West is West,and East is East - Recent Developments in the Diocese of Sourozh

Sep 28, 2026

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This issue explores recent developments in the Diocese of Sourozh within the Russian Orthodox Church context, centering on the appointment changes involving Bishop Hilarion. It describes the initial consecration and planned work in Great Britain, then contrasts it with his later Brussels and Podolsk assignment, alongside reports of clerical and lay opposition. The text frames the conflict not only as a personal dispute, but as a wider question of canonical rules, pastoral style, and the Orthodox presence in Western Europe.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

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Pages58

Reading Time2 h 26 min

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West is West and East is East

Recent developments in the Diocese of Sourozh

A Journal of Orthodox Life and Thought PROCESSED JUN 182002 GTULIBRARY Number 89 August 2002 | CONTENTS | | --- | | West is West,and East is East:Recent Developments in the Diocese of Sourozh | | Fr John Behr…… … …Interpreting the Incarnation | | Fr Alexander Williams …… …The Local Orthodox Community:
Theory and Practice | | Nancy Forest ……………… ……………………… …… St Paul and Women | SOUROZH Published Quarterlyby the Russian Patriarchial Diocese of Sourozh Founder and Editor-in-ChiefMetropolitan Anthony of Sourozh EditorBishop Basil of Sergievo Committee Members: Gillian Crow,Michael Grant,Father Serge HackelArchimandrite Ephrem(Reviews Editor) CONTENTS West is West,and East is East:Recent Developments in the Diocese of Sourozh FrJohn BehrInterpreting the Incarnation Fr Alexander WilliamsThe Local Orthodox Community:Theory and Practice Nancy ForestSt Paul and Women News Items Book Reviews 1 15 30 41 49 53 WEST IS WEST,AND EAST IS EAST: # RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DIOCESEOF SOUROZH The following material is translatedfrom NG-Religii,the outstanding monthlysupplementto Nezavissimaya Gazeta,containing a summaryof religious neusin the Russian Federation and abroad.The introduction thatfollows is providedby the editors of the newspaper. # WEST IS WEST AND EAST IS EAST Those who follow the appointment and movements of the bishops of theRus-sian Orthodox Church could not fail to notice the strange affair of the newlyconsecrated bishop Hilarion(Alfeyev).On 14 January 2002 he was conse-crated bishop in the Church of Christ the Saviour by Patriarch Alexis II,andgiven the title ofBishop of Kerch,with the aim of going to Great Britain assecond assistant bishop to Metropolitan Anthony,who since 1962 had beenthe head in Great Britain of a diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.On17 July,however,following a decision of the Holy Synod,Bishop Hilarion wasgiven anew appointment,that of head of the Representation ofthe Patriarchateof Moscow at the European international organisations in Brussels,with thetitle of Bishop of Podolsk. The Brussels appointment can hardly be considered as an example ofrapid,upward careermovement,as the London appointment had been plannedlong beforehand.It had been agreed with the Metropolitan,who had wishedto have in the person of Bishop Hilarion,his spiritual son,a close assistant inthe pastoral care of his flock,which in the last few years had grown as aresultof the influx of recent immigrants from Russia.In the past Hilarion had notonly visited England severaltimes,but had been awarded aD.Phil.at Oxford.The young theologian from Russia,the author of several theological works,had earned respect in Western Christian circles as an educated and talentedscholar,capable of worthily representing the tradition of the Orthodox East.So what did really happen? From the very first days after Bishop Hilarion's arrival in England,ru-mours began to spread,reaching even Russia,that a situation of conflict wasgrowingin the Diocese,that the hopes and expectations raised by the arrivalof the new bishop from Russia were not being realised.Later on the internetthere appeared statements and documents witnessing to the fact that a SOUROZH considerable section ofthe clergy and the laity were sharply opposed to whatthe new bishop was doing and to how he was doing it.Meetings of bishopsand priests were called,and sessions were held by the Diocesan Council atwhich this conflict,the reasons for it and its possible consequences wereexhaustively discussed.It ended with a firm request to Bishop Hilarion thathe should request a transfer to another post. Archpriest Sergii Hackel,a priest in the Diocese of Sourozh and a directparticipant in the conflict,the author and anchor-man of the BBC Russianservice radio transmission 'Sunday',gave his view ofallthat had happened ina transmission on 27 July. All this could be seen as a purely local event,a matt

FAQs

What appointment change involving Bishop Hilarion is described in the article?

Bishop Hilarion was consecrated in January 2002 with a title related to Kerch and a planned role in Great Britain, but later received a new appointment as head of the Moscow Patriarchate representation at European international organizations in Brussels with the title of Bishop of Podolsk.

What reactions does the article report within the Diocese of Sourozh?

It reports that rumours and later statements indicated a sharp opposition among a section of the clergy and laity to what the new bishop was doing and how he was doing it, followed by discussions in episcopal, priestly, and diocesan council sessions.

Why does the article say the conflict should not be reduced to personalities?

It points to broader issues including how canonical rules and church-life experience in Russia and the Orthodox diaspora relate, the canonical regulation of church life, and differences in pastoral care style and relationships between clergy and laity.

Sep 28, 2026

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