by Vladimir Rozanskij
In Paris, out of 186 delegates from 10
nations, 104 voted in favor and 75 against. But two thirds of the
voters were needed. A victory for the "ecumenical" role of
Constantinople.
The Russian archdiocese of Europe is composed of 65 parishes, with 11 large open churches, two monasteries and seven hermitages, a clergy of over 100 priests and 30 deacons.
The Russian archdiocese of Europe is composed of 65 parishes, with 11 large open churches, two monasteries and seven hermitages, a clergy of over 100 priests and 30 deacons.
Moscow (AsiaNews) - The general assembly of European Russian
Orthodox has rejected the proposal of Archbishop Johann (Jean Renneteau)
to move to the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. Out of 186
delegates present, from 10 European countries, 104 voted in favor (58%)
and 75 against, while two thirds of voters were required for this
decision; the proposal was therefore rejected by only 4 votes.
The assembly met yesterday 9 September in a Catholic monastery near
the Orthodox cathedral of St. Aleksandr Nevskij in Rue Darue in Paris
(see photo). This is the historical site of the exarchate of the Russian
emigrants after the revolution, subsequently transformed into an
Archdiocese of Western Europe.
The assembly was presided over by Archbishop Johann, now dismissed
from the Church-mother of Constantinople and deprived of the titular
seat of "Chariopoulis". Johann did not have the right to vote. The main
report was given by protopriest Johann Heyt, a member of the commission
for negotiations with the other Orthodox Churches. According to Heyt,
the assembly would have approved the passage under the omoforion
(patriarchal stole) of Moscow.
One of the most authoritative priests, Father Aleksij Struve,
underlined the serious canonical violations that occurred over the
recent past, in which the very liberal status of the Orthodox world was
ignored. He himself revealed that a French judge was present in the
room, to record any further violations, one of which was the obligation
to vote for the passage to Moscow, avoiding the alternatives that had
also been presented. A favorable decision could have been challenged in
court. Other members of the assembly also supported the complaint of Fr.
Struve.
Against the background of the discussions remains the clash between
Moscow and Constantinople. Since the Paris vote, Constantinople has
achieved a significant result: a strong group has emerged that despite
the "russicità" of the archdiocese, is not willing to submit to the
Muscovite opponent. This increases the isolation of the Moscow
patriarchate in the Orthodox world, highlighting instead the
"ecumenical" role of Constantinople.
A somewhat partial declaration on the event has come from Moscow. For
patriarchal spokesmen, "although the numerical majority has voted in
favor of moving to Moscow jurisdiction, the statute of the European
archdiocese prevents this decision; the results of the decision
presuppose the continuation of the consultations”. For Moscow it is
still possible to convince the recalcitrants and finally obtain the
absorption of this important fragment of Russian orthodoxy into the
original body of the Moscow patriarchate.
The Russian archdiocese of Europe is composed of 65 parishes, with 11
large open churches, two monasteries and seven hermitages, a clergy of
over 100 priests and 30 deacons.