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DECISIONS BY THE HOLY SYNOD OF THE MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE regarding Bishop Basil of Amphipolis
Minutes of the meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, 16 May 2007
Minute No 39
Discussed:
Re Bishop Basil (Osborne)
Note:
His Grace, Bishop Basil (Osborne), previously of Sergievo, was temporarily suspended by the meeting of Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church on 19 July 2006 (minute No 75) in regard with the breaking of his episcopal oath, and also the 33rd canon of the Holy Apostles, 32nd canon of the council of Carthage and the 15th Canon of the dual Council.
The question of the canonical position of Bishop Basil was discussed at a meeting of delegations of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and of the Moscow Patriarchate in Chambésy on 23 January 2007. The Holy Synod, at its meeting on 27 March 2007 (minute No. 17), after hearing the report on these discussions by His Grace Metropolitan Kyrill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, resolved to approve the results of the discussions and in reply to a request, to send the personal file of Bishop Basil to his Holiness Bartholemew, Patriarch of Constantinople.
On 12-13 May 2007 the question of Bishop Basil was further discussed at a meeting between His Grace Metropolitan Kiryll and His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholemew in Cappodocia (Turkey).
RESOLVED:
1. Taking into consideration the request expressed by his Holiness Bartholemew, Patriarch of Constantinople, and to avoid further temptations among the Orthodox faithful in the British isles, and for the sake of the peace of the Church, to revoke the suspension of His Grace, Bishop Basil (Osborne) and to grant him a letter of release to transfer to the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
2. To testify at the same time that this present decision does not imply a recognition that the Constantinople Throne has rights of jurisdiction over clergy of other local Orthodox Churches in territories of countries of the Orthodox diaspora.
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