ANTI-SOVIET COUNCIL OF WESTERN EUROPE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R000100790004-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 19, 2000
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: October 20, 1946
• Content Type: IR

Document No.
Approved Fe
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DECLASSIFIAass. CHANGED
DDA Memo,
Auth: DDA REG.
Date:
2000/06/06 ? CIA-RDP82-00457R000S.,
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IL IN _LUG
NTELLIGENCEP
COUNTRY
France/USSR
SUBJECT Anti-Soviet Ccuncil
of Western Europe
25X1A6a
ORIGIN
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20
6 December 1946
SUPP :MENT
1. A-meeting of representatives of the Russian Church of Western
Europe was held in Paris at the Theological Instituter 93 rue
de Crimee, from 16 to 20 October.
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Forty-eight of the 54 parishes constituting the Western
Orthodox Exarchate sent delegates to the meeting. Those present
constituted an impressive quorum which, for the first time
accurately reflected the state of mind of the Russiareemigration.
The pro-Soviet parishes sent a delegation led by Father
Constantin Zembjitsky bearing a note of protest, which was read
to the assembled group. Later a UPS contingent tried to disrupt
the meeting, but it was ejected.
3, The following is the text of the declaration which the pro-Soviet
delegation submitted to Archbishop Vladimir, functional head of
?the Paris Orthodox Church:
"Wee the. undersigned clergy and laymen, representing the
_parishes which are-under the canonical jurisdiction of
the Patriarchate of Moscow, consider it our duty to
protest solemnly against the council called by Arch-
bishop Vladimir in Paris, 16 October 1946. This act
was committed by Archbishop Vladimir in defiance of the
orders of the Most Reverend Patriarch Alexis, dated 17
September 1946. We point out the following:
(1) the anti-canonical spirit of the council;
(2) the fact that not al/ of the representatives of all
the parishes were admitted to sit in the council;
25X1A9a (3) the fact that the organizers of the council demanded
that the priests who were admitted sign a declaration
of fidelity to the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
This is a fact which proves that the resolutions of
the council were determined in advance.25X1A9a 25X1A2g
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Approved For Release 2000/06/06 : CIA-RDP82-00457R000100790004-4
25X1A2g
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE GROUP
Washington, D.C.
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The following signatures were attached to this document:
Archpriest Simon Velikanov, of the Parish of Nilvange
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Canon Sorbe, vicar of the parish of Vanves;
Archimandrite, Dyonises;
Father Nicolas Maloletenkov, vicar of the
parish of Grenoble;
.....anlapai_e_ELML_Lcl_ArielBelsk_z, vicar of the parish of Notre-Dame;
Archpriest Jean Zeretellis of the parish of Garonne-
Archpriest Basile Timofeev, vicar of the parish of rue Michel-
Serguenko, vicar of the parish of Meudon (Seino);
Father Victor Kepp, vicar of the parish of Petit Clamart
4. The The protest, however, was fruitless. The principal problems
discussed before the council were solved very rapidly during
the first two days. Unanimity of opinion was evident from the
beginning. During the evening of 17 October, an important
resolution was adopted, extracts of which follow:
"The Council bows with profound moral satisfaction
and with gratitude before the courageous decision
made by the Provisional Chief of our Exarchate,
His Eminence, Archbishop Vladimir, not to carry out
the ukase of the of the Patriarch of Moscow, who,
in an anti-canonical fashion is attempting to annul
the power of the Ecumenical Patriarch. The Council
of the Archdiocese unanimously supports Archbishop
Vladimir's decision. The Council of the Archdiocese
sollicits Archbishop Vladimir to present to the
Ecumenical Patriarch our plea to preserve the former
status of our Exarchate as an autonomous Russian ,
Exarchate within the Ecumenical Patriarchate in
conformity with the Ukases of Patriarch Photius II
(of 17 February 1931) and Patriarch Benjamin I (of
29 December 1939).*
Attached to this document is a plea addressed to Patriarch
Maximo of Constantinople to retain Archbishop Vladimir as head
of the Russian Exarchate of Western Europe?
U.S. FFICIALS ONLY
amilimimml/MINTSIC074
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Approved For Release 2000/06/06 : CIA-RDP82-00457R000100790004-4
25X1A2g
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE GROUP
Washington, D.C.
-3
5. By '20 October the Russian Churches of Western Europe, as well
as the large majority of the emigration, had officially
broken all ties with Moscow. However, the calm which has
returned to Russian religious life in Western Europe has
incensed pro-Soviet circles.
6. Archbishop Photius, Patriarch Alexis' representative in Paris,
left by plane for Moscow early in November, He is to report
on the ecclesiastical situation in prance in the light of the
failure of Soviet religioua policy and the results of the
above-mentioned council. Photius was accompanied by
S.N. Philipov, representative of the Soviet Ministry of Cults,
U.S. 0 ICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2000/06/06 : CIA-RDP82-00457R000100790004-4