmanuel of France, Mgr Augoustinos of Germany, Mgr Cleopas of Sweden & All Scandinavia, Mgr Athenagoras of Belgium, and Mgr Gennadios of Italy & Malta, take care, immediately and without delay, for the canonical and administrative incorporation of the existing Parishes of Russian Tradition within their dioceses, forwarding to them the present Patriarchal and Synodical Act, and also taking all necessary ecclesiastical and administrative actions.

In conclusion to the above, as we bless the holy Clergy, the Monastic Brotherhoods and the Christ-loving laity, we invoke [for them] a rich blessing from our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and we additionally pray for stability, growth and a good collaboration with the local Hierarchs, for the glory of God and the salvation of the world.

Thus, as a secure proof of these, we made the present Patriarchal and Synodical and Certifying Act, which was written and signed in this Sacred Codex of our Holy and Great Church of Christ, and was sent and given identical and utterly unchanged to the Holy Archdiocese of Thyateira & Great Britain and to the Holy Metropolia of France, of Germany, of Sweden & All Scandinavia, of Belgium and of Italy & Malta, so that they deposit it in their archives and for eternal remembrance.

In the year of salvation 2018, on the 27th of the month of November,
during the 12th Indiction,

† Bartholomew of Constantinople

† Panteleimon of Vryoula

† Gennadios of Italy & Malta

† Augoustinos of Germany

† Germanos of Tranoupolis

† Evangelos of New Jersey

† Kyrillos of Rhodes

† Eugenios of Rethymnon & Avlopotamos

† Ambrosios of Korea

† Constantinos of Singapore*

† Arsenios of Austria

† Chrysostomos of Symi

† Nathanael of Chicago

Certifying that this is a genuine copy,
at the Patriarchate, on the 12th of January 2019,
Chief-Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod [seal: Office of the Sacred Synod] [signature: Archimandrite Joachim]