314
edits
Changes
added Mansonville info
In mid 1993, Bp. Varnava wrote to the head of the self-proclaimed Kiev Patriarchate asking for eucharistic communion to be established between it and the ROCOR. This letter forced the Synod to respond by removing Bp. Varnava from his position as Synodal Representative in Moscow. Bp. Varnava continued to serve at the Ss Martha and Mary Convent before being ousted by members of Pamiat, who decided to return to the Moscow Patriarchate. After briefly serving in Valischevo village near Moscow, Bishop Varnava returned to France.
== The Mansonville Schism ==
In April 2001, Bp. Varnava was suspended by an ukaze of the Synod of Bishops of the ROCOR for numerous serious canonical violations, including the "distortion of ecclesiastical discipline and disobedience to the Supreme Administration and for refusal to commemorate during the services the diocesan ruling bishop". Subsequently, Bp. Varnava failed to appear for a spiritual court hearing in May 2001. The Synod of Bishops declared that Bp. Varnava was under suspension until complete repentance and that all sacramental acts performed by him or anyone under his authority are incorrect and unlawful.
In November 2001, following the retirement of [[Vitaly (Ustinov) of New York|Metropolitan Vitaly]], Bp. Varnava travels to Mansonville, Quebec. There, he become the de-facto head of a new organization called the "Russian Orthodox Church in Exile" (ROCiE, also ROCOR (V)). He participates in the consecration of Archimandrite Sergius (Kindiakov) and hieromonk Vladimir (Tselischev) to the episcopate. On November 5, 2001, he is appointed by the ROCiE synod as ruling bishop of Cannes and all Europe, with elevation to the title of Archbishop.
However, in 2003 a full-blown conflict erupts in the ROCiE synod between Bp. Varnava and Protopresbyter Benjamin Zhukov, the rector of ROCiE's largest parish and secretary of the ROCiE synod. Bp. Varnava refuses to particpate in the consecration of new bishops for ROCiE's parishes in Russia, which previously were administered directly out of Cannes. In response, the ROCiE synod issues a December 2003 ukaze suspending Bp. Varnava. Bp. Varnava accuses Protopresbyter Zhukov of forging Metropolitan Vitaly's signature on the synodal document and and suspends Zhukov. Not recognizing the validity of the ukaze, or all subsequent synodal actions, Bp. Varnava becomes de facto autocephalous.
In February 2006, the ROCOR Synod received a letter from Bp. Varnava, in which he repented of all illegal and uncanonical actions, including disobedience to lawful authority, unilateral acceptance of the title of archbishop, performing services and consecrations as a vicar bishop and while under suspension, and inciting schism. He confirmed that the ordination of Sergius (Kindiakov) was performed by him single-handedly because Metropolitan Vitaly was too ill to participate. He confirmed that other Mansonville ordinations were performed without his knowledge or agreement. And he requested to be accepted back into the ROCOR in his original title, as vicar bishop of Cannes under suspension.
The ROCOR Synod resolved to accept Bp. Varnava as a vicar bishop of Cannes and lifted all suspensions. However, he was place in retirement, without the right of serving outside of the cathedral in Cannes, without the right of performing any ordinations, and without the right of participating in any ROCOR council of synod meetings. On July 2, 2006, [[Gabriel (Chemodakov) of Manhattan|Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan]] served at the Cannes cathedral together with Bp. Varnava.
[[Category:Bishops]]
