21
edits
Changes
Refined description of 'Eucharistic Communities'; corrections to paragraph on Bishop Basil's reception by Constantinople.
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''.
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 smaller 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]
He was forcibly retired from his position as administrator of the Sourozh diocese after seeking reception into the Ecumenical Patriarchate , along with those of his flock who wished to follow him, without having first obtained canonical release from the Moscow Patriarchate.[http://www.sourozh.org/info/letters/letter230706.html] The Ecumenical Patriarchate subsequently received Basil on the basis of his appeal which followed the retirement, although Moscow had not issued a canonical releaseand 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 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.[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]
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]
