His Grace, the Right Reverend Bishop '''Basil (Osborne) of Amphipolis''' is an [[auxiliary a titular bishop]] attached to, and under, the Oecumenical Patriarchate )formally known as one of "the bishops of the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]]Throne", serving as an auxiliary bishop in its [[Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition 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''.

In his position in the Ecumenical Oecumenical 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 a small number of parishes and some smaller Eucharistic Communities that elected to follow him in his departure from the Diocese of Sourozh (these are enumerated and discussed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episcopal_Vicariate_of_Great_Britain_and_Ireland#Parishes_and_Communities here]).<ref>[http://www.exarchate-uk.org/Parishes/parishes_index.html Parishes of the Vicariate]</ref> As part of this role, he sits on the council of the Exarchate.<ref>[http://www.exarchat.org/article.php3?id_article=563 Communiqué N° 12-06 du Conseil de l’Archevêché et Déclaration]</ref>

He was forcibly retired from his position as administrator of the Sourozh diocese after requesting release from Moscow and reception incardination into the Ecumenical Patriarchate, along with those of his flock who wished to follow him.<ref name="Innokenty1">[http://www.sourozh.org/info/letters/letter230706.html Letter "To all the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Sourozh"] - Abp. Innokenty of Korsun, July 23, 2006</ref> The announcement of his retirement came upon his refusal to withdraw his letter to Constantinople (sent after his request for release from Moscow) which requested reception incardination and noted his request for release from Moscow.<ref>[http://orthodoxe.free.fr/files/BBtoEcPatr01.pdf Letter to Patriarch Bartholomew I] - Bp. Basil (Osborne), May 2, 2006</ref> After his forced retirement was announced in the Sourozh cathedral in London, Basil immediately appealed the decision to the Ecumenical Oecumenical Patriarchate on the basis of Canons 9 and 17 of the [[Fourth Ecumenical Oecumenical Council]]and also Canon 28 of the same Council, such canons endowing the Constantinopolitan Patriarch with the privilege of the "ekkliton" (read hearing appeal) and granting it jurisdiction over regions not already subject to the other four senior patriarchates, Rome, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem.

The Ecumenical Oecumenical Patriarchate subsequently received accepted Bishop Basil into its jurisdiction on the basis of his appeal which followed the retirement, although Moscow had not issued a canonical release and had instructed him not to be received into another patriarchate until matters could be looked into by an appropriate commission. Consequently, the Moscow Patriarchate does not regard his reception incardination into the Ecumenical Patriarchate as valid, nor does it recognize the title ''Bishop of Amphipolis'' given to him by the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on [[June 8]], 2006.<ref>[http://www.ec-patr.gr/docdisplay.php?lang=en&id=678&tla=en Press Release for the Election of Bishop Basil of Amphipolis] - Ecumenical Patriarchate, June 8, 2006</ref> 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)'.<ref name="MP1">[http://www.sourozh.org/info/docs/synod190706_en.html Decision of the Holy Synod concerning Bishop Basil (Osborne)] - Moscow Patriarchate, July 19, 2006</ref>

The At least by implication the Moscow Patriarchate does not recognize the act of the Ecumenical Patriarchate Constantinople in receiving accepting Basil, and still regards him as belonging to itself, announcing this decision of remaining under its jurisdiction. [[Holy Synod]] on [[June 13]], 2006. Bishop Basil was summoned to appear before the MP synod on July 17,<ref>[http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=1559 Russian Church: Bishop Basil It considers Osborn's move to Constantinople's jurisdiction invalid as he is still her bishop] - Interfaxone of its bishops fax, June 14, 2006</ref> but Bishop Basil declined to do soappear. 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'.<ref name="MP1" />

The resolutions of the Moscow Patriarchate of the [[July 19]], 2006, make Bp. Basil's canonical stature a matter of intense dispute between Moscow and Constantinople. According to the Ecumenical Oecumenical Patriarchate, Basil may legitimately celebrate as a bishop; according to Moscow, he is forbidden to do so. Accordingly, no communicant of the Moscow Patriarchate who wishes to remain faithful to the decisions of his hierarchy may knowingly participate in a liturgy at which Basil celebrates as a bishop, nor may they receive Holy Communion from him. Similarly, after these resolutions, no Moscow Patriarchate priest may [[concelebration|concelebrate]] with Basil.<ref name="Innokenty1" /> The ancient Patriarchates of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]] ([[June 19]], 2006)<ref>[http://www.ec-patr.gr/docdisplay.php?lang=gr&id=698&tla=gr Letter from Pope of Alexandria concerning Bp. Basil Osborne] - June 19, 2006</ref> and [[Church of Jerusalem|Jerusalem]] ([[June 6]])<ref>[http://www.ec-patr.gr/docdisplay.php?lang=gr&id=697&tla=gr Letter from Patriarch of Jerusalem concerning Bp. Basil Osborne] - June 6, 2006</ref>, along with the [[Church of Cyprus]] ([[June 14]])<ref>[http://www.ec-patr.gr/docdisplay.php?lang=gr&id=699&tla=gr Letter from ''locum tenens'' of the Archbishop of Cyprus concerning Bp. Basil Osborne] - June 14, 2006</ref>, have recognized the reception by Constantinople of Bp. Basil (the latter doing so in extremely reserved terms, describing the option as the lesser of two evils<ref>[http://www.ec-patr.gr/docdisplay.php?lang=gr&id=699&tla=gr Letter from ''locum tenens'' of the Archbishop of Cyprus concerning Bp. Basil Osborne] - June 14, 2006</ref>).