RUSSIAN CHURCH OF WESTERN EUROPE: MAXIMOS' DECISION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R000300340010-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 9, 1998
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: December 5, 1946
• Content Type: IR

This document is hereby regrad
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INTELLIGENCE REPORT
Bj= Russian Church of Western 0arope:
Maximos+ Decision
ORIGIN
25X1X6
25X1A6a
DATE:
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INFO
D
3 February 1947
PAGES
2
SUPPLEMENT
The a, rival of Archbishop Alexander., sent by MOSCOW to 25X1 X6
organize parishes in accordance with Moscow directives has
complicated the ecclesiastical situation in Brussels,
reports. Alexander, former Archbishop of Belgium, le
there before the war?
2. Bishop Nikoaie Grave, present head of the Russian Church of
Belgium., while awaiting the decision to be given by the
Constantinople Patriarchate in the ecclesiastical conflict,,
is said to have spent a great deal of time with Archbishop
Vladimir in Paris?
3. The followix ; is the decision which Patriarch Maximos is
reported to have reached but which will be withhold frz
official publication for reasons of international politics:
The Russian Church of Western Europe will remain
under the jurisdiction of Constantinople;
directives for all important ecclesiastical affairs
will be issued by the Constantinople Patriarchate,
Archbishop Vladimir will head the Russian Church of
Western Europe but will not receive from
Constantinople the title of Exarch which was given
to the late Metropolitan Eulogiusa Monseigneur
Germanos,, the Greek Orthodox bishop now residing in
London, will report on Russian ecclesiastical affairs
to Constantinople, and at the same time be the "eye"
of the Patriarch. ,
WARNING ICE: THIS DI `t UBLJTION LISTING MUST BE
EXCISED BEFORE PU .ELEASE OF THIS DOCUMENT.
25X1A9a
CENTRAL. INTELLIGENCE GROUP
25X1A9a
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CENTRAL Ir ZLIGMICE GROUP
Washington, D.C.
W 25X1A2
4, Two factors are believed to have figured in I:Iaximoso
decision: (a) the desire of the Patriarch to solve the
25X1X6 problem as quickly as possible and with the least
publicity possible (probably, states, to prevent
Moscow's pursuit of the controversy ; and (b) the desire
of the r3cum?nical Patriarch to keep better in Land the
affairs of the Russian Church of Europe,
5, SleanwlAle, Archbishop Seraphim, representative of Patriarch
Alexei of Moscow., who is staying at 50 rue Boiloau, Paris,,
l6eme, is attempting by every possible nic ans to strengthen
his tottering position, 11ith this In Lind he is penetrating
:Trench Orthodox m i.lieux? specifically the group aentereeI ire
the Egliso Sainte Genevieve, 36 rue do la LIonta,ne Sainte
Genevieve, Paris, Some. In this vicinity the Brotherhood of
Saint Photius has headquarters located in a church,
U.S. OF-W411CIALS Y
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