'''Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky)''' of Kiev and Galicia was a famous 20th century [[hierarch ]] of the Russian Orthodox Church, a renowned author and theologian and, upon emigrating from Russia, the first First Hierarch of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]].

On [[September 7]], 1897, Archimandrite Anthony was ordained consecrated [[Bishop ]] of Cheboksary, [[auxilary bishop|vicar ]] of the Kazan [[diocese]] (since [[March 1]], 1899, Bishop of Chistopol', first vicar of the Kazan diocese). On [[July 14]], 1900, he was transferred to Ufa and became Bishop of Ufa and Menzelinsk. Because many residents of the Ufa province were [[Islam|Moslem]], Bishop Anthony worked on missionary efforts in his [[diocese]].

In January 1918, Metropolitan Anthony was present at the All-Ukrainian Church Council in Kiev. He then fled the city before the Bolshevik invasion. Following the killing of New Hieromartyr St. [[Vladimir (Bogoyavlesky) of Kiev]], Metropolitan Anthony was elected to the Kiev cathedra, and returned when the city was occuppied occupied by the Germans. However, his election was not approved by the authorities because of his opposition to Ukrainian [[autocephaly]].

Between November 1920 and February 1921, Metropolitan Anthony was in [[Constantinople]]. At first he decided that the Temporary Authority should be abolished and pastoral care for displaced Russians handed over to other local churches. However, after learning of the decision of General Wrangel to retain his army for further battle with the Bolsheviks, Metropolitan Anthony decided to keep the Church organization abroad. The Temporary Authority met on November 19, 1920 aboard the ship "Great Prince Alexader Mikhailovich," presided by Metropolitan Anthony. He and Bishop [[Bemjamin (Fedchenko)]] were appointed to examine the canonicity of the organization. On December 2, 1920, they received permission from Metropolitan Dorotheos of Prussa, [[Locum Tenens]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, to establish "for the purpose of the service of the population ... and to oversee the ecclesiastic life of Russian colonies in Orthodox countries a temporary committee (epitropia) under the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate"; the committee was called the Temporary Higher Church Administration Abroad (THCAA). In February 1921, at the invitation of Patriarch Dimitry of Serbia, the THCAA relocated to Serbia, where, on [[August 31]], 1921, the Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church decided to take the organization under its protection as an independent jurisdiction for displaced Russians.

With the agreement of Patriarch Dimitry, the "General assembly of representatives of the Russian Church abroad" took place between [[November 21 ]] and [[December 2]], 1921, in Sremsky Karlovtsi, Serbia. It was later renamed to the [[First All-Diaspora Council]] and was presided over by Metropolitan Anthony. The Council established the "Supreme Ecclesiastic Administration Abroad" (SEAA), composed of a patriarchal [[Locum Tenens]], a Synod of Bishops, and a Church Council. The Council decided to appoint Metropolitan Anthony as the [[Locum Tenens]], but he declined to accept the position without permission from Moscow and instead called himself the President of the SEAA. However, an Ukase of Patriarch St. [[Tikhon of Moscow]], dated [[May 5]], 1922, abolished the SEAA and declared the political decisions of the Karlovtsy Council as not reflecting the postion of the Russian Church. Meeting in Sremsky Karlovtsy on [[September 2]], 1922, the Council of Bishops agreed to abolish the SEAA, in its place forming the Temporary Holy Synod of Bishops of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] with [[Metropolitan ]] Anthony as its head by virtue of seniority. The Synod exercised direct authority over Russian parishes [[parish]]es in the Balkans, the Middle East, and the Far East. In North America, however, a conflict erupted with those who did not recognize the authority of the Synod, lead led by Metropolitan [[Platon (Rozhdestvensky) of New York|Platon (Rozhdestvensky)]]; this group formed the American Metropolia, the predecessor to the [[OCA]]. Likewise, in Western Europe, Metropolitan [[Eulogius (Georgievsky)]] also did not recognize anything more than "a moral authority" of the Synod. Metropolitan Eulogius later broke off and joined the Ecumenical Patriarchate, forming the [[Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe]], known colloquialy as the Rue Daru.

On [[September 9]], 1927, the Council of Bishops of the ROCOR, presided over by Metropolitan Anthony, decreed a break of communion with ecclesiastic authorities in Moscow after categorically rejecting a demand by Metropolitan [[Sergius (Stragorodsky) of Nizhny Novgorod]], who was acting as Locum Tenens, to declare loyalty to the Soviet authorities. Metropolitan Sergius responded in 1928 by decreeing that Metropolitan Eulogius had canonical authority in Western Europe and that all actions of the Karlovtsy Synod were uncanonical. Then, on [[June 22]], 1934, Metropolitan Sergius and his Synod passed judgement on Metropolitan Anthony and his Synod, declaring them to be under suspension. Metropolitan Anthony refused to recognize this decision, claiming that it was made under political pressure from Soviet authorities and that Metropolitan Sergius had illegally usurped the position of [[Locum Tenens]]. In this, he received the support of the Patriarch [[Varnava of Serbia]], who continued to maintain communion with the ROCOR Synod.