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ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE
Exarchate of Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe
EPISCOPAL VICARIATE OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND
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8 June 2007: The Episcopal Vicariate - one year on …

One year ago, on 8 June 2006, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate voted unanimously to receive Bishop Basil and elected him Bishop of Amphipolis. The Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod issued a press release as follows:

Press Release from the Ecumenical Patriarchate
PRESS RELEASE From the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Holy and Sacred Synod, 8 June 2006 The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate during its meeting on June 8 2006 under the presidency of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, examined the appeal of His Grace Basil, Bishop of Sergievo, to the Ecumenical Patriarch and, taking under consideration canons 9, 17 and 28 of the 4th Ecumenical Council unanimously decided to accept under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriachate the above named Bishop, placing him in the Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe. Thereafter the Holy and Sacred Synod proceeded, at the request of Archbishop Gabriel of Komana, head of the above mentioned Exarchate, to elect Bishop Basil with the title of Bishop of Amphipolis, as his auxiliary Bishop, to serve the pastoral needs of Orthodox living in Great Britain who desire to place themselves under the jurisdiction of the Exarchate. At the Patriarchate, June 8, 2006 From the Chief Secretary of the Holy Synod

Messages in response were published by Albania, Alexandria, Cyprus and Jerusalem

For the anniversary of this occasion, Archbishop Gabriel of Comana, head of the Archdiocese of Orhtodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe, has sent a message of congratulation to Bishop Basil and the clergy and parishes of the Episcopal Vicariate:

Message from Archbishop Gabriel of Comana
Dear Bishop Basil, On the first anniversary of your being accepted into the Eucumenical Patriarchate, I want to offer you my sincere congratulations both to you and to the parishes and clergy of the Episcopal Vicariate. It has been wonderful to work together in this past year for the well being of the Church of Christ. + Archbishop Gabriel of Comana Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Western Europe

Bishop Basil of Amphipolis reports on the events of the last year (for background see our 'futher reading' section):

The past year since the establishment of the Episcopal Vicariate has been filled with events, some difficult, others positive. Through the decision of the His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Synod we are now part of the Archdiocese of Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe, organised locally as the Episcopal Vicariate of Great Britain and Ireland.

AGO Our participation in the General Assembly of the Archdiocese in Paris at the end of April-beginning of May this year showed just how important it is to have an ecclesiastical base close to home, while at the same time profiting from close contact with the traditions of the Russian Church.

Though the Vicariate is not – and probably never will be – as large as the current Diocese of Sourozh, it nevertheless has communities throughout England, Scotland and Wales. It is roughly the size of the Diocese as it was ten or fifteen years ago, and we are now free to move forward unimpeded – carrying out Metropolitan Anthony’s vision and missionary drive, drinking from the cup of the Russian spiritual tradition, but with our feet firmly on the ground in the West.

The efforts of many people have enabled us to hold two conferences, a day conference in London in November and the traditional bank holiday weekend conference at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School at Gatton Park near Reigate. The first was entitled ‘Finding our Freedom in Christ’, while the theme of the second was ‘Behold, I make all things new’, words of Christ taken from the Book of Revelation that have a special resonance during a period of rapid change.

The Vicariate website makes it possible for people here and in other countries to access information easily about our activities, and it has links to the websites of our various parishes and communities. On it you can find out about the children’s camp, to be held again this year at a beautiful site in Wales from 26 July to 8 August, as well as the pilgrimage to Constantinople that will take place from 12 to 20 September.

angel We have also published an Old Style Calendar and Lectionary for 2007, and a Directory of Clergy, Parishes and Eucharistic Communities, as well as the talks given during the November conference. The papers from the May conference will appear shortly. Our journal ‘The Messenger’ was launched in February, and has subscribers from around the world.

With our help the Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh Foundation published a small collection of his talks entitled, Our Life in God: Talks on the Holy Spirit and the Trinity. All these publications are available through the website or by writing to the Vicariate Office, 94a Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6JT.

This past year has had its successes and its failures. But those who have become part of the Episcopal Vicariate now feel themselves free to be themselves as Orthodox of Russian Tradition in Britain.

We have much to be thankful for at the end of this year: to His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Synod, for having followed their ecclesiological principles and receiving us; to Archbishop Gabriel, for the warmth of his welcome; and to Metropolitan Anthony, for having taken us as far as he could, and to all those people – clergy and lay - who have moved unhesitatingly forward into our new life.

+Basil, Bishop of Amphipolis

Website of the Episcopal Vicariate: www.exarchate-uk.org