Regarding the episcopal elevations carried out by Archbishop Lazar’ and Bishop Veniamin...

We have been apprised of the fact that, just a few days ago, their Eminences Archbishop Lazar’ and Bishop Veniamin performed a yet fourth hierarchical elevation.

This was done without the knowledge and consent of the Sobor of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCIE). Actions so performed are subject to ecclesiastical censure.

A careful analysis of the circumstances which led to this distressing event permits us to ascertain precisely the objectives and progress of further actions on the part of the thus newly-created, distinct episcopate.

In January of this year, their Eminences Lazar’ and Veniamin had already petitioned Metropolitan Vitaly to give them a blessing, in order that they might create an autonomous [ecclesiastical] administration in Russia. A request of this nature, of course, was subject to deliberation by the Sobor.

These hierarchs subsequently acted in accordance with their initial objective and – apparently, recognizing only Vladyka Metropolitan, alone, to possess legitimate authority in our Church – they managed to acquire his written blessing to perform their proposed episcopal elevations and to create an ecclesiastical administration in the form of some sort of parallel Synod.

Consequently, the actions of the 2nd Voronezh pastoral conference (17/18 April of this year [2002]) took place within a guidelines of thus creating a new ecclesiastical organism for Russia. And only Archbishop Varnava’s reaction to the new course embarked upon – and Bishop Vladimir’s declaration to the effect that this document, concerning the episcopal elevation and the establishment of an Autonomous Church on the basis of the Metropolitan’s signature, alone, was without authority – brought the fulfillment of the planned objective to a halt.

When Bishop Veniamin enquired of Metropolitan Vitaly concerning what the blessing that they had been given on 11 March might mean, Vladyka Metropolitan replied that the question was an extremely important one and in need of a conciliar decision.

The situation that thus came about was to have been discussed at the forthcoming Sobor of our Church, which Archbishop Varnava had been charged with creating a Committee (24 June 2002) for convening.

Consequently, the episcopal elevations that took place are a crude violation of the Canons which govern the sobornost' [catholicity] of the Church.

Moreover, the arbitrary multiplication of bishops subject to their Eminences Lazar' and Veniamin reveals their intention of forcing our Church to provide them with their called for autonomy.

We, the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCIE), hereby declare that we accept neither these anti-conciliar episcopal elevations, nor the measures taken in order to force us to grant such autonomy.

Besides that, their Eminences Lazar’ and Veniamin, as well as the bishops whom they have elevated, are far from receiving the consent of the entirety of our clergy in Russia, for whose sake it behooves us to apply all our efforts, in accordance with our sacred duty.

We can only conclude that, by means of their illicit actions, their Eminences Lazar' and Veniamin and those with them are placing themselves outside the framework of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCIE).

Signed:

+ Metropolitan Vitaly
+ Archbishop Barnaba
+ Bishop Sergei
+ Bishop Vladimir
+ Bishop Bartholomew



		On the 20th of August, 2002 Metropolitan Vitaly issued a letter to two Bishops under his Omophorian calling them to account for certain actions they have done without maintaining proper Church procedure. The very next day word was received that these two bishops have continued their illegal activity in consecrating a fourth clergyman to the Episcopacy. This compelled the Bishops of our Church (ROCOR / ROCIE) to issue the following statement: Russian Text The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad Under the Omofor Of the Most-Eminent Metropolitan Vitaly. 8/21 August 2002 Saint Emilian the Confessor, Bishop of Kizi The Determination Of The Hierarchs Of The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCIE) regarding the episcopal elevations carried out by Archbishop Lazar’ and Bishop Veniamin We have been apprised of the fact that, just a few days ago, their Eminences Archbishop Lazar’ and Bishop Veniamin performed a yet fourth hierarchical elevation. This was done without the knowledge and consent of the Sobor of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCIE). Actions so performed are subject to ecclesiastical censure. A careful analysis of the circumstances which led to this distressing event permits us to ascertain precisely the objectives and progress of further actions on the part of the thus newly-created, distinct episcopate. In January of this year, their Eminences Lazar’ and Veniamin had already petitioned Metropolitan Vitaly to give them a blessing, in order that they might create an autonomous [ecclesiastical] administration in Russia. A request of this nature, of course, was subject to deliberation by the Sobor. These hierarchs subsequently acted in accordance with their initial objective and – apparently, recognizing only Vladyka Metropolitan, alone, to possess legitimate authority in our Church – they managed to acquire his written blessing to perform their proposed episcopal elevations and to create an ecclesiastical administration in the form of some sort of parallel Synod. Consequently, the actions of the 2nd Voronezh pastoral conference (17/18 April of this year [2002]) took place within a guidelines of thus creating a new ecclesiastical organism for Russia. And only Archbishop Varnava’s reaction to the new course embarked upon – and Bishop Vladimir’s declaration to the effect that this document, concerning the episcopal elevation and the establishment of an Autonomous Church on the basis of the Metropolitan’s signature, alone, was without authority – brought the fulfillment of the planned objective to a halt. When Bishop Veniamin enquired of Metropolitan Vitaly concerning what the blessing that they had been given on 11 March might mean, Vladyka Metropolitan replied that the question was an extremely important one and in need of a conciliar decision. The situation that thus came about was to have been discussed at the forthcoming Sobor of our Church, which Archbishop Varnava had been charged with creating a Committee (24 June 2002) for convening. Consequently, the episcopal elevations that took place are a crude violation of the Canons which govern the sobornost' [catholicity] of the Church. Moreover, the arbitrary multiplication of bishops subject to their Eminences Lazar' and Veniamin reveals their intention of forcing our Church to provide them with their called for autonomy. We, the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCIE), hereby declare that we accept neither these anti-conciliar episcopal elevations, nor the measures taken in order to force us to grant such autonomy. Besides that, their Eminences Lazar’ and Veniamin, as well as the bishops whom they have elevated, are far from receiving the consent of the entirety of our clergy in Russia, for whose sake it behooves us to apply all our efforts, in accordance with our sacred duty. We can only conclude that, by means of their illicit actions, their Eminences Lazar' and Veniamin and those with them are placing themselves outside the framework of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCIE). Signed: + Metropolitan Vitaly + Archbishop Barnaba + Bishop Sergei + Bishop Vladimir + Bishop Bartholomew Close Window

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