His Grace, the Right Reverend Bishop '''Basil (Osborne) of Amphipolis''' is an [[auxiliary bishop]] of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] serving in its [[Russian Orthodox Exarchate in Western Europe]], tasked with the care of its flock in Great Britain and Ireland. He previously served as the temporary administrator of the [[Moscow Patriarchate]]'s [[Diocese of Sourozh]] (August 2003 - May 2006) with the title ''Bishop of Sergievo'', when he was forcibly retired after requesting to be released from Moscow to Constantinople.

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His Grace, the Right Reverend Bishop '''Basil (Osborne) of Amphipolis''' is an [[auxiliary bishop]] of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]], serving in its [[Russian Orthodox Exarchate in Western Europe]], charged with the care of its flock in Great Britain and Ireland. He previously served as the temporary administrator of the [[Moscow Patriarchate]]'s [[Diocese of Sourozh]] (August 2003 - May 2006) with the title ''Bishop of Sergievo''. He was forcibly retired from this position after seeking reception into the Ecumenical Patriarchate without having first obtained canonical release from the Moscow Patriarchate.[http://www.sourozh.org/info/letters/letter230706.html] Consequently, the Moscow Patriarchate does not regard his reception into the Ecumenical Patriarchate as valid, nor does it recognize the new title, 'Bishop of Amphipolis', given to him by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on 8 June 2006.[http://www.dioceseinfo.org/DOCUMENTS/Archdiocese-Documents/Declaration1206Eng.html] Considering him still a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, now in retirement, it refers to him in official correspondence without titular connection, as 'The Right Reverend Bishop Basil (Osborne)'.[http://www.sourozh.org/info/docs/synod190706_en.html]

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Bp. Basil's authority is over a vicariate of parishes in the British Isles entitled the ''[[Episcopal Vicariate of Great Britain and Ireland]]'', and he has the privilege of sitting on the council of the Exarchate.[http://www.exarchat.org/article.php3?id_article=563]

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In his position in the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Exarchate in Western Europe, Bishop Basil's authority is over a newly-formed vicariate of parishes in the British Isles entitled the [[Episcopal Vicariate of Great Britain and Ireland]], which currently consists of five parishes and four Eucharistic Communities that elected to follow him in his departure from the Diocese of Sourozh.[http://www.amphipolis.org/Parishes/parishindex.html] As part of this role, he sits on the council of the Exarchate.[http://www.exarchat.org/article.php3?id_article=563]

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The Moscow Patriarchate does not recognize the act of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in receiving Basil, and still regards him as belonging to itself, announcing this decision of its [[holy synod]] on [[June 13]], 2006. Bishop Basil was summoned to appear before the MP synod on July 17,[http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=1559][http://www.mospat.ru/index.phppage=31763&lng=0][http://www.orthodoxie.com/2006/06/dcision_du_sain.html] but declined to do so.[http://www.sourozh.org/info/docs/synod190706_en.html]

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The Moscow Patriarchate does not recognize the act of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in receiving Basil, and still regards him as belonging to itself, announcing this decision of its [[Holy Synod]] on [[June 13]], 2006. Bishop Basil was summoned to appear before the MP synod on July 17,[http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=1559][http://www.mospat.ru/index.phppage=31763&lng=0][http://www.orthodoxie.com/2006/06/dcision_du_sain.html] but declined to do so.[http://www.sourozh.org/info/docs/synod190706_en.html] Since 19 July 2006 the Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate has placed him under temporary suspension, forbidding him 'from celebrating divine services until his repentance or until the decision of the matter by a court of bishops'.[http://www.sourozh.org/info/docs/synod190706_en.html]

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The resolutions of the Moscow Patriarchate of the 19th of July 2006 make Bishop Basil's canonical stature a matter of intense dispute within the various parts of the Orthodox Church. According to the Patriarchate of Constantinopole, Bishop Basil may legitimately celebrate as a Bishop; according to Moscow, he is forbidden to do so. Accordingly, no Russian Orthodox Christian who wishes to remain faithful to the decisions of the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church may knowingly participate in a liturgy at which Bishop Basil celebrates as a Bishop; nor may they receive Holy Communion from Bishop Basil. Similarly, after these resolutions, no Moscow Patriarchate Priest may celebrate with Bishop Basil.[http://www.sourozh.org/info/letters/letter230706.html]

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{{succession|

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before=?|

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title=Bishop of Amphipolis|

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title=Bishop of Amphipolis^|

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years=2006-present|

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years=2006-present

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''^ = The title 'Bishop of Amphipolis' is not universally accepted; see above.''|

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==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.amphipolis.org/ Episcopal Vicariate of Great Britain and Ireland]

*[http://www.amphipolis.org/ Episcopal Vicariate of Great Britain and Ireland]

*[http://www.exarchat.org/article.php3?id_article=564 Biography of Bishop Basil] on the Exarchate's homepage

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*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese_of_Sourozh Wikipedia entry on the Diocese of Sourozh] in which Bishop Basil formerly served, containing information on his departure from that Diocese

[[Category:Bishops]]

[[Category:Bishops]]

Revision as of 11:18, August 5, 2006

Bishop Basil (Osborne)

His Grace, the Right Reverend Bishop Basil (Osborne) of Amphipolis is an auxiliary bishop of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, serving in its Russian Orthodox Exarchate in Western Europe, charged with the care of its flock in Great Britain and Ireland. He previously served as the temporary administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate's Diocese of Sourozh (August 2003 - May 2006) with the title Bishop of Sergievo. He was forcibly retired from this position after seeking reception into the Ecumenical Patriarchate without having first obtained canonical release from the Moscow Patriarchate.[1] Consequently, the Moscow Patriarchate does not regard his reception into the Ecumenical Patriarchate as valid, nor does it recognize the new title, 'Bishop of Amphipolis', given to him by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on 8 June 2006.[2] Considering him still a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, now in retirement, it refers to him in official correspondence without titular connection, as 'The Right Reverend Bishop Basil (Osborne)'.[3]

In his position in the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Exarchate in Western Europe, Bishop Basil's authority is over a newly-formed vicariate of parishes in the British Isles entitled the Episcopal Vicariate of Great Britain and Ireland, which currently consists of five parishes and four Eucharistic Communities that elected to follow him in his departure from the Diocese of Sourozh.[4] As part of this role, he sits on the council of the Exarchate.[5]

The Moscow Patriarchate does not recognize the act of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in receiving Basil, and still regards him as belonging to itself, announcing this decision of its Holy Synod on June 13, 2006. Bishop Basil was summoned to appear before the MP synod on July 17,[6][7][8] but declined to do so.[9] Since 19 July 2006 the Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate has placed him under temporary suspension, forbidding him 'from celebrating divine services until his repentance or until the decision of the matter by a court of bishops'.[10]

The resolutions of the Moscow Patriarchate of the 19th of July 2006 make Bishop Basil's canonical stature a matter of intense dispute within the various parts of the Orthodox Church. According to the Patriarchate of Constantinopole, Bishop Basil may legitimately celebrate as a Bishop; according to Moscow, he is forbidden to do so. Accordingly, no Russian Orthodox Christian who wishes to remain faithful to the decisions of the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church may knowingly participate in a liturgy at which Bishop Basil celebrates as a Bishop; nor may they receive Holy Communion from Bishop Basil. Similarly, after these resolutions, no Moscow Patriarchate Priest may celebrate with Bishop Basil.[11]

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