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Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

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type=Semi-autonomous|
founded=1922|
bishop=[[Laurus Hilarion (SkurlaKapral) of New YorkSydney|Metr. LaurusHilarion (Kapral)]], First Hierarch|
see=New York|
hq=New York, New York|
music=[[Russian Chant]]|
calendar=[[Julian Calendar|Julian]]|
population=60480,000 to 100<ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1206001825245730.xml&coll=2 Cleveland Plain Dealer: Metropolitan Laurus,000helped reunify Russian Orthodox Church], Thursday, March 20, 2008</ref>|
website=[http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/indexeng.htm ROCOR]
}}
===The Church of the Refugees (1922-1991)===
{{orthodoxyinamerica}}
In 1927, ROCOR declared "The part of the Russian Church that finds itself abroad considers itself an inseparable, spiritually united branch of the Great Russian Church. It does not separate itself from its Mother Church and does not consider itself autocephalous," indicating that ROCOR considered itself to speak for all of the Russian Orthodox outside of Russia. The Church Abroad also considered itself to be the free voice of the enslaved Mother Church in the Soviet Union.<ref>For more on how ROCOR viewed its relationship to the Mother Church, see [http://web.archive.org/web/20030430123024/http:/orthodoxinfo.com/resistance/mpmother.htm Is the Moscow Patriarchate the "Mother Church" of the ROCOR?] by Protopresbyter Alexander Lebedeff, December 28, 2007</ref>
After the end of World War II, the [[Church of Russia|Patriarchate of Moscow]] broached the possibility of reunification between Moscow and ROCOR, presumably at the behest of the Soviet government, which had adopted a more conciliatory attitude towards religion during the war and was presumably trying to capitalize on its wartime alliances to win a more respectable position internationally. This was not deemed possible at that time by ROCOR, given that Russia was still under communist dictatorship and the Church was still persecuted and controlled by the atheist authorities.
===Holy Transfiguration Monastery and ROCOR===
In the 1960s, ROCOR took under its care [[Holy Transfiguration Monastery (Brookline, Massachusetts)]] (today the principal [[monastery]] of [[HOCNA]]) after the latter had broken communion from the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]] due to its ecumenical leanings. At some point later, they gradually assumed responsibility for much of ROCOR's external communications and publications. (The monks of Holy Transfiguration were English-speaking and the ROCOR bishops in America mainly were not.) It is believed by many that the allegedly sectarian spirit of ROCOR came into its flowering during this time and under the influence of this monastery, which frequently misrepresented the official policies and views of the Synod of Bishops. In the early 1980s the hierarchs of the Synod began to correct and censor the narrow-minded and incorrect views of the followers of Holy Transfiguration Monastery. Subsequently this group broke communion with ROCOR (regarding allegations of sexual abuse by the monastery's leadership), styling themselves the [[HOCNA|Holy Orthodox Church in North America]] (HOCNA). They became affiliated with the [[True Orthodox Church of Greece]], a Greek Old Calendarist group which broke from the [[Church of Greece]]. According to Fr. Alexey Young (author of ''The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia: A History and Chronology''), the association of ROCOR and Holy Transfiguration Monastery resulted in deep damage to ROCOR.<ref>For more on the history of this schism, see [http://pages.prodigy.net/frjohnwhiteford/hocna_facts.htm Articles for those who wish to know the Truth about the Panteleimonite Schism and the so called "Holy Orthodox Church in North America"], December 28, 2007</ref> 
The monastery represented the traditional views of Orthodoxy, which were not always embraced by ROCOR. In 1983, ROCOR anathamatized the heresy of ecumenism. Due to issues of faith and ecclesiology, Holy Transfiguration Monastery broke communion with ROCOR after the repose of Metropolitan Philaret.
===After the Soviet fall===
Since After the end of the Soviet Union, ROCOR maintained its independence from the [[Church of Russia|Moscow Patriarchate]] on the grounds that the Church inside Russia had been unacceptably compromised. Some accusations went so far as to claim that the entire hierarchy within Russia were active KGB agents. ROCOR also attempted to set up missions in post-Soviet Russia.
This did not prevent all communication, however. For many years there had been unofficial and warm contacts between the two groups. In 2001, the Synod of the Patriarchate of Moscow and ROCOR exchanged formal correspondence. The Muscovite letter held the position that previous and current separation was over purely political matters. ROCOR's response expressed concern over continued Muscovite involvement in [[ecumenism]], which was seen as compromising Moscow's Orthodoxy. Nevertheless, this was far more friendly discourse than had been seen previously.
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia continued to establish itself in its homeland, although today, all of those parishes are either reconciled with the Moscow Patriarchate, or have gone into schism with one "Free Russian" group or another.  ===Views on the Moscow Patriarchate===After the declaration of Metropolitan Sergius of 1927, there were a range of opinions regarding the Moscow Patriarchate within ROCOR. A distinction must be made between the various opinions of bishops, clergy, and laity within ROCOR, and official statements from the Synod of Bishops. It now has about 100 worshiping communities There was a general consensus in Russia ROCOR that the Soviet government was manipulating the Moscow Patriarchate to one extent or another, and that under such circumstances administrative ties were impossible. other countries There were also official statements made that the elections of the patriarchs of Moscow which occurred after 1927 were invalid because they were not conducted freely (without the interference of the Commonwealth Soviets) or with the participation of Independent Statesthe entire Russian Church.<ref>See, for example, [http://www.stvladimirs. Currently four ca/library/concerning-patriarch-pimen.html Resolution of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Concerning the Election of Pimen (Isvekov) as Patriarch of Moscow, September 1/14) 1971], December 27th, 2007</ref> However, these statements only declared that ROCOR did not recognize the Patriarchs of Moscow who were elected after 1927 as being the legitimate primates of the Russian Church -- they did not declare that the Bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate were illegitimate bishops oversee these parishes, or without grace. Two There were, however, under the umbrella of them broke with Metropolitan [[Vitaly this general consensus, various opinions about the Moscow Patriarchate, ranging for those who held the extreme view that the Moscow Patriarchate had apostatized from the Church (Ustinovthose in the orbit of Holy Transfiguration Monastery being the most vocal advocates of this position) , to those who considered them to be innocent sufferers at the hands of New York|Vitaly]] the Soviets, and all points in New York between. Advocates of the more extreme view of the Moscow Patriarchate became increasingly strident in April 1994. They founded their own temporary administration called the 1970''Free s, at a time when ROCOR was increasingly isolating itself from much of the rest of the Orthodox Church due to concerns over the direction of Orthodox involvement in the Ecumenical Movement. Prior to the collapse of Russiathe Soviet Union, there wasn't a burning need to settle the question of what should be made of the status of the Moscow Patriarchate, although beginning in the mid 1980' and ordained three additional bishops. They were reconciled s (as the period of Glaznost began in November 1994the Soviet Union, and which culminated in the ordination ultimate collapse of the three new bishops was declared invalid. HoweverSoviet government in 1991), these questions resulted in a number of schisms, some tensions remainand increasingly occupied the attention of those in ROCOR.
===Rapprochement There are certain basic facts about the official position of ROCOR that should be understood. Historically, ROCOR has always affirmed that it was an inseparable part of the Russian Church, and that it's autonomous status was only temporary, based upon [http://www.pomog.org/index.html?http://www.pomog.org/ukaz.htm Ukaz 362], until such time as the domination of the Soviet government over the affairs of the Church should cease: :"The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is an indissoluble part of the Russian Orthodox Church, and for the time until the extermination in Russia of the atheist government, is self-governing on conciliar principles in accordance with Moscow===the resolution of the Patriarch, the Most Holy Synod, and the Highest Church Council [Sobor] of the Russian Church dated 7/20 November, 1920, No. 362."<ref>[Imagehttp:Laurus alexii signing//www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/english/pages/regulations/rocorregulations.jpg|right|250px|thumb|html Regulations Of The signing Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Confirmed by the Act Council of Canonical Communion Bishops in 1956 and by Patr. Alexey II and Metr. Laurus]a decision of the Council dated 5/18 June, 1964], first paragraph, December 28, 2007</ref> Since the election of Metropolitan Similarly, [[Laurus Anastasy (SkurlaGribanovsky) of New YorkKishinev|LaurusMetropolitan Anastasy]] as First Hierarch of ROCOR wrote in 2001, a steady process of rapprochement occurred between ROCOR his Last Will and Testament: :"As regards the [[Church of Russia|Moscow Patriarchate]]. Multiple official visits have been exchanged between and its hierarchs , then, so long as they continue in close, active and other clergy of both churchesbenevolent cooperation with the Soviet Government, which openly professes its complete godlessness and strives to implant atheism in the entire Russian nation, then the date for restoration Church Abroad, maintaining Her purity, must not have any canonical, liturgical or even simply external communion with them whatsoever, leaving each one of them at the same time to the final judgment of the Council (Sobor) of [[full communion]] was officially announced by both sidesthe future free Russian Church. "<ref>[http://www.antiochianorthodox.org.aunet/contentarticles/view/587anastasy-will.html The last will and testament of Metropolitan Anastassy, 1957], December 28, 2007</6/]ref>
In October 2001 ROCOR viewed the Russian Church as consisting of three parts during the Soviet period: 1. The Moscow Patriarchate, 2. the Catacomb Church, and 3. The Free Russian Church (ROCOR). The Catacomb Church had been a significant part of the Russian Church prior to World War II. Most of those in ROCOR had left Russia during or well before World War II. They were unaware of the changes that had occurred immediately after World War II&mdash;most significantly that with the election of Patriarch [[Alexei II I (RidigerSimansky) of Moscow|Alexei III]] and , most of the Catacomb Church was reconciled with the Moscow Patriarchate. By the 1970s, due to this reconciliation, as well as to continued persecution by the Soviets, there was very little left of the Catacomb Church. [[Holy SynodAlexander Solzhenitsyn]] of the Moscow Patriarchate sent made this point in a letter to the Bishops' Council 1974 [[All-Diaspora Councils|All-Diaspora Sobor]] of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia calling for reconciliationROCOR, in which he stated that ROCOR should not "show solidarity with a mysterious, sinless, but without successalso bodiless catacomb. However"<ref>[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/cat_1974.aspx The Catacomb Tikhonite Church 1974], The Orthodox Word, there was mutual recognition of grace in the sacraments of each churchNov.-Dec. Then, in November 20031974 (59), 235-246, December 28, a delegation of 2007.</ref> The fact that the Russian Orthodox catacomb Church Outside Russia consisting of three bishops and two priests paid an official visit had essentially ceased to the Moscow Patriarchate. This signaled a warming in relationsexist was de facto recognized when, and as Communism was about to finally collapse in May 2004 for the first time since the foundation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, the First Hierarch of ROCORbegan to establish "Free Russian" parishes in Russia, Metropolitan Laurusand to consecrate bishops to oversee such parishes, visited Moscow and met with Patriarch Alexei. never recognized The two church leaders established any alleged Catacomb bishop as having a joint committee to examine ways to overcome the division between their churches. This committee met successfully on several occasions, working out the details of intercommunion between the two Church bodieslegitimate episcopacy.
This possibility Finally, the collapse of rapprochement led to Communism in the Soviet Union precipitated a small [[schism]] crisis in ROCOR, because the very reason that had initially resulted in its separation from the Moscow Patriarchate had been removed, and so the basis of the consensus that had previously united ROCORbegan to unravel. There were those who did not believe that the Moscow Patriarchate was yet free from the control of the KGB, taking and that in any case they had not sufficiently renounced the self-retired policies of Metropolitan [[Vitaly (Ustinov) Sergius. There were also those who believed that regardless of New York|Vitaly]] (Metropolitan Laurus's predecessor) with it (regarded by many the political situation in ROCOR as having been abducted by Russia, that the schismatics)question of Ecumenism had become sufficient grounds for continued separation. The resultant body refers to itself as But after the ''[[August 2000 All-Russian Orthodox Church Sobor of the Moscow Patriarchate, in which the MP officially condemned the Branch Theory of Ecumenism, and also renounced in Exile]]'' (ROCE/ROCiE)principle, if not in name, though it often still uses the ''ROCOR'' name. A few other communities have also broken off from ROCORpolicies of Metropolitan Sergius, some joining the question of reconciliation with Greek the Moscow Patriarchate become an unavoidable question that had to be resolved, one way or another.<ref>[[Old Calendarists|Old Calendaristhttp://pages.prodigy.net/frjohnwhiteford/statusquo.htm Status Quo, ROCOR?]] groups, December 28, 2007.</ref>
On ===Rapprochement with Moscow===[[June 21Image:Laurus alexii signing.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The signing of the [[Act of Canonical Communion with the Moscow Patriarchate|Act of Canonical Communion]], 2005, it was announced simultaneously by both Patr. Alexey II and Metr. Laurus]]After the election of Metropolitan [[Laurus (Skurla) of New York|Laurus]] as First Hierarch of ROCOR in 2001, a steady process of rapprochement occurred between ROCOR and the MP on their respective websites that rapprochement talks [[Church of Russia|Moscow Patriarchate]]. Multiple official visits were leading toward the resumption of full relations been exchanged between the ROCOR hierarchs and the MP other clergy of both churches, and that the ROCOR would be given the status date for restoration of [[autonomyfull communion]]was officially announced by both sides.[http://www.mospat.ru/text/e_news/id/9553.html][http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/01newstucture/pagesen/articles/docs.html]
In May 2006, October 2001 Patriarch [[Alexei II (Ridiger) of Moscow|Alexei II]] and the [[Holy Synod]] of the Moscow Patriarchate sent a letter to the ROCOR met in its IV All-Diaspora Bishops' Councilof the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia calling for reconciliation, which but without immediate success. However, there was held at Most Holy Theotokos Joy mutual recognition of grace in the sacraments of All Who Sorrow Cathedral each church. Then, in San FranciscoNovember 2003, California. The council consisted a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia consisting of clergy three bishops and lay delegates from all dioceses of two priests paid an official visit to the ROCORMoscow Patriarchate. This signaled a warming in relations, and adopted a resolution, expressing "great hope that in May 2004 for the appropriate first time, since the unity foundation of the Russian Orthodox Church will be restored upon Outside Russia, the foundation First Hierarch of the Truth of ChristROCOR, Metropolitan Laurus, opening for us the possibility visited Moscow and met with Patriarch Alexei. The two church leaders established a joint committee to serve together and examine ways to commune from one Chaliceovercome the division between their churches."[http://www.sobor2006.com/more2 This committee met successfully on several occasions, working out the details of intercommunion between the two Church bodies.php?id=99_0_3_0_M45]
Following the IV All-Diaspora Council, the Council This possibility of Bishops of the rapprochement led to a small [[schism]] from ROCOR was held. According to sources close to the council, it generally agreed with taking the text of the proposed "self-retired Metropolitan [[Act Vitaly (Ustinov) of Canonical Communion with the Moscow PatriarchateNew York|Act of Canonical UnityVitaly]]," but remitted (Metropolitan Laurus's predecessor) with it back to (regarded by many in ROCOR as having been abducted by the Committee for Dialogue with the Moscow Patriarchate to rework certain aspects of the documentschismatics).{{citation}} The exact nature of resultant body refers to itself as the elements to be worked out is unclear''[[Russian Orthodox Church in Exile]]'' (ROCE/ROCiE), but, according to sources close to though it often still uses the Synod of Bishops, involves, among ''ROCOR'' name. A few other thingscommunities have also broken off from ROCOR, property issues in the Holy Landsome joining with Greek [[Old Calendarists|Old Calendarist]] groups.{{citation}}
On September 6[[June 21]], 2006 The Synod of Bishops of 2005, it was announced simultaneously by both the ROCOR decreed and the MP on their confirmation and approval respective websites that rapprochement talks were leading toward the resumption of full relations between the revised Act of Canonical Unity ROCOR and instructed the Commission on Discussion with MP and that the Moscow Patriarchate to work jointly with ROCOR would be given the Moscow Patriarchate to work out details status of the official signing of the Act[[autonomy]]. <ref>[http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod01newstucture/eng2006pagesen/9enaktkoarticles/docs.html] Subsequently on September 11, 2006 The Synod Documents Developed at the Joint Sessions of Bishops the Commission of ROCOR published the Moscow Patriarchate on ROCOR's website a clarification of their decision to confirm and approve Discussions with the Act. [http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2006/9enaktexplanantion.html] Patriarch Alexy II Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Moscow Russia and All Russia acknowledged the work Commission of the commissions and declared that the act Russian Orthodox Church Outside of reunification, while moving in Russia on Discussions with the right direction, will take timeMoscow Patriarchate. [http:]<//www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=1977]ref>
Both In May 2006, the ROCOR met in its IV All-Diaspora Council, which was held at Most Holy Theotokos Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral in San Francisco, California. The council consisted of clergy and lay delegates from all dioceses of the Moscow Patriarchate ROCOR, and adopted a resolution, expressing "great hope that in the appropriate time, the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia published on their respective websites will be restored upon the final full text foundation of the Act Truth of Canonical Unity [http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/engdocuments/enmat_akt.html] with all relevant supporting documents [http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/engdocuments/enmat_addendumChrist, opening for us the possibility to serve together and to commune from one Chalice.html] "<ref>[http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2006/11ensummation5ensobresolution.html] on November 1, 2006. The Act having been approved by both Resolution of the Moscow Patriarchate and ROCOR, it was formally signed in Moscow on May 17, 2007, followed by a concelebration IV All-Diaspora Council of the Divine Liturgy, bringing the ROCOR into the Moscow Patriarchate. Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]</ref>
The Following the IV All-Diaspora Council, the Council of Bishops of the ROCOR was held. According to sources close to the council, it generally agreed with the text of the proposed "[[Act of Canonical Communion with the Moscow Patriarchate|Act itself "repealedof Canonical Unity]]," but remitted it back to the Committee for Dialogue with the Moscow Patriarchate to rework certain aspects of the document.{{citation}} The exact nature of the elements to be worked out is unclear, but, according to sources close to the ROCOR anathema against ecumenismSynod of Bishops, it involved, among other things, which states:property issues in the Holy Land.{{citation}}
Those who attack On September 6, 2006, the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR decreed their confirmation and approval of the Church revised Act of Christ by teaching that Christ's Church is divided into so-called "branches" which differ in doctrine Canonical Unity and way instructed the Commission on Discussion with the Moscow Patriarchate to work jointly with the Moscow Patriarchate to work out details of the official signing of life, or that the Church does not exist visibly, but will be formed in Act.<ref> [http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2006/9enaktko.html The Synod of Bishops Makes a Decision on the future when all "branchesAct on Canonical Communion" or sects or denominations]</ref> Subsequently on September 11, 2006, the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR published on ROCOR's website a clarification of their decision to confirm and even religions will be united into one body; approve the Act.<ref>[http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2006/9enaktexplanantion.html Clarifications on the Negotiation Process and who do not distinguish the priesthood "Act on Canonical Communion"]</ref> Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and mysteries of All Russia acknowledged the Church from those work of the heretics, but say commissions and declared that the baptism and eucharist act of heretics is effectual for salvation; thereforereunification, to those who knowingly have communion with these aforementioned heretics or who advocatewhile moving in the right direction, disseminate, or defend their new heresy will take time.<ref> [http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=1977 Unification of Ecumenism under the pretext of brotherly love or the supposed unification of separated Christians, Anathema!Orthodox Church with its branch abroad will not be fast - Alexy II]</ref>
Both the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia published on their respective websites the final full text of the Act of Canonical Unity <ref>[http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/engdocuments/enmat_akt.html Act of Canonical Union]</ref> with all relevant supporting documents <ref>[http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/engdocuments/enmat_addendum.html Addendum to the Act of Canonical Communion], [http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2006/11ensummation.html Summation of the Joint Work of the Commissions of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate]</ref> on November 1, 2006. The Act having been approved by both the Moscow Patriarchate and ROCOR is now officially , was formally signed in communion with those groups it formally anathematizedMoscow on May 17, 2007, followed by a concelebration of the Divine Liturgy, bringing the ROCOR into the Moscow Patriarchate.
===ROCOR Today===
ROCOR currently has over 400 349 [[parish]]es as well as and 21 [[monastery|monasteries]] for men and women in 40 32 countries throughout the world, served by nearly 600 [[priest]]s462 clergy. In North America, it has approximately 133 The distribution of parishes is as follows: 152 parishes and 8 monasteries in the US United States; 42 parishes in Germany; 31 parishes and 4 monasteries in Australia; 21 parishes and 3 monasteries in Canada; 22 parishes in Canada. There are three ROCOR communities Indonesia; and a handful of institutions in France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and 21 in [[Diocese of Australia , South America, and New Zealand (.<ref>[http://www.synod.com/ Source: Official ROCOR)|Australia and New Zealand]parish directory]. There are also roughly 100 communities which owe allegiance to ROCOR in Russia and the other nations of the former Soviet Union.</ref>
There are five twelve ROCOR monasteries for men and women in North America, the most important and largest of which is [[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)]], to which is attached ROCOR's seminary, [[Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary]].
In concert with the [[Church of Jerusalem]], ROCOR also oversees the [http://www.jerusalem-mission.org/ Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem], headed by Hegumen Andronik (Kotliaroff), which acts as caretaker to three holy sites in Palestine, all of which are monasteries.
==Ecclesiastical status before 2007==
Before the reconciliation, ROCOR's status with regard to [[full communion]] was not entirely clear-cut. There was never a formal declaration of a break in communion made between ROCOR and most other Orthodox churches, though in many dioceses [[concelebration]] had been suspended. In others, concelebration was active. A formal declaration of breaking communion with the OCA was issued by the ROCOR Synod after the Moscow Patriarchate issued the Tomos of Autocephaly to the OCA. (See: [[ROCOR and OCA]].) Generally Orthodox Christians from all local Orthodox churches were welcome to the chalice in ROCOR churches. There was never a declaration from the ROCOR synod that grace did not exist in the [[New Calendar]] jurisdictions, in spite of statements to the contrary by the followers of Holy Transfiguation Monastery in Boston when they were still with the Synod.
ROCOR formerly maintained communion with a few [[Old Calendarist]] jurisdictions, including the [[Holy Synod in Resistance]] (True Orthodox Church of Greece, so-called "Cyprianites"), the [[Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Romania]] (Synod of Metropolitan Vlasie), and the [[Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Bulgaria]] (Bishop Photii). In 2006, communion with the [[Holy Synod in Resistance]] was suspended, after the ROCOR Synod received a letter from Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Fili stating that Metropolitan Laurus' name had been "struck from the [[Diptychs|diptych]]." <ref>[http://www.synod.com/synod/eng2006/2ensynodmeeting.htmlA Regular Session of the Synod of Bishops is Held] </ref> Relations with the Synod of Metropolitan Vlasie and with Bishop Photii of Triaditza were subsequently severed as well.
As of 2007, with the reconciliation with Moscow, the ROCOR is now in communion with [[List of autocephalous and autonomous churches|all of mainstream Orthodoxy]] by virtue of its incorporation into the Moscow Patriarchate.
==The Episcopacy==
: ''See '''[[List of bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]]'''''The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia currently has 13 thirteen [[bishop]]s serving 11 nine [[diocese]]s throughout the world, along with one retired bishop.
===Ruling bishops===
* Metropolitan [[Mark (Arndt) of Berlin|Mark (Arndt)]] of Berlin and Germany
* Archbishop [[Kyrill (Dmitrieff) of San Francisco|Kyrill (Dmitrieff)]] of San Francisco and Western America
* Archbishop [[Gabriel (Chemodakov) of Montreal|Gabriel (Chemodakov)]] of Montreal and Canada
* Archbishop [[Peter (Loukianoff) of Cleveland|Peter (Loukianoff)]] of Chicago and Mid-America
* Bishop [[John (Bērziņš) of Caracas|John (Bērziņš)]] of Caracas and South America
* Bishop [[Irenei (Steenberg) of London|Irenei (Steenberg)]] of London and Western Europe
Ruling ===Vicar bishops:===* Metropolitan Bishop [[Laurus Theodosius (SkurlaIvashchenko) of New York|Laurus (Skurla)Seattle]] of New York and Eastern America, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Ruling Bishop of the Syracuse-Holy Trinity DioceseSeattle, ''[[Locum Tenens]]'' of the Eastern part Vicar of the Diocese of Montreal and Canada* Archbishop [[Alypy (Gamanovich) of Chicago|Alypy (Gamanovich)]] of Chicago and Mid-Western America* Archbishop Bishop [[Mark George (ArndtSchaefer) of Berlin|Mark (Arndt)Canberra]] of BerlinCanberra, Germany and Vicar of Great Britain* Archbishop [[Hilarion (Kapral) of Sydney|Hilarion (Kapral)]] of Sydney, [[the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand (ROCOR)|Australia and New Zealand]]* Archbishop Bishop [[Kyrill Nicholas (DmitrieffOlhovsky) of San Francisco|Kyrill (Dmitrieff)Manhattan]] of San Francisco and Western Manhattan, Vicar of the Diocese of Eastern America* Bishop Alexander of Vevey, Locum Tenens Vicar of the Diocese of Western part Europe* Bishop Luke of Syracuse, Vicar of the Diocese of Montreal and CanadaEastern America* Bishop [[Michael (Donskoff) James of Sonora, Vicar of Geneva|Michael (Donskoff)]] the Diocese of Geneva and Western EuropeAmerica
Vicar ===Retired bishops:===* Bishop [[Evtikhii Michael (KurochkinDonskoff) of IshimGeneva|Evtikhii Michael (KurochkinDonskoff)]] of Domodedovo, Patriarchal Vicar for the service of Synodal parishes in Russia* Bishop [[Daniel (Alexandrow) of Erie|Daniel (Alexandrow)]] of Erie, Vicar of the President of the Synod of Bishops for the service of Old Believers* Bishop [[Gabriel (Chemodakov) of Manhattan|Gabriel (Chemodakov)]] of Manhattan, Vicar of the Eastern American and New York Diocese* Bishop [[Agapit (Gorachek) of Stuttgart|Agapit (Gorachek)]] of Stuttgart, Vicar of the German Diocese* Bishop [[Peter Jerome (Loukianoff) of Cleveland|Peter (LoukianoffShaw)]] of Cleveland, Vicar of the Chicago Diocese
Retired bishops:==First Hierarchs==* Bishop Metropolitan [[Ambrose Anthony (CantacuzèneKhrapovitsky) of GenevaKiev|Ambrose Anthony (CantacuzèneKhrapovitsky)]](reposed on August 10, 1936, Retiredin Sremsky Karlovtsy, formerly of Geneva and Western EuropeSerbia)* Bishop Metropolitan [[Varnava Anastasy (ProkofievGribanovsky) of CannesKishinev|Varnava Anastasy (ProkofievGribanovsky)]](reposed on May 22, Retired, formerly of Cannes, Vicar for the Western European diocese Suspended bishops:1965)* Bishop Metropolitan [[Agafangel Philaret (PashkovskyVoznesensky) of SimferopolNew York|Agafangel Philaret (PashkovskyVoznesensky)]](reposed on November 21, suspended. Formerly bishop of Odessa and the Crimea Former bishops:1985)* Bishop Metropolitan [[Alexander Vitaly (MileantUstinov) of Buenos AiresNew York|Alexander Vitaly (MileantUstinov)]] of Buenos Aires and South America (reposed on September 25, 2006, in Mansonville, Canada)* Metropolitan [[September 13Laurus (Skurla) of New York|Laurus (Škurla)]](reposed on March 16, 2005 [http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/01newstucture/pagesen/news05/balexdeath.html]2008)* Bishop Metropolitan [[Mitrophan Hilarion (Znosko-BorovskyKapral) of BostonNew York|Hilarion (Kapral)]], (reposed February 15on May 16, 20022022).* Metropolitan [[Nicholas_(Olhovsky)_of_Manhattan|Nicholas (Olhovsky)]].
==See also==
*[[ROCOR and OCA]]
 
==Notes==
<div class="small">
<references />
</div>
==External links==
*[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/roca_history.aspx History of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad], by St. [[John Maximovitch]]
*[http://gnisios.narod.ru/bisrocor.html Bishops of the ROCOR]
*[http://www.russianorthodoxchurchsynod.wscom/01newstucture/pagesen/articles/svassasobor.htm "Glory be to God, Who Did Not Abandon His Church": The Self-Awareness of ROCOR at the Third All-Diaspora Council of 1974], by [[Vassa (Larin)|Nun Vassa (Larin)]]
<!--- * [http://www.pravos.org/index.htm Commission Dialogue Moscow Patriarchate-Church outside Russia] --->
*[http://pageswww.prodigysaintjonah.netorg/frjohnwhitefordarticles/voicesofreason.htm Voices of Reason], a collection of articles in response to those who oppose the reconciliation of ROCOR with the MP
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