RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN ARGENTINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R005000600009-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 5, 1999
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: June 20, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

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[INFORMATION R EPO R ` CD NO. I %
25X1A
COUNTRY
Argentina/US3:R
DATE DISTR.
20 JUN 50
SUBJECT
Russian Orthodox Church in Argentina
NO. OF PAGES
2
PLACE
NO, OF ENCLS.
ACQUIRED
(LISTED BELOW)
DATE OF
T
SUPPLEMENT
INFO.
Prior to 18 April 1950
REPORT NO.
Bishop FanteleiIon, who was designated by the Russian Orthodox Church to
reorganize the activities of that church in Argentina and who arrived in
Buenos Aires in September 19148, was expelled from Argentina on 5 April 1950
and transferred to Teheran, Iran,, When he arrived in Argentina instead of
one centralized Orthodox Church, he found ten separate groups operating
without direction? The reason for the split was apparently caused by the
action of 1sgr. Konstantin Izrastzovi who had obtained personal possession
of all the properties of the Russian Orthodox Church in Arc-entinaF, by form-
ing a separate society of his family Panteleimon ? s efforts to regain
possession of the chuff .h? s properties caused numerous differences with the
Izrastzov family, who are. influential within Argentine goverment circles,
The Bishop believes that this friction with the Izrastzo'v family was the
main reason for his expulsion, According to Pantele3mon, the person who
was responsible for suggesting to the Izrastzc'vs that they take possession
of the church properties was one Dry, Lukaso hevi*h, who at present is trying
to acquire possession of all the property of the Rumanian Church in Buenos
Aires.,
2. Bishop Fan tealeimon gave other possible reasons for his expulsion from Argentina.
Prior to the time when Pantoleimon received the Buenos Aires assignment from
the Russian Orthodox Church, the Argentine government recommended one Father
Michail Dickey as a logical person for his position. The government considered
it an affront that their recommendation of Dickiy was not followed-, As a
result, Dickiy had been active in a campaign to discredit the Bishop, hoping
to succeed in replacing Pantealeimon,, Another r anon that then6a was ill feel-
ing toward the Bishop was that he had refused to enter into an anti-Communist
campaign. After he refused to participate in any. political activities he
received a warning stating that he would suffer dire consequences, The actual
charges made by the Argent .os government were trtmiped up charges of homosexuality,
according to the Bishop,
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Date' dO Q 6 T _ ny: V
CLASSIFICATION SECAT
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R005000600009-5
 SI C.; t."M A 25X1A
Approved For Release 1999/09/09: IA-RDP82 V 00009-5
C:~NTI?AL IW[:h:LLI(TFNCE; AGENCY _
3,, As of 21 April tae Bishop was residing illegally in Uruguay. Panteleinori
professed to be antid>Corranirriist and was the first signer of a petition to
outlaw the Cor.imu nisi-dominated Union Eslava in Buenos Aires. The Bishop
would not or could not discuss the existence and status of Communist
activities in Argentina,
25X1A
COWIpSMIAL.
Approved For Release 1999/09/09 : CIA-RDP82-00457R005000600009-5