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His Grace [[Bishop]] '''Vasily Basil (Shuan) of Beijing''' was the first ruling [[bishop]] of the [[Chinese Orthodox Church|Chinese Autonomous Chinese Orthodox Church]].

Ignaty ShuanShuang, the future bishop, was born in Beijing on [[December 23]], 1888. Little is known about his early life. He later completed theological [[seminary]] at the [[Russian Orthodox Mission in China|Spiritual Mission]], Beijing, and was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[deacon|diaconate]] on [[May 11]], 1915, by Bishop Innokenty [[Innocent (Figurovsky) of Beijing|Innocent (Figurovsky)]].

Dcn Ignaty, after 33 years serving as a [[deacon]], was ordained in 1948 to the [[priest]]hood. On [[August 30]] of that year, he was also [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] with the name Vasily. Hmk Vasily was then elevated to [[Igumen|Hegumen]] and was appointed spiritual director of Holy Dormition Monastery and Holy Protection Monastery, a male and female monastery (respectively).

In July 1950On [[August 30]] of that year, Hegumen he was also [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] with the name Basil. Hmk Vasily was then elevated to [[archimandriteIgumen|Hegumen]], and in December of the same year, Archimandrite Vasily was appointed spiritual director of the Catechetical School of the MissionHoly Dormition Monastery and Holy Protection Monastery, in addition to being made a member of the administration of the East-Asian Exarchatemale and female monastery, respectively.

Greater honour In July 1950, Hegumen Basil was elevated to come to Archimandrite Vasily when[[archimandrite]], and in 1951, Patriarch Alexy offered Archim. Vasily the bishopric December of Tianjin, but this was declined by Archim. Vasily, who gave the reasons of unworthiness and infirmity (being 69 years old). At this pointsame year, Archimandrite Vasily was the dean appointed director of the Holy Dormition [[Cathedral]], Beijing, and was temporary administrator Catechetical School of the diocese of Beijing. In February of this yearMission, Archim. Vasily was appointed in addition to being made a member of the Council administration of the Spiritual MissionEast-Asian Exarchate.

However, the episcopacy Greater honour was not to be denied. On come to Archimandrite Vasily when, in 1951, Patriarch [[May 17Alexei I (Simansky) of Moscow|Alexius I]]offered Archim. Basil the bishopric of Tianjin, 1957but this was declined by Archim. Vasily, who gave the reasons of unworthiness and infirmity (being 69 years old). At this point, Archimandrite Vasily Basil was consecrated Bishop the dean of Beijing in the Holy Transfiguration churchDormition [[Cathedral]], MoscowBeijing, by Metrand was temporary administrator of the [[Diocese]] of Beijing. Nikolai In February of Krutitsk and Kolomenskthis year, AbpArchim. Victor Vasily was appointed a member of Krasnodar and Kuban, and Abp. Makary the Council of Mozhaiskthe Spiritual Mission.

The first head As a result of political agreements, during 1956, between the People’s Republic of China and the Soviet Union, all foreign members of the church in China were required to leave the country. Implementing this political edict the [[Holy Synod]] of the Autonomous Chinese Orthodox Church was not of Russia, on [[November 23]], 1956, granted autonomy to rule this post very longthe Church of China. With agreement of the government of the People’s Republic of China, Arch. On Basil was consecrated Bishop of Beijing on [[January 3May 30]], 19621957 at the Transfiguration Cathedral in Moscow by Metropolitan [[Nicholas (Yarushevich) of Krutitsy|Nicholas of Krutitsy and Kolomna]], Bp. Vasily reposedArchbishop [[Victor (Svyatin) of Krasnodar and Kuban|Victor of Krasnodar and Kuban]] (who was the last head of the Russian Mission to China), with no successorand Archbishop Makarius of Mozhiak.

before=unknown[[Victor (Svyatin) of Krasnodar and Kuban|Victor (Svyatin)]]|

after=''none as yetsee vacant''}}

==External Linkslink==*[http://orthodox.cn/localchurch/beijing/basil_en.htm Biography Bishop Vasily (Yao Shuanglin)] on Orthodoxy in China.*[http://www.orthodox.cn/contemporary/20071227synod_en.htm Journal of the Russian Holy Synod Meeting of December 27, 2007]