Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Russian Orthodox Church Outside of RussiaРу́сская Правосла́вная Це́рковь Заграни́цей |
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ROCOR headquarters,
75 E 93rd St, New York. |
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| Abbreviation | ROCOR |
| Classification | Eastern Orthodox |
| Primate | Patriarch of Moscow & All Rus' Kirill |
| First Hierarch | Metropolitan Nicholas (Olhovsky) |
| Language | Church Slavonic (worship), Russian (preaching), English (USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand), Spanish (Spain and Latin America), German (Germany), French (France, Switzerland, Canada), Indonesian (Indonesia), Haitian Creole (Haiti), Portuguese (Portugal and Brazil) and others |
| Headquarters | Patriarchal: Moscow, Russia Jurisdictional: New York City, NY |
| Territory | Americas Europe Australia New Zealand |
| Founder | Anthony (Khrapovitsky) Anastasius (Gribanovsky) Eulogius (Georgiyevsky) |
| Independence | 1920 |
| Reunion | 2007 |
| Recognition | Semi-autonomous within Russian Orthodox Church |
| Separations | Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (1994–1995, then called the Russian Orthodox Free Church) |
| Members | 27,700 in the U.S. (9,000 regular church attendees) |
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (Russian: Ру́сская Правосла́вная Це́рковь Заграни́цей, romanized: Rússkaya Pravoslávnaya Tsérkov Zagranítsey, lit. 'Russian Orthodox Church Abroad'), also known as ROCOR, is a special part of the Russian Orthodox Church based in Moscow. It's like a branch that runs itself but is still connected to the main church.
ROCOR was started in the early 1920s. This happened because many Russian bishops and church members left Russia after the Russian Civil War. They moved to places like France, the United States, and other Western countries. These bishops didn't want to be controlled by the new Soviet government in Russia. They also disagreed with the Moscow Church's strong support for the Soviet leaders.
After about 80 years of being separate, ROCOR and the Moscow Church officially reconnected on May 17, 2007. This brought them back into a closer relationship. Today, ROCOR has about 400 churches around the world. It has an estimated 400,000 members. In the United States, there are 232 churches and 10 monasteries.
Contents
How the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia Began
Early Days and Challenges
The story of ROCOR began during the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War. In May 1919, a group of Russian bishops formed a temporary church group in southern Russia. This was because they couldn't easily connect with the main church leaders in Moscow.
In November 1920, many Russian bishops left Russia and went to Istanbul (Constantinople). They wanted to keep the Russian church organization going outside of Russia. They got permission to set up a "Temporary Higher Church Administration Abroad" (THCAA).
Settling in Serbia
In 1921, Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) and other bishops moved to Sremski Karlovci, Serbia. The Serbian Church allowed them to be an independent church group for Russian clergy living outside Yugoslavia.
In November 1921, a big meeting of Russian church representatives from abroad took place in Serbia. This meeting was later called the "First All-Diaspora Council." They decided to form the "Supreme Ecclesiastic Administration Abroad" (SEAA).
This council also made some political statements. They openly called for the old Russian monarchy to be brought back. They also asked world leaders to help remove the Bolshevik government from Russia.
However, the Patriarch in Moscow, Tikhon, disagreed with these political actions. In May 1922, he said the SEAA was no longer valid. He also said the political decisions were against the church's rules.
So, the bishops in Serbia formed a new group called the Temporary Holy Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Metropolitan Anthony became its head. This Synod was in charge of Russian churches in places like the Balkans and the Far East.
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Breaking Ties with Moscow
In 1927, the ROCOR bishops decided to formally break ties with the Moscow church leaders. This was because the Moscow church was forced to declare loyalty to the Soviet government. ROCOR believed the Moscow church was controlled by the "godless Soviet power."
ROCOR still saw itself as a part of the larger Russian Church. But it refused to follow the Moscow leaders while they were under Soviet control. Inside Russia, this decision also caused some disagreements among church members.
In 1934, the Moscow church leaders tried to suspend Metropolitan Anthony and his Synod. But Anthony refused to accept this. He said the decision was made because of Soviet pressure. The Serbian Patriarch also supported ROCOR.
Metropolitan Anthony passed away in 1936. Anastasius (Gribanovsky) took his place. In 1938, a second All-Diaspora Council was held. It confirmed the church's role for Russian people living outside Russia.
ROCOR During and After World War II
World War II Period
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During World War II, the relationship between ROCOR members and the Nazis was complex. Metropolitan Anastassy wrote a letter to Adolf Hitler in 1938. He thanked Hitler for helping Russian people living outside Russia. This happened when many in the church did not fully know about the Nazi government's actions.
Meanwhile, the Soviet government changed its approach to religion. In 1943, Joseph Stalin allowed the Moscow Patriarchate to elect a Patriarch. He also allowed some churches and schools to reopen. The Soviet government strongly supported the Moscow Patriarchate.
However, ROCOR leaders still refused to recognize the Moscow Patriarchate. They believed the Moscow church was still under Soviet control. In October 1943, ROCOR declared the election of the Patriarch in Moscow invalid. They called on all Russian Orthodox believers to fight against Communism.
As the war ended, Metropolitan Anastasius and other bishops left Serbia. They eventually moved to the United States in 1950. Many other Russian Orthodox refugees also came to the U.S.
After World War II
After the war, the Moscow Patriarchate became the main branch of Russian Orthodox Christianity worldwide. Many countries that had ROCOR churches were now under Soviet influence. This made it very difficult for ROCOR to operate there. Some ROCOR churches and clergy joined the Moscow Patriarchate.
But ROCOR, now based in New York, continued to reject both the Soviet government and the Moscow Patriarchate. Its leaders said the Moscow Patriarchate was controlled by the Soviet secret police (KGB).
For a while, ROCOR controlled many church properties in Palestine. But when Israel became a state in 1948, it gave these properties to the Soviet-controlled Russian Orthodox Church. This was to thank Moscow for its support of Israel. ROCOR kept control of some churches in the West Bank until the late 1980s.
Cold War Era
Philaret (Voznesensky) became the third leader of ROCOR in 1964. He served until 1985. During the Cold War, ROCOR continued to believe that the Soviet government was influencing the Moscow Patriarchate. They felt that church ties were impossible under such conditions.
ROCOR always said it was a part of the Russian Church. It believed its independent status was only temporary. This would last until the Soviet government no longer controlled church matters.
Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky) wrote that ROCOR should not have any connection with the Moscow Patriarchate. This was as long as the Moscow church worked closely with the Soviet government. He said this should continue until a future free Russian Church could decide.
Vitaly (Ustinov) served as the fourth leader from 1985 until 2001. Even after the Soviet Union ended in 1991, ROCOR remained separate from the Moscow Patriarchate. In 1990, ROCOR even started new churches inside the USSR.
Post-Soviet Period
In 1997, Patriarch Alexius II of Moscow tried to visit a ROCOR monastery in Hebron. ROCOR clergy refused to let him in. They said he had no real authority. Later, police forced the ROCOR clergy out and gave the property to the Moscow Church.
In 2000, the Palestinian Authority again removed ROCOR clergy from a monastery in Hebron. This property was also given to the Moscow Church.
Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) became the fifth leader of ROCOR in 2001. He helped bring about the reconciliation with the Russian Orthodox Church in 2007. After his death in 2008, Hilarion (Kapral) became the sixth leader. He passed away in May 2022.
Coming Back Together: Reconciliation with Moscow
In 2000, Metropolitan Laurus became the head of ROCOR. He was interested in reuniting with the Moscow Patriarchate. At that time, ROCOR wanted the Moscow Patriarchate to address the murders of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. They also worried about the Moscow Church's ties with other Christian groups.
In 2000, the Russian Orthodox Church officially recognized Tsar Nicholas and his family as saints. They also recognized over 1,000 martyrs. This helped to address some of ROCOR's concerns.
A Small Split in ROCOR
The idea of reuniting caused a small split within ROCOR in 2001. The previous leader, Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov), retired due to health. But after Metropolitan Laurus was elected, Vitaly said he was still the leader.
Some ROCOR clergy and members who were against reunification formed a new church group. They were called ROCOR-Vitaly or ROCOR(V). The main ROCOR group said that Metropolitan Vitaly was being used by others. They claimed his signature was forged on documents.
Talks for Reconciliation
In 2003, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Metropolitan Laurus in New York. In 2004, Metropolitan Laurus visited Russia and took part in some joint church services. Later, ROCOR clergy met with Patriarch Alexey II.
After six meetings, ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate announced in June 2005 that they were close to fully reconnecting. ROCOR would be given special independent status.
Patriarch Alexey said ROCOR would keep its property and money. He also said its independence would not change for a long time.
In May 2006, ROCOR agreed to reunite with the Russian Orthodox Church. This was seen as a big step toward bringing the two parts of the Russian church back together. In September 2006, ROCOR approved a document called the "Act of Canonical Communion."
Signing the Act of Canonical Communion
On December 28, 2006, the leaders announced the Act would be signed. The signing happened on May 17, 2007. This officially brought the churches back into full communion. A special church service was held in Moscow. Patriarch Alexey II and Metropolitan Laurus led the service together for the first time.
President Vladimir Putin was there. He thanked Patriarch Alexey for helping with the reunion. Putin said that the church split happened because of a deep political split in Russia. He added that bringing the church back together helps Russia's national revival.
The ROCOR bishops also served with the Patriarch on May 19. They helped consecrate a new church in Butovo. This was a place where many people were killed during Soviet times.
President Putin also held a reception at the Kremlin to celebrate. Many church leaders and government officials attended.
Another Small Split
After the Act of Canonical Communion was signed in 2007, there was another small split in ROCOR. Some critics still felt that the Moscow church had not fully dealt with past government influence.
Bishop Agathangel of Odessa and some ROCOR churches in Ukraine refused to join the Moscow Patriarchate. He was suspended for not obeying. But Agathangel continued with the support of some churches. He then ordained two new bishops. This new group is known as ROCOR-Agathangel or ROCOR(A).
How ROCOR is Organized
ROCOR is led by the First-Hierarch. This person is the main leader of all ROCOR. They also head the ROCOR Holy Synod and are the bishop of the Russian Orthodox Eparchy of Eastern America and New York.
The "Council of Bishops of the ROCOR" is the highest authority for church laws and decisions. It meets about every two years.
ROCOR is divided into different areas called dioceses. These dioceses sometimes have smaller parts within them.
Here are some of the main dioceses:
- United States:
- Russian Orthodox Eparchy of Eastern America and New York
- Diocese of San Francisco and Western America
- Diocese of Chicago and Middle America
- Diocese of Montreal and Canada
- Diocese of Caracas and South America
- Russian Orthodox Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe
- Diocese of Berlin and Germany
- Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand
ROCOR also looks after church properties in Jerusalem. These include three monasteries.
Western Rite in ROCOR
ROCOR has a history of using the "Western Rite." This means some churches use older Western Christian traditions in their services. While not many churches use it, attitudes towards it have changed over time.
For example, a monastery in Rhode Island, Christ the Savior Monastery, uses the Western Rite. It joined ROCOR in 2007. Some other churches also use the Western Rite either fully or partly.
In 2011, ROCOR made all its Western Rite churches a "vicariate." This is a special group within the church. However, in 2013, some changes were made. Leaders were removed, and new ordinations were stopped. The goal was to help these Western Rite churches fit better with the main ROCOR worship style.
Important Churches
Here are some notable churches that are part of ROCOR:
- St. Elizabeth's Church, Wiesbaden
- Russian church, Baden-Baden
- Church of Saint Alexandra, Bad Ems
- Church of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, Bad Kissingen
- Russian Chapel, Bad Homburg
- Russian church, Stuttgart
- Church of Saint Procopius of Ustyug, Hamburg
- Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God and the Holy Royal Martyrs, Chiswick
- Alexander Nevsky Church, Copenhagen
- Russian Church, Geneva
- Russian Orthodox Church, Vevey
- Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Job, Brussels
- St. Peter and Paul Church, Luxembourg
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Howell, New Jersey
- Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Washington, D.C.)
- St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Brisbane
Images for kids
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ROCOR headquarters,
75 E 93rd St, New York.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia ortodoxa rusa fuera de Rusia para niños
- List of bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
- Eastern Orthodox Church
- White émigré
- Theodore Jurewicz
- Ivan Ilyin
- Orthodox Church in America
- Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America
- Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Canada
- Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of Latin America
