ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE |
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Exarchate of Parishes
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| EPISCOPAL VICARIATE OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND | ||
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welcome to exarchate-uk.org
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General Assembly of the Archdiocese The business of the Assembly – impressions of a delegate from the Orthodox Parish of the Annunciation, Oxford: www.annunciation-oxford.org Joining the Archdiocese adds a British contribution to the Western European totality of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s Exarchate. With its centre in France, the Archdiocese comprises nearly one hundred parishes and communities, served by almost as many clergy, across a territory stretching from Spain to Sweden and from Ireland to Italy. The ratification of the status of our Vicariate by a vote of the General Assembly was a formality, given the earlier favourable decisions of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Gabriel, but one that was carried overwhelmingly, by a vote in favour by all those present (over one hundred and eighty delegates) excepting four, with three abstentions. Since Bishop Basil has long held episcopal office, there was no need for him to be elected as Assistant Bishop responsible for the Vicariate. Addressing the Assembly in English, Bishop Basil had explained to all present the matters known to all of us here in Britain. The presentation of the Internal Statute for the Episcopal Vicariate was also thereby approved. This suggests that future expansion and delegation of powers to assistant bishops will be likely as the Exarchate grows. Archimandrite Johannes Johansen was unanimously elected Assistant Bishop for Scandinavia. Archimandrite Johannes is Norwegian, but addressed the Assembly in Russian. Three clerical and three lay delegates, as well as their alternates, were elected to the Archdiocesan Council. Father Alexander Fostiropoulos was one of those elected and thus becomes a Council member for the next six years. From reports made by Mr. M. Sollogoub and by Mr. I. Chéret, on the activities of the Archdiocesan Council and Diocesan Administration and on the Archdiocese’s Finances respectively, it was clear that the Archdiocese’s business is carried on in a very economical and efficient way, thanks largely to the devoted and competent help of its members at all levels of the administration. However, it was sad to note that legal costs entailed by disputes over church property and premises in Nice and Biarritz were disproportionately high. Biarritz had successfully emerged from a series of four court cases. The dispute over the church in Nice involves complex legal questions, concerning the status of local worshipping community in French law and issues of international law, since the case for possession of the cathedral is being brought by the Russian Federation.
Some spiritual aspects of the Assembly The second day’s session opened with a Pontifical Divine Liturgy, lasting almost two and a half hours. In the tradition of the St Sergius Institute, the language was mostly Slavonic but with the use of French and English as well, with the people’s responses being sung by a male voice choir. It was important to witness to and feel the bonds of spiritual love among all the delegates, regardless of nationality or ethnic background. These bonds could be reinforced at a personal level during coffee breaks, at lunch time, or outside the hours of the Assembly’s formal meetings, through the renewal of old friendships within our own diocese or across the Archdiocese, as well as by making new friends. Most of the delegates were fluent in two or more languages, so communication was never a problem and translators were plentiful if required for more formal exchanges. There may be other opportunities for some to forge spiritual links, whether through participation in study days or a colloquium at the St. Sergius Institute or in the pilgrimage to Ravensbrück to commemorate the Archdiocese’s newly canonised Mother Maria Skobtsova. Several members of clergy already have long-standing links with other members of clergy in the Archdiocese, through family ties, personal friendship or common spiritual interests and pastoral concerns. In the opening session of the Assembly and in his summing up, Archbishop Gabriel emphasised the need for the laity not to be passive consumers of spiritual benefits through occasional attendance at the Liturgy, but for all to make their contributions actively in whatever capacity they are able. The Archdiocese currently is working on translating into French key liturgical texts. This alone is painstaking work, involving frequent revision, updating and minute attention to Greek, Slavonic and existing French texts. Then there is the need for lay-people to assist the clergy in visiting the sick and the elderly, some of whom include clergy who have served the Archdiocese for many years. Much of the administrative and legal work of the Archdiocese is done by lay volunteers. Education of the young and the organisation of events such as the catering for the General Assembly again depend largely on the help and expertise of lay volunteers, both male and female. No doubt that members of our Vicariate will be ready to heed our Archbishop’s call. With thanks to Bishop Basil for his dedicated service to us, to those in Oxford who encouraged me to participate in the Assembly as a delegate and to all in Paris who made us British delegates so welcome. Deacon Peter Scorer twice expressed in the Assembly the gratitude of the whole British delegation for our welcome to the Archdiocese. V. Chamberlain |
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Amongst other reports made to the assembly was that of Archimandrite Job (Getcha), Dean of the St. Sergius Theological Institute. The institute is doing important theological and pastoral teaching, research and training of Orthodox as well as fulfilling an ecumenical role. Funding is vital to modernise the curriculum and update the aging fabric of the Institute. A significant proportion of the institute’s income comes from the Archdiocese.