Author: Mark Stokoe
February 7, 2011
Regarding notions of “Maximal Autonomy”, this from Moscow, Russia. Source: www.ocanews.org
It has been reported that the last Episcopal Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church adopted sweeping changes in their Statute. (http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1403020.html) Feb. 2, 2011.
An entirely new chapter (VIII.I. ) concerning “Autonomous Churches” was added. Among the new provisions:
- – The Autonomous Churches are regulated by their own Statute and by the Statute of the Church in Russia.
- – The decisions taken by the Episcopal Synods and Local Councils of the Church in Russia are mandatory for the Autonomous Churches.
- – The Patriarch of Moscow has to be commemorated in every parish of the Autonomous Church.
- – The bishops of the Autonomous Churches are members of the Episcopal Synods and Local Councils of the Church in Russia and they are expected to participate in their meetings.
- – Any changes in the Statute of the Autonomous Church have to be agreed upon in written form by the Patriarch of Moscow.
- – The Church of Russia has the right to put an end to the existence of an Autonomous Church it has created.
The Statute clearly distinguishes between Autonomous Churches (Japan, China) and Self-Ruled Churches (Latvia, Moldova, Estonia). ROCOR, however, is called “a Self-Ruled part of the Russian Orthodox Church”, so it is not fully clear how, if at all, these new provisions apply to that body in America.
Clearly, many of the above provisions do go against the Tomos of Autonomy delivered in 1970 to the Orthodox Church in Japan by the Church of Russia. The Metropolitan of Tokyo and All Japan did not attend to the last Episcopal Synod due to bad health. The decision was taken in his absence.