Home page News
Holy Synod session minutes of September 14, 2019

Holy Synod session minutes of September 14, 2019

On September 14, 2019, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church adopted the minutes published below after discussing it through remote connections.

Minutes No. 122

CONSIDERED: the appeal of Archbishop John (Renneteau), head of the Archdiocese of Western European Parishes of Russian Tradition, to integrate him in the Moscow Patriarchate together with the clergy and parishes who wish to follow him.

Background information:

The temporary administration over the Russian churches in Western Europe united by the presence of the Holy Synod and the Supreme Church Council was assigned in March 1921 to His Eminence Archbishop Eulogius (Georgievsky).

Due to historical circumstances, in 1931 the parishes headed by Metropolitan Eulogius were temporarily accepted as an exarchate in the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Some parishioners disagreed with that decision claiming their faithfulness to the Moscow Patriarchate and founded in Paris a parish dedicated to Three Hierarchs. Later this parish was joined by others. Consequently, these parishes became the basis for a Russian Orthodox Church Diocese of Chersonese.

In a letter to the flock in February 1931, Metropolitan Eulogius wrote, ‘When the generally recognized central church authority and normal condition of life for the Russian Orthodox Church are restored, we will return to the previous status… Embarking on this path, we certainly do not tear away or break away from the Mother Russian Church. We… do not end our unity with her… It is only a temporary interval in official administrative relations’.

On August 29, 1945, Metropolitan Eulogius and his two vicars – Archbishop Vladimir and Bishop Ioann – sent to His Holiness Alexis I, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the following letter: ‘We filially ask you, covering with love our disunity with the Mother Russian Orthodox Church, to take us together with our parishes under your paternal arm in canonical unity with the whole of the Russian Orthodox Church’. On the same day, the hierarchs signed, together with Metropolitan Nikolay (Yarushevich) of Krutitsy and Kolomna who was on a visit to Paris and with the priests accompanying him, an act which confirmed that Metropolitan Nikolay ‘accomplished canonical reunion of His Eminence Metropolitan Eulogius and his vicars with the Mother Russian Orthodox Church according to the commonly accepted church rite’. On September 7, 1945, it was duly followed by a resolution of the Holy Synod: ‘Having thanked the Lord God, we consider Metropolitan Eulogius and his vicars – Archbishop Vladimir and Bishop Ioann with all the 75 parishes to be reunited with the Mother Church and accepted in the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Exarchate of Western European churches to be hereinafter preserved in its existing boundaries and headed by Metropolitan Eulogius as Exarch of the Moscow Patriarchate on the grounds set forth in the respective Provision for the administration of these churches’.

Soon after the demise of Metropolitan Eulogius on August 8, 1946a considerable part of his clergy and flock decided to reunite with the Patriarchate of Constantinople under the leadership of Archbishop (later Metropolitan) Vladimir (Tikhonitsky).

The parishes stayed, with a temporary interval, in the jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Constantinople until 2018 with various designations the best known of which is the Archdiocese of Western European Parishes of Russian Tradition.

On November 27, 2018, the Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople decided to dissolve the Archdiocese.

On September 14, 2019, Archbishop John (Renneteau), head of the Archdiocese, sent a letter to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia informing him about the desire of most clergy and parishes of the Archdiocese to preserve its existence as part of the Russian Orthodox Church and asked to join the Moscow Patriarchate together with the clergy and parishes who wish to follow him. He also informed His Holiness that in the nearest future there will be an assembly of representatives of these parishes who will send to His Holiness and the Holy Synod their proposals on the canonical form of their organization.

RESOLVED:

 

  1. That the Lord be thanked for the desire expressed by His Eminence Archbishop John (Renneteau) and most of the clergy and laity of the Archdiocese of the Western European Parishes of Russian Tradition to restore unity with the Russian Orthodox Church, seeing in it a dignified and rightful completion of overcoming church divisions abroad generated by the revolution and civil war.
  2. That His Eminence Archbishop John (Renneteau) be accepted in the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate with the title ‘of Dubna’ as well as all the clergy under his leadership who wish it and parishes which will express the same desire.
  3. That Archbishop John of Dubna be entrusted with governing the aforementioned parishes.
  4. That after an appeal of the assembly of parish representatives is received, an additional consideration be given to define the canonical form of their organization on the basis of historically developed special features of diocesan and parochial administration as well as liturgical and pastoral traditions established by Metropolitan Eulogius taking into account the conditions of the life of the Church’s part that he headed in Western Europe.

Patriarchal Press Service

Share:
Telephone conversation held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Malankara Church of India

01.11.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the VIII World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad

30.10.2024

Order of Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow presented to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk by Patriarch Kirill

24.10.2024

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra on the commemoration day of St. Sergius of Radonezh

09.10.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers and Akathistos hymn to St. Sergius in the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

07.10.2024

Message from the Primate of the Russian Church to His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia in connection with blasphemous act on the ruins of ancient Ulpiana

14.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates on the feast of the 300th anniversary of the transfer of relics of St.Alexander Nevsky to St. Petersburg

12.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-night Vigil at the Christ the Savior Cathedral on the eve of Transfiguration

18.08.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' met with the Ambassador of India to Russia

30.07.2024

Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III: Ukrainian government’s support for schism and persecution of the major canonical Church is a religious pogrom against the faithful Orthodox Christians of that country

24.07.2024

Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrates the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in the city of Tver.

21.07.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Liturgy at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius on the commemoration day of the saint

18.07.2024

The Primate of the Russian Church celebrates All-night Vigil at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

17.07.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers at the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius and reads akathist to the saint

17.07.2024

Patriarchal condolences on the death of Boris A. Nelyubov

14.07.2024

Delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church takes part in COP29 Summit of Religious Leaders

06.11.2024

DECR chairman concludes his visit to India

03.11.2024

Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk meets with young Indian Christians

02.11.2024

Primate of Malankara Church of India receives Order of Glory and Honour, 1st Class

02.11.2024

DECR chairman takes part in church celebrations in India

02.11.2024

Telephone conversation held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Malankara Church of India

01.11.2024

DECR Chairman has begun his visit to India

31.10.2024

Work of the Commission for Dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is declared successful

24.10.2024

Synod acknowledges importance of bilateral projects carried out in collaboration with Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

24.10.2024

Order of Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow presented to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk by Patriarch Kirill

24.10.2024

DECR Chairman heads celebrations for the fifteenth anniversary of the consecration of the Dormition Church at the Russian embassy in Beijing.

19.10.2024

Saint Petersburg Theological Academy hosts conference on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) entitled ‘The Person of Metropolitan Nikodim in the History of the Church’.

16.10.2024

DECR Chairman meets with President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference

15.10.2024

Participants of the Divine Service at the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist in Presnya congratulated the DECR Chairman on his 40th birthday.

12.10.2024

Russian diplomat given Patriarchal award.

10.10.2024

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب