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{{Eastern Christianitycleanup}}The '''Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church''' (or '''Russian Orthodox Oldritualist Church''', '''Russian Orthodox Old-Ritualist Church''') ({{lang-ru|, Russian Русская Православная Старообрядческая Церковь}}) is an [[Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox Church]] of the [[Old Believers]] tradition, born from a [[schism (religion)|schism]] within the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] following the liturgical reforms of [[Nikon of Moscow|Patriarch Nikon]] in the second half of [[17th seventeenth century]] ([[Old Believers]]). It is one of the two [[Old Believers]] churches that belong to the [[Belokrinitskaya Belaya Krinitsa Hierarchy]] - —the other being its "Mother Church", the [[Orthodox Old-Rite Church]], sometimes also called [[Lipovan Orthodox Old-Rite Oldritualist Church]].

Since the 18th century until the Council of 1988, the official self-designation of this Church was the '''Old Orthodox Church of Christ''' (''Древлеправославная Церковь Христова'') which should not be confused with [[Russian Old-Orthodox Church]], another church of the Old Believers. ''Drevlepravoslavie'' ("Old/Ancient Orthodoxy") was the common self-designation of the Old Believers and their cause since the 17th seventeenth century.

The head of the Church carries the title of ''Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia'' (since 1988), with residence at the [[Rogozhskoye cemetery]] in [[Moscow]]. The current head of the Church, Metropolitan Korniliy (Titov) (formerly, the archbishop of [[Kazan]] and [[Vyatka]]) was elected by the Most Holy Council on [[October 18]], [[2005]]. He was installed as [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] on [[October 23]], [[2005]].

The conversion of Met. Amvrosii caused a bitter reaction of Russian Imperial authorities and he was soon pressed to leave his [[see]], but not before he consecrated another bishop for his new Church - archbishop Kiril (TimofeevTimofeyev). The activity of the Bielokrinitskaya Bielaya Krinitsa Hierarchy on the territory of the Russian Empire met with numerous obstructions from Russian imperial authorities, as well as with an internal schism (see [[Okruzhniki]], [[Neokruzhniki]]). The situation was radically changed with the publication in 1906 of the Emperor's [[Ukaz ]] "On Religious Tolerance", soon followed by the "unsealing" of the altars at the important religious and cultural center of Old Believers, the [[Rogozhskoye cemetery]].

After the coming of the Bolsheviks to power in 1917 and the Civil war, the Old-Rite Church was subjected to innumerable sufferings and persecutions, just as its former rival, the "Nikonian" [[Russian Orthodox Church]]. In 1940, the only [[bishop ]] who was not imprisoned by the Soviet atheistic authorities was Bishop Sava of Kaluga who, in the same year, single-handedly elevated another bishop - Irinarch - to the see of the Archbishop of Moscow. The period of persecution was followed by the period of relative stability, under a tight control from the Soviet secret services. However, the time of perestroika and subsequent changes in the country's political, cultural and economic life had a little effect on the position of the Old-Rite Church in the Russian society - the 17-year tenure of Metropolitan Alimpiy (Gusev) is usually considered a time of "stagnation".

The situation began to change with the election of Metropolitan [[Andrian (Chetvergov)]] in the February 2004. The new leader of the Old Believers quickly showed himself as a charismatic and talented leader, concerned with formulating and propagating the cultural and religious "message" of the Old Believers for the modern Russian society. While declaring himself as traditionalist and conservative in his public statements, Andrian took a significant step forward in initiating some form of a dialogue with the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] and Russian political establishment. Unfortunately, many such plans were cut short with the unexpected death of Metropolitan Andrian on [[August 10]], [[2005]] during pilgrimage in one of the remote regions of Russia (he had a chronic heart condition). Many questioned the willingness of the church leadership to continue on the "new course" chosen by Andrian. However, the new Metropolitan Korniliy, elected on [[October 18]], [[2005]], confirmed that he will continue on the path of an openness to the Russian society, started by his predecessor.

 The head of the Church is the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia ([[archbishop ]] in 1846-1988), residing at the [[Rogozhskoye cemetery]] in Moscow. He is elected by the highest representative body of the Church - the '''Holy Council''' (Освященный Собор). The Council also appoints the members of the Council of the Metropolia.

The '''Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church''' belong to the [[Belokrinitskaya Hierarchy]] and is - naturally - in full ecclesiastical and canonical communion with her Mother Church, the ([[Orthodox Old-Rite Church]]).

 '''In Hungary and Romania (Belaya Krinitza, temporarily in [[Brăila]], Romania):'''

| AMBROSIOS Ambrosios (AMVROSIJPappa-Georgopoli), Metropolitan of Belaja Krinitza

| KIRIL Cyryl (TimofeevTimofeyev), Archbishop of Belaja Krinitza <br>and Metropolitan of All Old-Rite Orthodox Christians

| AFANASII Athanasius (Makurov)

| MAKARY Macarius (Lobov) |10.09. 1906- ?1921

| SILOUYAN Silouyan

| INNOKENTY Innoсent (Usov)

| TIKHON Tikhon (Kachalkin), Metropolitan of Belaya Krinitza

| IOASAPH Joasaph

| TIMON Timon (Gavrilov)

| LEONTY Leontous (Izotov)

| SOPHRONYSophronius (Zhirov), Bishop of Simbirsk |03.01.1849- 1853{{ref|SOPHRONY}}

| ANTONY Anthony (Shutov), Archbishop of Vladimir 1853- 1863; Archbishop of Moscow and all Russia

| SAVATY Sabatius (Levshin), Archbishop of Moscow

| IOANN John (Kartushin), Archbishop of Moscow and all Russia

| MELETY Meletius (Kartushin), Archbishop of Moscow and all Russia

| ''locum tenens'': VIKENTY Vincent (Nikitin), Bishop of Caucasus

| SAVA''locum tenens'': Sabas (Ananyev), Bishop of Kaluga, Smolensk and Bryansk

| IRINARCH Irenarch (Parfenov), Archbishop of Moscow and all Russia |1940- +07.03. 1952

| FLAVIAN Flavian (Slesarev)

| IOSIF Joseph (Morzhakov)

| NIKODIM Niсodem (Latyshev)

| ''locum tenens'': ANASTASY Anastasy (Kononov)

| ''locum tenens'': ALIMPY Alimpy (Gusev), Bishop of Klintsy

| ALIMPY Alimpius (Gusev)

| ANDRIAN [[Andrian (Chetvergov)]], Metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia

| ''locum tenens'': IOANN John (Vitushkin), Archbp. of Kostroma & Yaroslavl

| KORNILIY [[Kornelius (Titov) ]]

[[Category:Christianity in Russia]][[Category:Eastern Orthodoxy]][[Category:Eastern Orthodox minor churches and movements]][[Category:Old BelieversBeliever Jurisdictions]]