RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70-00241R000300030002-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 13, 2000
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: March 23, 1961
• Content Type: MF

HRC - FYI - Destroy
Approved For Relea 2001/08/2' -00241 R0003Qp 0002-9
*OGC Has Reviewed*
OOC 61-0460
23 March 1961
ANDUM FOR: Chief, SR
SUBJECT: Russian Orthodox Church
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.
A s you know, the
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
York. The Cathedral is owned by the American corporation.
This decision is final 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 Now 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 now action 25X1X6
has been filed in Lorain, Ohio for control b the Moscow
Patriarch. The congregation, voted
for American control almost unanimously, and the American
faction obtained a temporary injunction denying the Reverend
Moscow.
e Burdikoff and certain other lay members access to the
church. Reverend Burdikoff was the priest of the parish and
after the Supreme Court opinion acknowledged the authority of
Approved For Release 2001/08/27 : CIA-RDP70-00241 R000300030002-9
 Approved For Reld"We 200 1/08/ .- - &70-00241 R000'0030002-9
4. Another case has been started in New Jersey, where
tuition involves a statute similar to the New York statute
thrown out in the earlier Supreme Court decision as
and 14th amendments. Therefore,
favorab
Jersey case,
0 than the Ohl
S.
the American church is legally independent and the dispute is,
therefore, not schismatic. This to the type of question which
delights the canonical lawyer, which I do not pretend to be, and
Japan and Korea is also under the New York
time back Moscow sent two Archbishops
MacArthur.
control but they were blocked by General
i. Despite the Supreme Court's statement
schismatic in the church as a whole,
25X1X6
fors, take no position
rdind a newspaper story on the Lorain case
Journal. The story also was picked up by
ing. Michigan, 14 January 1961.
OGC: LP.H:jeb
0GC chrono
subject I&H 2-ROC
^ is somewhat less
25X1X6
LAWRENCE R. HOUSTON
0***T&l Counsel
Approved For Release 2001/08/27 : CIA-RDP70-00241 R000300030002-9
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