The Russian Orthodox Church in Western Europe: one or many?

This article analyses the way Russian Orthodox communities, primarily in Western Europe, cope with the ecclesiological challenge of de-territorialisation and increased individual mobility in the modern world. It focuses on the developments within the three parallel Russian Orthodox jurisdictions in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Religion, state & society
Subtitles:Orthodox Christianity in Western Europe
Main Author: Rimestad, Sebastian 1981- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Routledge [2015]
In: Religion, state & society
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Europe / Russisch-Orthodoxe Kirche
Further subjects:B Orthodox Church
B Orthodox diaspora
B Sourozh Diocese
B Archdiocese of Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe
B Paris Exarchate
B Ecclesiology
B Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
B Russian emigration
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:This article analyses the way Russian Orthodox communities, primarily in Western Europe, cope with the ecclesiological challenge of de-territorialisation and increased individual mobility in the modern world. It focuses on the developments within the three parallel Russian Orthodox jurisdictions in Western Europe, especially since the fall of the Iron Curtain. These developments can primarily be summarised in the context of two dilemmas. First, there is the question whether the ‘temporary' solutions that were put in place as a result of the Soviet regime's hostility towards the Russian Orthodox Church should come to an end in the new ‘free' circumstances since 1990. Second, there is the question of how to reconcile Russian traditions and allegiances with the religious needs of local converts to Orthodoxy. The main developments include the conflict in the UK since the death of Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom) of Sourozh in 2003, the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in 2007 and, most importantly, the developments in the Archdiocese of Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe (Exarchate of the Patriarchate of Constantinople) since the turn of the millennium. The French debate on the future of Russian Orthodoxy in Western Europe is the most pertinent one and provides a key to understanding the challenges posed to Orthodox ecclesiology in the West.
ISSN:1465-3974
Contains:Enthalten in: Religion, state & society
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/09637494.2015.1087115