POLITICAL INFORMATION: ACTIVITIES OF ARCHBISHOP VIKTOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R001000560005-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 16, 1999
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 31, 1947
• Content Type: IR

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE GROUP
-' BJECT Political Information; Activities of
Archbishop Yiktor
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PAGES 2
SUPPLEMENT
Notes See which refers to the jurisdictional dispute
between Archbishops Tiktor and John mentioned below. Archbishop 7iktor, who
is the Moscow-sponsored head of the Russian Orthodox Church in China, was
elevated to the position of senior Archbishop in China, with the 44chdiocese
a Peiping, In 1933 by the Russian Orthodox Synod, which was at that time In
exile in Yugoslavia. He collaborated conspicuously with the Japanese, and was
decorated by the Japanese government. Archbishop John /Iona or Mann/ is &
Russian Arakbj*U&p in Shanghai who has refused to accept the Moscow Patriarch,
and who recoguisft only the authority of the primat of the Orthodox Church in
the United States. See also which reported that Archbishop Yiktor'had re-
ceived a permit to eu W1v-2g U9 5X1A2g
rotor See which indicated that Archbishop Tiktor planned
to be in North China for several months in connection with the reorganization
of the Peiping Russian Orthodox Mission.)
1. Activities of the Russian Orthodox Mission in Peiping are under the complete
control of Tichvinsky, Acting Consul General of the USSR Consulate in Peiping.
VpAn-%jisa'.ifistrWtions,Archbishop Yiktor has separated the clergy of the mission
into thre categories., Soviet clergy, Chinese clergy and non-Soviets? White
Russian Jj Clergy. The last group has been excluded from the life and activi-
ties of the mission. All efforts are being made to indoctrinate the Chinese
clergy with pro-Soviet sentiments.
2. Archbishop Viktor has de cided to renew his attacks against the St. Seraphim
Ebigrante' Church in Tientsin. He plane to make a o~rtain emigrant, Botdai or
Begat, head of the church, provided that he places the church under theris-
diction of Archbishop Yiktor ratjger than Archbishop John. Another plan L an
alternative proposed by Viktor Y is to appoint Father D. Shevenirt: of the Pei-
ping Orthodox Mission. Father Shevenko Is a Chinese citizen who .s on good
terms with both Soviets and emigrants.
3. In view of the repatriation of Soviet citizens, the Tientsin Soviet clergy-fear that
they will soon be without funds, especially since the Orthodox community is divided
into three parishess Orthodox %migrant, Chinese Missionary and Scriet. Archbishop
Yiktor has suggested that the parishes be combined to make two and that the rector of
the Chinese Missionary Church agree to head the Moscow Patriarch istaion. This
proposal has not met with the approval of Bev. I'eodor MU (TV), rector of St. Inno-
kentii Church (? Chinese Missionary Church ?). The Chinese Orthodox clergy in
'Tientsin have lately become sus cious of the activities of the Peiping Orthodox
Mission and Soviet officials. concerning DRUJ
CLASS VICATIO.M, C
Document No.
NO CHANGE in Class.
^ DECTLJR :' ? _ 7-)
Class.
lir
TS S C
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Auth: to r z_Ved FOr! Yee 1999/09/08: CIA-RDP82-00457
Date: ~- ; '7 20 By : V t