Archdiocese of the Orthodox communities of Russian tradition in Western Europe

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris

Archdiocese of the Orthodox Russian communities in Western Europe is the current name of an Orthodox ecclesiastical organization with the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris as its center (legally organized as "Union Directrice Diocésaine des Associations orthodoxes russes en Europe Occidentale"; UDAOREO). As an exarchate, the archbishopric was subject to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople until the Synod of Constantinople decided on November 27, 2018 to dissolve the archbishopric. Since then, in 2019, Bishop John of Charioupolis (now Metropolitan of Dubna ) and part of the clergy and parishes have submitted to the Moscow Patriarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Further questions, including those related to state church law, are currently unresolved.

history

After the October Revolution of 1917, many Russians fled their homeland. From the communities in Western Europe that they founded, the Archdiocese of Orthodox Russian Congregations in Western Europe arose. It was subject to the Ecumenical Patriarch until October 7, 2019, as the Moscow Patriarchate was controlled by the Soviet Communists for a long time . Since October 7, 2019, it has been largely under the Moscow Patriarchate.

Bishops

1921–1946 Metropolitan Eulogios of Paris (Euloge Géorguievski)
1946–1959 Metropolitan Vladimir of Paris (Vladimir Tikhonicky)
1960–1981 Archbishop George of Syracuse (Georges Tarassov)
1981–1993 Archbishop Georg von Eudokias (Georg Wagner)
1993–2003 Archbishop Sergius of Eukarpia (Serge Konovalov)

Archbishop Gabriel von Komana (Guido de Vijlder) was exarch from 2003, and in 2013 he asked to be released from his episcopal duties due to illness († October 26, 2013). Archbishop Emmanuel , Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of France, was installed as the locum tenens on January 16, 2013 until a new archbishop of the exarchate was elected. This was elected and confirmed on November 2, 2013 in the person of Archimandrite Job Getcha. He was enthroned as Archbishop Job of Telmessos on December 5, 2014. On November 28, 2015 Archbishop Job was relieved of his duties as exarch after disputes over his leadership style by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and appointed representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate at the World Council of Churches . In April 2016, Johannes von Charioupolis officially succeeded him as exarch. When he joined the Russian Orthodox Church, he was named "Archbishop of Dubna" and received the honorary title of Metropolitan .

organization

The Exarchate currently has several deaneries in France. There are also deaneries for Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Spain, Scandinavia as well as Great Britain and Ireland .

The exarchate has most of the parishes in France . For a long time the only parish in Germany was the Orthodox Parish of the Holy Archangels in Düsseldorf , which is headed by Archpriest Peter Sonntag. Archpriest Sergius Heitz was pastor of this community for many years . For a number of years there has been a congregation in the former cemetery church in the Prague cemetery in Stuttgart , which is headed by priest Johannes Kaßberger. Since June 2007 there is a parish in Albstadt , which is led by Archpriest Michael Buk. On May 12, 2012, Archbishop Gabriel inaugurated the church in Balingen with a festive service . The new congregation celebrates its services in the infirmary chapel in Balingen.

The Archdiocese also includes the Institut de Théologie Orthodoxe Saint-Serge in Paris , a university that is the most important Orthodox educational institution in Western Europe.