RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02186330
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: February 21, 2025
• Document Release Date: February 27, 2025
• Publication Date: March 23, 1961

Approved for Release: 2025/01/15 CO2186330
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arC
MEMORANDUM OR: Chief, SR
SUBJECT: Russian Orthodox Church
OGC 61-0460
61
1. In view of your question about the World Council of
Churches and its relationship to the Russian Orthodox Church,
the following information may be of interest.
Z. Mr. who has been working for many (b)(1)
years with the American side of the Russian Orthodox Church. (b)(3)
came to see me as he occasionally does to bring me up to date
on the status of the court cases involved. As you know, the
Supreme Court on 6 June 1960 dismissed the common law action
to eject the Archbishop appointed by the Patriarch of Moscow
from the use and occupancy of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in
New York. The Cathedral is owned by the American corporation.
This decision is lipid as to the Moscow appointee controlling the
New York diocese. The Supreme Court opinion is attached.
3. The church in North America is divided into seven
diocese. At present, all outside New York are under the control
of the American faction, and in the past actions by the Moscow
faction for control have failed in the state courts. Since the
Supreme Court opinion pertaining to New York, a new action
has been filed in Lorain, Ohio for control by the Moscow
Patriarch. The congregation, according to Mr. voted
for American control almost unanimously, and the American
faction obtained a temporary injunction denying the Reverend
George Burdikoff and certain other lay members access to the
church. Reverend Burdikoff was the priest of the parish and
lifter the Supreme Court opinion acknowledged the authority of
Moscow.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
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4. Another c se baa been started in New Jersey, where
tuition involves a statute similar to the New York statute
was thrown out in the earlier Supreme Court decision as
stitutional under the let and 14th a
w Jersey case, according to Mr.
able than the Ohio case.
S. According to M .
South America is also under the
believes it involves one diocese.
to. Therefore,
is somewhat le
the Russian Ort
etropoliten in New
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
ox Church
and
MacArthur.
pan and Korea is also under the New York
time back Moscow sent two Archbishops
control but they were blocked by General
6. Despite the Supreme Court's eta .
is schismatic in the church as a whole. Mr.
the American church is legally independent
therefore, not schismatic. This is the type of qa
overly
hat (b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
delights the canonical lawyer, which I do not pret
tobe.
and
I, therefore, take no position on it. Henvever, Mr.
(b)(1)
cottoned the World Council of Churches and said
he u*dersto
(b)(3)
t the Russians were trying to have the Russian Orthodox Church
opted by the Council.
7. 1am forwarding a newspap
The Lorain ) Journal. The
State journal of Lansing, kfichiga
OGC:Litli:job
OGC chrono
� subject I&H 2-ROC
Attachments
story on theLorain case
;try also was picked up by
14 January 1961.
I S LE7:1:--) ,.
71:,,,M7714",51
LAWRENCE R. HOUSTON
General Counsel
Approved for Release: 2025/01/15 CO2186330