by Vladimir Rozanskij
Constantinople has sacked Archbishop
John, head of Russians Churches in Western Europe, but the latter has
refused to go. Instead, he has placed himself under Moscow's protection.
On Saturday, an assembly of Russian Orthodox churches in Western Europe
will make a final decision. Or maybe not.
Moscow (AsiaNews) – Archbishop John of Chariopoulis (Renneteau),
head of the historic Archdiocese of Russian Orthodox Churches in Western
Europe established in Paris after the 1917 revolution, has rejected the
letter by which the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew
(Archontonis) relieved him of his duties.
The letter is dated 30 August, after Archbishop John announced to the
patriarch on 17 August in Chambesy, Switzerland, his decision to join
the canonical jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. Bartholomew
entrusted the Archdiocese to Greek Archbishop Emmanuel (Adamakis),
Metropolitan of Gaul.
In a circular sent to the priests of his archdiocese, John (pictured)
states that "following the decision of the Holy Synod to relieve me
from the service of archbishop, which I did not solicit, I inform you
that I remain in office as your archbishop, according to our statutes.
Pending clarification with the Fanar, you can safely continue to
remember my name in the liturgy."
Constantinople decided to dissolve the Archdiocese of Russian
Orthodox Churches in Western Europe on 28 November, following the
approval of Ukrainian autocephaly, in order to “rid” the Ecumenical
Patriarchate of all official links with the Russians.
The members of the archdiocese, however, decided in the assembly to
maintain their own structure, starting negotiations with other Churches,
like the Church in Moscow or that of the Russian Orthodox outside of
Russia, but also in Bucharest, Sofia and elsewhere.
Despite progress in talks with the Patriarchate of Romania, John
seems to have opted for Moscow, which is said to have already prepared
the official transfer, which will keep him in charge in Paris. However,
many clerics and lay people in the Archdiocese are said not to be in
favour of Moscow. A final decision is expected at the general assembly,
set for this Saturday in Paris.
Some priests have compared the current situation to the biblical
story of Susanna and the two lustful elders, personified by the two
patriarchs, in Moscow and Fanar, eager to take over the graceful girl,
i.e. the Russian Archdiocese in Paris, with her charm as the ‘Orthodoxy
in the West’.
The problem is compounded by the fact that according to the French
statutes of the Archdiocese, John himself is not one of its official
members. Priests and laity are members, but not the ordinary appointed
by Constantinople. Thus, the confusion in the parishes is complete.
Meanwhile, John is unwilling to let priests nominated by
Constantinople join parishes. In various countries, like Italy, some
parishes, the one in San Remo, have decided independently to change
jurisdiction, adhering to other orthodox organisations more or less
independent from the two senior patriarchates.
The confusion is made greater by the fact that Emmanuel of Gaul
presides over the Greek parishes in France but has no jurisdiction over
the other nine countries of the Russian Archdiocese, and he too has been
issuing uncertain and contradictory directives.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan John (Rochtchine), sent to Paris last
December, and Metropolitan Anthony (Sevruk), bishop of Vienna and
Budapest, switched sees on behalf of Moscow. The two exchanged episcopal
sees, creating further confusion among the clergy and parishes under
the jurisdiction of Patriarch Kirill (Gundyayev).
Moreover, if John (Renneteau) were officially accepted into the
Church of Moscow, his appointment would be short-lived since he has
already reached the canonical age of 75. Given the intricate complexity
of the case, next Saturday’s assembly will perhaps decide to postpone a
final decision, still caught between the wishes of the various
patriarchs.