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Uncanonical Orthodoxy: The Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church

By Alexander Valerievich Slesarev – Minsk Theological Seminary

With the publication of this article, we continue the presentation of the history of pseudo-
secessionist entities that have arisen in the Orthodox Church during the twentieth century.
Among the many schismatic groups that have came into existence in the 1990's, perhaps the
most notorious is so-called Russia Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC).

ROCOR’s Venture Into Russia

A precursor to the emergence of the Russia Orthodox Autonomous Church can be considered
the adoption on the 2 / 15 May 1990, by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church
Outside of Russia (ROCOR) under its then First Hierarch, Metropolitan Vitaly, of the so-called
"Regulations on the Free Parishes”. This document marked the official proclamation of a new
foreign policy by ROCOR, aimed at establishing parallel church structures (dioceses, deaneries
and parishes) within the USSR. The move was made possible by the easing of pressure on
religious organizations that was occuring in the final years of glasnost and perestroika. The
rationale for the creation of new church structures parallel to the canonical Russian Orthodox
Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (ROC-MP), was, primarily a result of historical factors.
ROCOR had existed for 70 years as the free part of the Russian Orthodox Church and was able
to witness openly and explicitly about the repression of the Church in the homeland by the
Soviet regime. Its culture and history was greatly influenced by the post-revolutionary White
Movement and the MP was regarded with suspicion and even animosity by many members of
ROCOR at that time. Now in a changing political climate it was possible to give this animosity a
practical expression.

In the spring of 1990, immediately after the publication of the Regulations, Archimandrite
Valentine (Rusantsov) (pictured below) rector of the Tsar Constantine Cathedral of Suzdal,
together with his parish, left the MP and came into the jurisdiction of ROCOR. The main reason
for the archimandrite’s defection was the long running feud between Valentine and his ruling
bishop, who was then the Archbishop of Vladimir and Suzdal, the now Metropolitan Valentine
(Mishchuk) of Orenburg and Buzuluksky.

The Establishment of the “Free Russian Orthodox Church”

The acceptance of Archimandrite Valentine into the jurisdiction of

ROCOR received wide publicity and become an example for dozens of
parish communities in various regions of the country (Moscow, St.
Petersburg, Siberia, Kaliningrad, Bryansk, Penza region, Stavropol and
Primorsky Krai, etc.). The hierarchy of ROCOR proclaimed the new
parishes in Russia to be called the Free Russian Orthodox Church
(FROC) and Archimandrite Valentine was appointed Exarch of the
Synod of Bishops of ROCOR in Russia. In February 1991 there was held
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an episcopal consecration of Archimandrite Valentine (Rusantsov) as Bishop of Suzdal and

Vladimirskogo (2). As part of this consecration he swore an oath of loyalty to the ROCOR Synod
and came under its canonical authority. In the same year, the Suzdal Diocese of the ROCOR was
registered in the Ministry of Justice of Russia as a diocese of the Free Russian Orthodox Church
(3).
Corresponding with the increase in activity of ROCOR in the expansion
of the FROC, was the arrival in Moscow of the ROCOR Bishop of
Cannes, Bishop Varnava (Prokofiev) (pictured left). However, the
activities of Bishop Varnava were very controversial, and included his
active support of pro-fascist National Patriotic Front of "Pamyat" and a
readiness to recognize the canonicity of the schismatic Ukrainian
Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate as well as a desire to
completely subordinate the FROC under his authority. The above
actions, combined with his own leadership ambitions, led Bishop
Valentine (Rusantsov) to enter into open conflict with Bishop Varnava.

Bishop Varnava of Cannes and the formation of the FROC – PSCA

Archbishop Lazar
In response to the sharp criticism against himself Bishop Varnava
persuaded the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR to withdraw Bishop
Valentine's authority to manage the FROC. Seeing an opportunity to
seize power, Bishop Valentine refused to recognize the victory of
Bishop Varnava and at the Suzdal Diocesan Congress held in 1993,
withdrew from the jurisdictional subordination of ROCOR, while
claiming to maintain Eucharistic communion - a highly controversial
and scandalous stance. A further step to distance the FROC from
ROCOR was the decision of the IV Congress of Clergy and Laity of
FROC, held in March 1994 that proclaimed the formation of the
Provisional Supreme Church Authority of the Free Russia Orthodox
Church (PSCA - FROC) (4). This PSCA regarded itself as being the
Highest Church Authority and as being not only an alternative to the
ROCOR Synod of Bishops, but that the ROCOR Synod should be subordinate to itself! The
Archbishop of Tambov and Morshansk Lazar (Zhurbenko, was elected the President of the
FROC – PSCA. He had come from the Russian Catacomb Church (5), and in 1982 had entered the
jurisdiction of ROCOR and been secretly ordained bishop by Bishop Varnava (Prokofiev) of
Cannes who had come to the USSR on a tourist visa. (6)

The Vice-President of FROC-PSCA became Bishop Valentine (Rusantsov), now elevated to the
rank of Archbishop. Perhaps the most controversial act of the PSCA was the ordination of new
bishops, among which included the Bishop of Odessa Agafangel (Pashkovsky), Bishop Theodore
Borisov (Gineevsky), vicar of the Suzdal diocese, and Bishop Seraphim of Sukhumi (Zinchenko),
vicar of the Suzdal diocese. In response to these acts, the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR
suspended Archbishop Lazar and Bishop Valentine from serving, and refused to recognize the
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validity of the new episcopal consecrations. In the developing conflict, the ROCOR Synod
decided to ordain a new bishop for the management of Russia's parishes. The choice fell on the
Archimandrite Evtikhii (Kurochkin), who was consecrated as Bishop of Ishim and Sibirskogo (7).

The Lesna Council & the Short Peace

After the withdrawal of Bishop Varnava (Prokofiev) from Russia, which occurred in late 1994,
there was a thawing of relations between the FROC and ROCOR. The Council of Bishops of
ROCOR, held in December 1994 in the Lesna Convent (France), saw the signing of an Act of
reconciliation between the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR and the FROC - PSEA. Under the terms
of reconciliation the FROC - PSCA was abolished, and many of the earlier decisions lost their
force. In particular, Valentine (Rusantsov) lost the title of "Archbishop" and again was named a
“Bishop”. In relation to the “bishops” arbitrarily ordained by the FROC - PSCA, it was decided to
accept their episcopal dignity provided they swore an episcopal oath to the ROCOR Synod. A
very important decision of the Lesna Council was the reorganization of the spiritual governance
of the FROC in Russia, with the establishment of the Diocese of Moscow, St. Petersburg and
North Russian, Suzdal, Siberian, and South Russian Odessa, Black Sea and Kuban. For
consistency in the management of Russia's dioceses, instead of the abolished FROC-PSCA, there
was established a Bishops' Conference, in its activities completely subordinate to the Synod of
Bishops of ROCOR (8).

Bishop Evtikhii and the Suspension of Bishops Lazar & Valentine

Bishop Evtikhii (Kurochkin) of Ishim

Despite the resolution of the existing problems and a sense of order
being restored in the administration of the Russian parishes, in
January 1995 the Bishops' Conference was shaken by another
scandal. Once again it was the barely restrained, lust for power of
Bishop Valentine that was the source of trouble. Bishop Evtikhii put
forward against Bishop Valentine, a number of charges relating to
his less-than-episcopal lifestyle and manner of church governance.
Moreover, Bishop Evtikhii conveyed his displeasure in a written
report addressed to the First Hierarch of ROCOR, Metropolitan
Vitaly (Ustinov), accusing Archbishop Lazarus, Bishop Valentine, and
the other bishops ordained by those two, of disloyalty to the
ROCOR Synod of Bishops.

The outcome of the stand-off, was the suspension from all priestly duties of Archbishop
Lazarus (Zhurbenko) and Bishop Valentine (Rusantsov). The leadership of Russia's flock of the
ROCOR was entrusted to Bishop Evtikhii (Kurochkin). In addition, the Russian hierarchs
ordained by the FROC - PSCA, were asked to prove their loyalty by recognizing the
condemnation of Archbishop Lazar and Bishop Valentine, as well as over a trial period, to reside
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in the United States under the supervision of the Synod of Bishops. In response to this request
only Bishop Agafangel (Pashkovsky) agreed, and spent nine months living in the United States,
after which he was approved as bishop in rank and received the title "Bishop of Simferopol and
Crimea”. However, despite this, Bishop Evtikhii’s fears were not unfounded. In May 2007,
when the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion occurred between the ROCOR and the
ROC MP, it was Bishop Agafangel (Pashkovsky) who refused to participate in the process of the
unification of the scattered parts of the Russian Orthodox Church and established his own
Provisional Supreme Church Authority of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCA PSCA ),
thereby continuing the divisive and anti-church activities of his former master, Valentine
Rusantsov.

Archbishop Lazarus (Zhurbenko) a short time later was also received back in the jurisdiction of
ROCOR through repentance. However, in 2001 he again broke away from the ROCOR and
involved himself in the shameful Mansonville Schism where he participated in the manipulation
of the retired Metropolitan Vitaly and the illegal consecration of new “bishops”including Tikhon
Pasechnik. Making matters worse, he then initiated a further outrage in the formation a of new
schismatic jurisdiction that he proclaimed the “Russian True Orthodox Church” which he
headed until his death in 2003 when Tikhon Pasechnik took the helm.

Bishop Agafangel Archbishop Theodore Archbishop Seraphim Tikhon Pasechnik – Head of RTOC

The Final Break of Valentine Rusantsov from ROCOR & his Defrocking by both ROCOR and the MP

Reacting to events, Bishop Valentine of Suzdal (Rusantsov) attempted to convene a “Russian

Bishops Conference”, the goal of which was to condemn the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR.
However, from the Russian-based hierarchs of ROCOR, it was supported only by the Bishop
Theodore (Gineevsky) and Bishop Seraphim (Zinchenko) of Sukhumi. The “Bishops Conference”
restablished the PSCA, which soon was renamed the Synod of Bishops of the Free Russia
Orthodox Church (SB -FROC). The further evolution of the schismatic organization of Bishop
Valentine was its decision to completely sever its relations with ROCOR. Given this, the ROCOR
Council of Bishops, held in September 1996, decided on the defrocking of Bishop Valentine
from the priesthood. A similar decision was taken at the Council of Bishops of the ROC MP,
held in February 1997 and deprived Valentine (Rusantsov) completely of holy orders. (9). Very
peculiar is the position of Valentine Rusantsov, expressed in an interview with the journal "Free
Word": "Q: Your Eminence, what is your attitude to the decision in February this year, of the
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Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate of depriving you of
the priesthood? Valentine: This is a decision I took as adopted by sectarians, with whom I was
never in communion.” (10). Of course, any commentary on such an absurd statement would be
pointless.

The FROC becomes the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church

In 1998, Free Russian Orthodox Church was registered with the new name of the Russian
Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC). This schismatic jurisdiction justifies the legitimacy of its
existence, referring to the famous decree of Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia Tikhon
(Belavin) № 362 dated 7 / 20 November 1920 (11).
According to the decree issued in a still unfinished civil
war, and an unprecedented persecution in Russia's
history against to the Orthodox Church, in the absence of
opportunities for the ruling bishop to communicate with
the bodies of the highest church authority, he may,
together with the bishops of neighboring dioceses,
organize the Provisional Supreme Church Authority
(PSCA). Similar actions were assumed in the case of
complete elimination of the highest organs of
ecclesiastical authority. When the absolute inability to
communicate even with the bishops of neighboring
dioceses, the bishop could accept full ecclesiastical
authority within its diocese. (12). It is noteworthy the fact
that virtually all the divisions that arose in the Russian Orthodox Church during the twentieth
century, have always appealed to the Decree of St. Tikhon number 362.

Pictured above: The Tsarekonstantinovsky Cathedral of Suzdal. The spiritual and administrative center
of the ROAC.

In virtually every case of separation, the newly formed schismatic bodies have called into
question the dignity of the canonical authorities of the Russian Orthodox Church and have then
justified their separation on the grounds of the St Tikhon Patriarchal Decree No.362. Most
recently this has been seen in the case of former ROCOR Bishop Agafangel (Pashkovsky) and his
“Provisional Supreme Church Authority” established after may 2007. The complete absurdity of
this kind of reasoning is self-evident. St. Tikhon of the above-mentioned decree specifies the
nature of the external circumstances prevailing in very specific historical circumstances, when
the relationship between the diocese and the church center could be torn by the front line or
the Bolshevik repression against the clergy. Decree number 362 absolutely does NOT allow for
suspended or defrocked hierarchs or clergy to set up a competing schismatic structure in
opposition to the rightful authorities simply on the grounds that they do not agree with their
superiors. St. Tikhon (Belavin) entered into the history of the Russian Orthodox Church as a
champion of church unity, and not as an apologist for schism and division.
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The necessity of having an independent pseudo-structure, claiming a succession from the pre-
revolutionary Russian Orthodox Church, led the leadership of the ROAC to conduct a number of
episcopal ordinations. In 2001 the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church
scandalously decided to promote Archbishop Valentine (Rusantsov) to the rank of Metropolitan
with the right to wear two panagia that, according to the ROAC, raises the status of their
schismatic organization to one of a Metropolia. However, the wearer of the white
metropolitan’s cowl not only did not increase the credibility of his newly-established
jurisdiction, but within a year drew public attention to the ROAC because of a grandiose legal
scandal.

In February 2002 in the Suzdal City Court began hearing allegations of sexual abuse by
“Metropolitan” Valentine against minors. The case attracted a great deal of publicity in Russia
and involved the presentation of shocking evidence of Valentine’s unsavoury life behind the
scenes that had been had been suspected for many years. Although initially convicted, the
judgement was reversed 2 years later on the grounds of a technicality. Although escaping
conviction, the case nevertheless left a further dark stain on the already tarnished reputation of
Valentine Rusantsov.

“Metropolitan Valentine” with fellow ROAC hierarchs

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At present, the ROAC has about 100 parishes in the territory of Russia. In addition, there are
parishes in Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, USA, Switzerland, Israel, Argentina and Bulgaria. (15).
In preparation of future priests, the ROAC runs for theological and pastoral courses, approved
in 2001 by the Suzdal Diocesan Administration.

The official organ of Russia Orthodox Autonomous Church is the magazine “Suzdal Diocesan
Gazette ".

As of March 2008 the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church consisted of the
following hierarchy:

• 1. Valentin (Rusantsov), Metropolitan of Suzdal and Vladimir, First Hierarch of the Russian
Orthodox Autonomous Church;
• 2. Theodore (Gineevsky), Archbishop of Borisov and Otradnensky;
• 3. Seraphim (Zinchenko), Archbishop of Sukhumi and Abkhazia;
• 4. Victor (Kontuzorov), Archbishop of Daugavpils and Latvia;
• 5. Anthony, Archbishop of Concept Handicraft and Vyatka;
• 6. Hilarion, Archbishop Smelyanskii;
• 7. Tim (Sharov), bishop of Orenburg and Kurgan;
• 8. Ambrose (Epiphany), Bishop of Khabarovsk;
• 9. Irinarkh (Nonchin), Bishop of Tula and Bryansk;
• 10. Andrew (Maklakov), Bishop Pavlovsky.

Primate of Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church, Metropolitan

Valentine of Suzdal and Vladimir (in the world Rusantsov Anatoly
Petrovich) was born in 1939

In his early youth acquainted with the famous Kamchatka missionary

Metropolitan Nestor (Anisimov). Was tonsured a monk in 1958 in Vilna
Holy Spirit Monastery. In the priesthood and was ordained deacon in
1960, he graduated from the Faculty of History of Daghestan University
(1970), Moscow Theological Seminary (1973) and the Moscow
Theological Academy (1979). In 1973, sent to serve in Suzdal. In April
1990 came out of the jurisdiction of the ROC MP and joined the
ROCOR. 4 October 1990 was appointed Exarch of the ROCOR in the
USSR. Bishop of Suzdal and Vladimir ordained Feb. 10, 1991. Due to the
protracted conflict in 1995, finally broke relations with the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR. In 1996
he was granted the title of Archbishop, in 2001 the title of Metropolitan and First Hierarch
ROAC. In 1996, defrocked by Council of Bishops of ROCOR, and in 1997 the decision of the
Bishops' Council of the ROC MP excommunicated. In 2001 the Synod ROAC elevated him to the
rank of “Metropolitan”.
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REFERENCES

1. Pospelovsky DV Orthodox Church in the twentieth century .- M.: Respublika, 1995 .- P. 328.

2. Odnoral A. History of Church division. Russia-twentieth century .- Pyatigorsk, 2003 .- S. 39-41.

3. Religious associations Russia: A Handbook. Under the Society. Ed. M. Prusak, VV Barshchou;
Sost. SI Ivanenko et al Analytical Bulletin number 24. Special Issue. - Moscow: Respublika, 1996
.- 69.

4. Religious associations Russia ... 71; Odnoral AA Ordinance. cit .- P. 42-45.

5. More information about the Catacomb Church in Russia is given in our article "Russia
Orthodox Catacomb Church in Belarus: History and Modernity", posted on the official website
of the Minsk Theological Seminary.

6. Statement by the Office of the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR / / Church Life Jordanville .- .-
1990 .- № 3-4 .- S. 114. More information about the Catacomb Church in Russia is given in our
article "Russia Orthodox Catacomb Church in Belarus: History and Modernity", posted on the
official website of the Minsk Theological Seminary.

7. Odnoral AA decree. cit .- P. 45.

8. Ibid.

9. Definition of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church on the deprivation of the
priesthood prohibited from serving archimandrites Valentine (Rusantsov), Adrian (old) and
Abbot Joasaph (Shibaeva) "/ / Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate .- 1997 .- № 4 .- P.21;
Religious unification of Russia ..., p. 72; Odnoral AA Ordinance. cit .- P. 46-47.

10. Interviews Primate of the Russia Orthodox Church, Archbishop of Suzdal and Vladimir
Valentine newspaper "Freedom of speech". 04/04/1997. / / Russia Orthodox Autonomous
Church. Official site? Electronic resource? .- 1997 .- Mode of access:
www.roac.ru/interview4.htm - Date of access: 13.04.2005.

11. On the canonical and legal status of Russia Orthodox Autonomous Church. Report of the
Archbishop of Borisov and Otradnenskoe Theodore / / RUSSIA ORTHODOX CHURCH. Suzdal
Diocese Electronic resource .- 2008 .- Mode of access: http://www.rpac.ru/ - Date of access:
2.04.2008

12. Resolution of the Holy Patriarch, the Holy Synod and the Higher Church Council from 7 / 20
November 1920 number 362 / / Church statements .- 1926 .- № 17-18 .- P. 6-7.
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13. Kyslynsky Larissa. In bed with the Metropolitan / / Top Secret Electronic resource .- 2002 .-
Mode of access: http://sovsekretno.ru/app/image/2002/08/8/120.jpg "- Date of access:
25.02.2008; Odnoral AA decree. cit .- P. 50-51; In Suzdal opened the trial of Metropolitan
Valentine / / News of the world religions? Electronic resource .- 2002 .- Mode of access:
http://www.religio.ru / dosje/03/203.html target = _blank - Date of access: 25.02.2008.

14. Kyslynsky Larissa. In bed with the Metropolitan / / Top Secret? Electronic resource? .- 2002
.- Mode of access: http://sovsekretno.ru/app/image/2002/08/8/120.jpg "- Date of access:
25.02.2008.

15. "On the life of Russia Orthodox Church and the activities of the Synod of Bishops from 1991
to 2008." Report of the First Hierarch of the Russia Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Valentine of
Suzdal and Vladimir / Russia Orthodox Church. Suzdal diocese Electronic resource .- 2008 .-
Mode of access: http://www.rpac.ru/ - Date of access: 2.04.2008.

Translation by Focus Translation and Interpreting Services.

Original source: Minsk Theological Seminary Online. http://minds.by/article/article.html

© This essay is the is exclusive intellectual property of Alexander Slesarev. Copyright and
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