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A '''metochion''' (Russian: подворье, ''podvorie''; English: representation church) is an ecclesiastical embassy church, usually from one [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] or [[autonomy|autonomous]] church to another. The term is also used to refer to a [[parish]] representation (or dependency) of a [[monastery]].  

==Ecclesiastical embassy church==
In the former case, the local territorial church grants a plot of land or a [[church]] building for the use of the foreign church being represented, and the location is then considered to belong canonically to the foreign church.  Services held there are often in the language appropriate to the church being represented, and the congregation is often made up of immigrants or visitors from the nation associated with that church.  Typically, a metochion presence on the territory of an autocephalous church is limited to only a few parishes at most. For example, the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] has a Podvorie in Tokyo, Japan. <ref> [http://www.sam.hi-ho.ne.jp/podvorie/ Podvorie of the Russian Orthodox Church in Japan] (in Russian) </ref>

==Dependency of a monastery==
In the case of a monastic metochion, such a parish church is a dependency on a particular [[monasticism|monastic]] community, perhaps receiving [[clergy]] from that community or other forms of support.

Metochion is currently employed, as well, to refer to a dependent [[Monasticism|monastery]], [[skete]], [[Cell|kellion]] or monastic society that is being given the blessing and support to develop into an [[Autonomy|autonomous]] monastery, skete, kellion or society. For an example, ''Wawasinno Ki'chi Wa Mali'i Waabanowigaan'' -- the ''[[Hesychasm|Hesychastic]] Society of the [[Theotokos|Most Holy Mary]]'' -- is a Canadian Orthodox hesychastic society founded for (but not to be exclusively of) Aboriginal and Autistic Orthodox, and which is classified as a metochion of the [http://www.oca.org/DIRlisting.asp?SID=9&KEY=oca-ca-spembs Monastic Society of St. Silouan the Athonite] ([[Orthodox Church in America|OCA]], [[Archdiocese of Canada (OCA)|Archdiocese of Canada]]).<ref group="note">"On 22 March 2009, the Archbishop ([[Seraphim (Storheim) of Ottawa]]) blessed the establishment of the Hesychastic Society of the Most Holy Mary (an aboriginal brotherhood), as part of the Monastic Community of St Silouan the Athonite." (''[http://www.archdiocese.ca/news/com/203.pdf CANADIAN ORTHODOX MESSENGER].'' Summer/Ité 2009. p.18.)</ref>

==Notes==
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[[Category:Churches]]

[[ro:Metoc]]