WESTERN ORTHODOX HISTORY: THE UKASE OF 1936

THE WESTERN ORTHODOX HERITAGE

For a thousand years, from AD37-45 to AD1054-66, the people living in the British Isles and western Europe believed and worshipped God as an integral part of the undivided Orthodox Catholic Church. That Church was governed world wide by five Patriarchs, those of Constantinople (the Ecumenical Patriarch), Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch and Alexandria. The Church in the British Isles was a local expression of the common Orthodox Christian Faith held throughout the world. The great saints of the British Isles such as Saint Aidan, Saint David, Saint Patrick, Saint Alban, Saint Chad, Saint Cuthbert, Saint Boniface, Saint Dunstan etc., were all members of that Orthodox Catholic Church in the British Isles which continued for a thousand years.
The initial split in the world wide Church occurred just after the beginning of the second millennium, when the Patriarch of Rome and his people parted from the majority of the Church led by the Ecumenical Patriarch and the other three Patriarchs. Throughout the second millennium, the church adhering to the Pope (Patriarch) of Rome, continued to split and further split until today there are some ten thousand separate groups or churches.
The original Church, the undivided Orthodox Catholic Church, continues today, still led by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and the Patriarchs of Antioch, Jerusalem and Alexandria, joined by the Patriarchs of Moscow, Georgia, Belgrade and Bucharest. During the past millennium, the Church has expanded, with Russia and the Slavic Churches having the largest number of Orthodox people in the world today. The Church founded by Christ and spread by His Apostles and Evangelists - the Orthodox Church - numbers hundreds of millions of members today, and is rapidly expanding on all the continents and especially in the western countries.

20080807

THE UKASE OF 1936

UKASE

of the

MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE

TO THE MOST REVEREND BENJAMIN, ARCHBISHOP OF THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS AND NORTH AMERICA

HEARD: A Report of the Confraternity of St. Photius of Paris dated 9/22 April of this year, No. 13, in which, among other things it is related that on 18 March of this year the Confraternity received an official letter from Bishop Winnaert, who heads the Catholic Evangelical Church, "with a request to undertake the necessary steps toward uniting his community with the Orthodox Church and to solicit the Moscow Patriarchate for a conclusion on his request.

From Winnaert's "Memorandum," which is appended to the Report, it is apparent that Winnaert was born in the year 1880 in the north of France; was baptized and confirmed in the Roman Church; studied theology from 1899 to 1905 in the Roman Catholic University of Lille; was ordained in 1905 to the priesthood. In 1908, becoming disillusioned with Roman Catholicism, he abandoned it, but continued to serve in the capacity of a Roman Catholic priest for some his parishioners in a church put at his disposal by the Anglican Bishop Bury, and in 1921, for the Old Catholics at Saint-Denis with the blessing of the Old Catholic Archbishop Gul of Utrecht. Because of differences of opinion, he left Archbishop Gul in 1922. In that same year Winnaert's followers formed themselves into an independent ecclesiastical community (The Catholic Evangelical Church) and chose Winnaert to be their bishop. Following the advice of the above- named Bishop Bury to seek a consecration for himself which the Roman Church would recognize, and hence, not an Anglican one, Winnaert received his consecration in London from Wedgwood, Bishop of the "Liberal Catholic Church of Great Britain" whose orders, through Willtz and Mathew, trace back to the same Archbishop Gul. In 1930, in the status of bishop, Winnaert entered into marriage, being guided by the practice of the Anglican and other similar churches. There are at the present time under Winnaert's supervision six priests (apparently ordained by him) and one deacon; parishes in Paris, Rouen, Brussels, Holland and Rome. The faithful number "not more than 1500 people." In its profession of faith the Memorandum repeats the Old Catholic formula: The teaching of the ancient indivisible (undivided) Church as formulated by the Niceo-Constantinopolitan Symbol of Faith and the Canons of the Seven Ecumenical Councils. The Catholic Evangelical Church accepts the Orthodox ordinances and traditions regarding the Hierarchy, the Sacraments, the veneration of the Mother of God, and the veneration of Saints and Icons. It rejects the Roman innovations, among them the insertion of the Filioque into the Symbol), "unconditionally adhering to the Epistle of the Eastern Patriarchs of 1849." "In contrast to Protestant tenets" it recognizes the authority of the Church in the interpretation of Holy Scriptures and Tradition "as the expression of the Faith of the Church." It "condemns all contemporary forms of occultism, theosophy, anthroposophies, etc., which are incompatible with Christianity" (apparently. to distinguish itself from the Liberal Catholic Church which diverted into occultism). The Divine Services are celebrated in the French language and follow the Western liturgical tradition in its Order as well as in exteriors (church arrangement, dress, candles, incense, etc.), except that in place of statues icons are accepted as in the Eastern Church. The liturgical texts are taken from the Roman Church but are "adapted" in suitable manner. Furthermore "as it is natural for France, the Gallican tradition is drawn upon more heavily than the Roman customs, since it is more deeply rooted in the Orthodox tradition of our country (St. Irenaeus and the Church of Lyons)." In particular, the Liturgy is "an adaptation of the Latin Mass," but with the following differences:
(a) "the Epiclesis remains as in the Latin Mass, before the Words of Institution, but has been made more accurate and strengthened by a special prayer to the Holy Spirit with an Invocation to bless and consecrate the Gifts;
(b) Communion is administered under both kinds;
(c) the Symbol of Faith without the Filioque
(d) Ektenias (Litanies) which disappeared in the Roman Mass have been reinstated."

Winnaert presented his Memorandum to the Constantinopolitan Patriarch in 1932. Receiving no reply, he wrote a letter in 1934 and in 1935 he sent the Hieromonk Leo (Lev) Gillet to Constantinople for personal discussions. Metropolitan Gennadius, Secretary of the Patriarchate, presented the following conditions, orally, for the reception of Winnaert and his community: the laity to be received unconditionally; the Western Rite preserved; the priests and deacons (ordained by Winnaert) to be ordained that they might minister to the needs of the newly united parishes; despite Winnaert's marriage after his consecration, his priestly orders to be recognized, but the question of his episcopal consecration to remain open for an undetermined period of time. Until this question is decided, Winnaert must refrain from celebrating the Liturgy in pontifical as well as priestly rank. He may, however, freely preach and celebrate some minor services. Winnaert submitted to these conditions, in spite of a troubled soul.

Nevertheless, Winnaert awaited in vain an official written confirmation of these conditions and was forced to appoint Metropolitan Gennadius a time limit in order that, in the future, not receiving an answer, he could consider the discussions with Constantinople terminated, and himself free to turn in another direction. The time limit expired; no answer was received; and Winnaert, as mentioned above, turned to the Confraternity of St. Photius on 18 March of this year.

TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION:

1. That the Moscow Patriarchate, in taking under its judgment the matter of Winnaert and his community, cannot overstep the framework of the competency of the Russian Orthodox Church, namely, as merely one of the Regional Churches. This, on the one hand, restricts or narrows down the matter in certain respects - placing before the Patriarchate merely the question of the reception of the petitioners into the bosom of the Russian Regional Church and into the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate and thus allows us a certain freedom of decision; while on the other hand it leads us to the necessity of adhering to the canons and regulations effective in our Regional Church, not reserving the petitioners any kind of dispensations which require synodal concurrence of all the Regional Orthodox Churches but which has not yet been received.

2. Some diversity in secondary points of doctrine, in the administration of the Sacraments and ecclesiastical discipline, which may be freely tolerated on an inter-Church scale, is naturally subject to restriction when the talk concerns uniting with a Regional, for example, the Russian Church. In particular, hierarchs and clerics, upon entering the ranks of the hierarchy and. clergy of the Russian Church, become teachers not only of their former, but, in general, of the Orthodox Russian flock, and therefore, must adhere to the forms of teaching accepted in the Russian Church. Likewise, also, in the administration of the Sacraments, there should be no such essential divergences as to cause the Russian Orthodox flock to be cautious of resorting to the new clergy for the Sacraments. In general, the newly united community, while preserving its Western peculiarities consecrated by Church antiquity, should not remain something foreign, segregated from the corporate life of the one Body of the Church which received it.

3. Even though opinions were expressed in Russian Orthodox theological studies favoring the recognition of the Utrecht and, in general. of the Old Catholic hierarchv, despite its origin from a single consecrator, nevertheless a conciliar recognition of the Old Catholic hierarchy binding for all the Regional Churches is lacking. This compels the Russian Church to receive those who come to her from Old Catholicism as she receives those coming to her from communities not possessing the Priesthood, i. e., through Chrismation.

4. Also, despite one or another evaluation of Old Catholic orders, the episcopal consecration received by Winnaert from Wedgwood is in itself doubtful. It must be ranked among the "vagrant" (vagans) consecrations, which are now apparently not few in the heterodox world. Wedgwood performed this consecration for a community wandering in the inter-Church expanse and had by no means in mind, through this consecration, to bring this community within the portals of his Church, and Winnaert into the body of his hierarchy. Wedgwood permitted them to go wherever they wished, and to organize their ecclesiastical life as they liked. On the other hand, Winnaert himself turned to Wedgwood for his consecration merely by chance and as an outward token -thinking to find in him a more or less undisputed consecration and, seemingly, not especially caring about the measure of catholicity of Wedgwood's community in its doctrine or in the whole of its Polity. It seems to follow, at least from Winnaert's Memorandum, that he did not accept an Anglican consecration, despite his closeness with Bishop Bury, not because of differences with Anglicanism, but because Anglican orders were disputed by the Roman Church. Holy Orders, however, cannot be thought of as something separate from the Church. The Priesthood is the property of the Church, i.e. exists only in her and for her. This is why a postulant, before consecration, takes a vow of fidelity to the Church consecrating him, and to her doctrine. The mystical essence of orders is indissolubly and, one may say, sacramentally united with the canonical regularity of orders. To receive ordination from Wedgwood and not to enter his Church or to leave it at that very time (keeping in mind that the the Wedgwood community in its essence is not under judgment) means leaving with nothing. Such a mechanical (even half materialistic) view of the essence of the Sacrament and such hopeless attempts to acquire Grace -continuing to remain outside of the Church from which it was acquired, is, in fact, characteristic of "vagrant" consecrations. Winnaert compares his consecration to the case when an Orthodox Metropolitan consecrates a bishop for an independent Orthodox Church. There can be no comparison here. In the Orthodox case the concern is, essentially, with the division of one eparchy into two. Even though the separated part received another jurisdiction it still remains flesh and blood of the Mother Church from which it separated. And both the ordaining metropolitan and the bishop ordained by him were and remain among the ranks of the former ecclesiastical hierarchy. In this case, however, Wedgwood and Winnaert met by chance at the consecration and then each went his own way.

5. Winnaert's entrance into marriage after his consecration undoubtedly transgresses the 26th Canon of the Holy Apostles (Ec. VI:6). Nevertheless, both justice and church economy require us to keep in mind that Winnaert entered into marriage while outside of the Orthodox Church and while wandering in the inter-Church expanse among arbitrary undertakings and general disorder. In such an environment it was easy for any consciousness of the obligatory precepts of the Orthodox Church to become dimmed, and the example of the Anglicans and others could seem an adequate justification for Winnaert also to enter into marriage. To accuse him of evil and premeditated transgression of the Church's canons would not be right. Therefore, we can apply to Winnaert the exception made by the Ec. VI:3 Canon, according to which, persons entering into marriage after their ordination up until 15 November 691 (i.e., carried away by former examples and having broken the law without evil intent), remain in their rank under the condition that they dissolve their improper marriage and remain without hope of elevation to the next degree of priesthood.

Determination of 16 June 1936, No. 75.

IT is DECREED: To recognize the possibility of the reception of Fr. Winnaert and his community into communion with: the Holy Orthodox Church on the following conditions:

I. Fr. Winnaert can be recognized only in the rank of presbyter, in which rank he may be received into communion, according to the canons in force in the Russian Church, with, however, the express condition of the dissolution of his improper marriage and without hope of attaining the episcopacy. After fulfilling the designated conditions and his elevation to the rank of archpriest or archimandrite (if he accepts the tonsure), Fr. Winnaert may be left at the head of the united community in the capacity of district dean (or administrator) under the usual diocesan supervision of the Most Reverend prelate ruling the Russian churches in Western Europe.

II. The clergy and laity of the united community who possess Confirmation (or Chrismation) recognized by our Church, are received into communion by the third form (through the Sacrament of Penance), while those without it, by the second form (through anointing with Holy Chrism). To enter the Orthodox clergy those of either category must be ordained by an Orthodox bishop. Clerics who have orders recognized by the Church may be received in their existing rank without hindrance.

III. In their doctrine of Faith the united community must, without deviation, follow the form of teaching held by the Orthodox Church. Hence the priests of the community must study thoroughly the Orthodox Faith, for example, by means of texts acceptable to the Orthodox Church (Dogmatics, Catechism, "Accurate Exposition", Confessions, etc.). In instances of doubt directions should be sought form the Diocesan Bishop and such followed.

IV. In it Divine Services and, generally, in the liturgical cult, the united community may preserve the Western Rite which it has maintained until now; however, the liturgical texts must be expurgated (even though gradually) of all expressions and thoughts not acceptable to the Orthodox Church.

V. The united community receives into it Menology all of the Saints who are venerated by the Eastern Church, but only those of the West who were canonized before the separation of Rome from the Orthodox Church.

VI. In the Liturgy it is indispensable that: [a] only leavened bread be used; [b] the Invocation of the Holy Spirit (the Epiclesis) and the Consecration of the Gifts be placed, not before, but after the words of Institution in order to remove all misunderstanding concerning the moment of consecration; [c] the laity be communicated under both kinds concurrently by means of the spoon; [d] the Liturgy be celebrated on a Antimins, consecrated and issued by the Most Reverend prelate ruling the Russian churches in Western Europe, in token of canonical unity with the Orthodox Diocese.

VII. The Sacrament of Baptism must be administered by triune immersion and only in view of an exception - by pouring or sprinkling; in Chrismation, Holy Chrism which is received from the Diocesan Bishop must be used; it must be indicated in the rite of Holy Unction that it is given not only in the capacity of "extreme unction" but also for the healing of the souls and bodies of the sick.

VIII. Fr. Winnaert, and the others seeking to be united with the Orthodox Church, are to submit a deposition (either individually or from parishes and groups) to the Most Reverend Eleutherius, Metropolitan of Lithuania and Vilna, the ruler of the Russian churches in Western Europe, who, if he himself is unable to be present to perform the Rite of Reception, shall delegate the execution of the same in an Orthodox church of one of the uniting churches, to someone of the clergymen in the Most Reverend Metropolitan's supervision who is able to perform the service in the French language.

IX. The united parishes, using the Western Rite, shall bear the name "Western Orthodox".

X. Those destined to be priest, deacons and minor clerics for the Western Orthodox parishes shall be subject the established examinations in regard to canonical impediments and as to knowledge of the doctrine of the Faith and church ritual. At their ordination they are to be vested in dress of Western form. When participating, in the future, in Eastern Orthodox Divine Services, they may vest without distinction in either Western or Eastern vestments. The Eastern Orthodox clergy shall do likewise when participating in Western Orthodox Divine Services.

XI. All matters concerning not only the reception but he further ecclesiastical organization of the Western Orthodox parishes are delegated to the Archpastoral care and direction of the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Lithuania, and the Diocesan Bishop of the Russian churches in Western Europe.

Thereto Ukases shall be sent to the Most Reverend Metropolitan of Lithuania and Vilna for guidance, and to the other Bishops for information.

Wherefore is this present Ukase sent to YOUR EMINENCE.

Substitute of the Patriarchal Locum Tenens;

SERGIUS, Metropolitan of Moscow.

Administrator of the Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate:

ARCHPRIEST ALEXANDER LEBEDEV.

23rd day of June
The year 1936
No. 1250
[setstats] [1]

English translation by Fr. David Abramtsov and Fr. Peter Krochta.

TIMELINE

The terms “England”, “Wales” and “Scotland” are used here for convenience as geographical indicators, since for most of the first millennium, they did not exist as such.

AD 37: Saint Aristibule sent to Britain from Tyre as first Bishop - recorded by Saint Dorotheus, Bishop of Tyre. This was six years before the Roman Empire invaded Britain. In those days his most likely point of entry would be Devon or Cornwall.

The four synods of Pisa 1409, Constance 1417, Sienna 1424 and Basle 1434, mention that "the Churches of France and Spain must yield in points of antiquity and precedence to that of Britain as the latter Church was founded by Joseph of Arimathea immediately after the passion of Christ." It is possible that these references are to Saint Joseph of Arimathea having financed Saint Aristibule and probably having accompanied him.

160: Saint Dyfan (often Latinised as Damian) and Saint Fagan (often Latinised as Fugatius) were brought by Saint Lucan a local king to re-organise and extend the Church in the west of England/Wales.

160-180: Bishop Saint Elvan and Saint Mydwyn are recorded in the Church in the West of England/Wales. Bishop Elvan died at Glastonbury circa AD195.

180c: Saint Dyfan becomes the first Christian Martyr of the British Isles (and hence the name of the town of Merthyr Dyfan just south of Cardiff in Wales).

208: The Roman historian Tertullian, in a tract mentions the Church in Britain as having reached parts as yet unconquered by the Roman Army, which tells us that the Church had developed beyond the Roman pale and was certainly indigenous, as the actions of Saint Lucan clearly show.

238: Origen makes mention the Church in Britain.

300-304: The first recorded Christian Martyrs in England were the layman Saint Alban, Bishop Stephen of London, Bishop Socrates of York, Bishop Argulius of London, as well as Bishop Amphibalus of LLandaff, Bishop Nicolas of Penrhyn, Bishop Melior of Carlisle, and others during the period

306: Constantine the Great was proclaimed as Augustus - ruler of the Roman Empire - at York in northern England.

314: Archbishop Adelfius of Caerleon, the Primate of the Local Church in Britain, the Bishop of Eborius (York), Bishop Restitutus of London and a large retinue attended the Council of Arles.

325: Saint Athanasius specifically states that the British Church recorded her agreement to the decisions of the First Ecumenical Council held at Nicaea.

359: British Bishops attended the Council of Rimini. The archaeological evidence of this period points to the existing chapels at Lullingstone and Silchester as dating from about 345

397: Saint Ninian founded the monastery at Whitehorn in Galloway.

399c: Saint John Chrysostom attests to the British Church as integral with the rest of the Church and holding the same faith.

432: Saint Patrick, born in the west of England, was consecrated Bishop and took up residence in Ireland. He ruled as Abbot-Bishop of Armagh for the next thirty years, founding many monasteries and extending the Church in Ireland until the time of his death in 464.

447: Visit of Saint Germanus accompanied by Severus, Bishop of Trier, to Britain.

456c: Caldey Abbey in Wales founded on Caldey Island.

478: Llantwit Monastery founded by St. Illtyd. By 530 it had in excess of 1,000 monks.

500c: Bangor Iscoed Monastery founded by Saint Dieniol.

500: Llanelwy Monastery founded by Saint Kentigern. By 570 it had over 1,000 monks.

520c: LLancarvan Abbey (“the house of saints”) founded by Saint Cadoc.

521: Saint Samson is consecrated bishop by Saint Dyfrig, Archbishop of Glywysing and Gwent, the Primate of the Local Church of Britain.

525c: The monastery at Padstow, Cornwall, founded by Saint Petroc +564.

525: Saint Samson founded the Monastery of Dol and became its first Abbot.

530c: Llandaff Abbey was founded by Saint Tielo

545: The Synod of Brefi is held at Llandewi Brefi to condemn the Pelagian heresy.

545: Saint Dyfrig, Primate and Archbishop of Caerleon resigned his position in favour of Saint David.

545-6: Saint David moved the Archdiocese from Caerleon to Menevia (St. Davids). Death of Saint Dyfrig. He was succeeded as Bishop of Glywysing and Gwent by Saint Teilo.

547-48c Saint David, Archbishop of Menevia (Wales) Primate of the Church in the British Isles, did obeisance to the Patriarch of Jerusalem (as did his successors Saint Padarn, Bishop of Avranches and Saint Teilo later Archbishop of Menevia). Saint David reposed in 601.

By the midst of the first millennium, the Church in the British Isles boasted a chain of hundreds of monasteries great and small, anchorite cells etc., spread all over the land. The Diocese was typically centred on the monastery in which the Abbot-Bishop lived and from which he ruled his Diocese, sometimes using monastic clergy to service the closer dependent Parishes and married clergy in the further towns and villages. There is reason to believe that secular as well as the numerous monastic Celtic Priests wore plain, equal-armed pectoral Crosses although whether this was universal or by rank is uncertain. Monks of the early period are believed to have worn plain, unbleached, heavy, coarse woven woollen habits with a full hood and leather belt. They habitually carried a plain staff. Secular clergy are believed to have worn black or dark blue cassocks. Later monks wore a darker habit and retained the staff.

553: Saint Kentigern Garthwys founded Glasgow Cathedral, adjoining a Christian cemetery established by Saint Ninian.

563: Saint Columcille travelled with some monks to Iona in Scotland where he founded the famous monastery at Iona on an island off the Atlantic coast.

564: Saint Cadog settled in Weedon in Calchfynedd and was made Bishop there. Saint. Samson attended the Council of Paris and witnesses several Royal decrees.

569: Saint David called the Synod of Victoria to denounce the Pelagian heresy once more.

570: Death of Saint Gildas at Llantokay (Street). He is buried at Glastonbury Abbey.

584: Death of Saint Deiniol Gwyn, Bishop of Bangor Fawr.

588: Skellig Michael Monastery founded by Saint Finnan on a rock 600 ft above the Atlantic Ocean seven miles off the west coast of Ireland. Probably one of the most inaccessible and austere monastic communities in the world, it flourished for a thousand years, at the end, being disbanded because the monks refused to accept the new calendar.

589: Death of Saint Constantine the King of Dumnonia (Devon).

590c Bardsey monastery founded.

The Church in the British Isles at this time numbered 120 bishops, hundreds of monasteries and parishes. It is well organised under a Primate with his See at Menevia, having been in existence since AD 37 - 561 years.

597: The monk-bishop Augustine sent by the pope to invade the British Church lands in Kent and meets Bishop Luidhard, chaplain to the Christian queen of the pagan Saxon king. Instead of leaving, he invades the lands properly belonging to the Local British Church.

598: Canterbury Abbey founded, Glastonbury Abbey founded.

601: The Synod of Chester. Death of Saint Asaph, Bishop of Llanelwy.

602: Augustine of Canterbury met with the British Bishops at Aust near Chepstow. He failed to acknowledge their Local Church and insisted that they yield to him in the conversion of the Saxons, and look to Canterbury as their spiritual centre. The British bishops tactfully declined.

604: The British Bishops met for a second time with Augustine of Canterbury. He neglected to rise to greet them, lectured them again and insisted they submit to him. The British Bishops sent him packing. They refused to recognise the authority of a church within their enemies' territory under such a disrespectful bishop.

634: Saint Aidan, at King Oswald’s invitation, came from the Monastery at Iona, to set up his See at Lindisfarne, as Bishop of all of Northumbria. Here he founded his monastery, staffed by a group of monks who had accompanied him from Iona.

635: Saint Aidan founded Whitby Abbey in Yorkshire.

635: Malmsbury Abbey in Wiltshire, founded by Saint Maildulph

635: Polesworth Abbey founded

664: The Synod of Whitby held to reconcile the dating of Easter with that of the universal Church.

669: Saint Theodore of Tarsus, a Greek monk appointed to the See of Canterbury, arrived in at the age of 67 and began a twenty year episcopate of trying to persuade the British Bishops to accept him as Archbishop.

672/3: The First Synod of Hertford called by Saint Theodore at which the famous ten decrees were passed, paralleling the canons of the Council of Chalcedon. He wrote: “My dearest brothers, for the love and reverence you bear our Redeemer, I beg that we may all deliberate in harmony for
our Faith, preserving inviolate the decrees and definitions of our holy and respected Fathers.” I then proceeded to speak at length on the need for charity, and the preservation of the Church's unity. And having concluded my discourse, I asked each in turn whether they agreed to observe all the canonical decrees of the ancient Fathers. To which all our fellow-priests replied: “We agree gladly, and we will readily and willingly obey whatever is laid down in the canons of the holy Fathers.” I then produced the said book of canons, and publicly showed them ten chapters which I had marked in certain places, because I knew them to be of the greatest importance to us, and I asked that all should devote careful attention to them.

* Chapter I. “That we all unite in observing the holy day of Easter on the Sunday after the fourteenth day of the moon of the first month.”
* Chapter 2. “That no bishop intrude into the diocese of another, but confine himself to the guidance of the people committed to his charge.”
* Chapter 3. “That no bishop shall interfere in any way with monasteries dedicated to God, nor take anything from them forcibly.”
* Chapter 4. “That monks shall not wander from place to place, that is, from monastery to monastery, except with letters dimissory from their own abbot; and that they keep the promise of obedience which they made at the time of their profession.”
* Chapter 5. “That no clergy shall leave their own bishop and wander about at will, nor be received anywhere without letters of commendation from their own bishop. And should such a person, once received, refuse to return when so directed, both receiver and received shall incur excommunication.
* Chapter 6. “That bishops and clergy when travelling shall be content with whatever hospitality is offered them; and that it is unlawful to exercise any priestly function without permission from the bishop in whose diocese they are.”
* Chapter 7. “That a synod be held twice a year.” In view of various obstacles, however, it was unanimously agreed that we should meet once a year on the first of August at Clofeshoch. (Cloveshoe)
* Chapter 8. “That no bishop claim precedence over another out of ambition: seniority of consecration shall alone determine precedence.”
* Chapter 9. It was generally determined, “That more bishops shall be consecrated as the number of the faithful increases.” But we shall take no action in the matter for the present.
* Chapter 10 On marriages: “That lawful wedlock alone is permissible; and no man may leave his lawful wife except, as the gospel provides, for fornication. And if a man puts away his own wife who is joined to him in lawful marriage, he may not take another if he wishes to be a good Christian. He must either remain as he is, or else be reconciled to his
wife.”

‘These decrees are drawn up and defined by our common consent, and in order that no occasion for unedifying controversy or differences between ourselves may arise, it has been thought right that each of us should ratify our decisions by his own signature. I have dictated this expression of our decisions to Titillus our secretary to be written down, and this has been done in the month and indiction mentioned above. Therefore, if anyone shall presume in any way to disregard or disobey these decisions confirmed by our agreement and ratified by our signatures, according to canonical decrees, let him take notice that he incurs suspension from every priestly function and exclusion from our fellowship. ‘May divine grace preserve us all in safety, who live in the unity of His Holy Church.’

The second Synod at Hatfield produced a statement of orthodoxy regarding the monothelite controversy.

673: Evesham Abbey founded by Saint Etheldreda

673: Ely Abbey founded by Saint Etheldreda.

674: The great Monastery at Wearmouth, Northumbria founded.

674: Hexham Abbey founded by Saint Wilfrid.

682: The great monastery of Jarrow, Northumbria founded. The church there is recorded as having a Rood Screen (iconostasis) with the icons recorded by Saint Bede. “Abbot Benedict brought “masons to build a church...and glaziers for the windows in the body of the church, the chapels and the clere-story” (Those glaziers set up a stained glass
school, the remains of which have been uncovered by archaeologists recently) “an abundant supply of relics of the blessed Apostles and Christian Martyrs which were to prove a benefit to many churches...and many holy pictures of the saints...an icon of the Mother of God, the Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin, and one each of the twelve Apostles, which he had across the central arch on a wooden frame reaching from side to side (a Rood Screen) ...icons of incidents in the Gospels with which he decorated the south wall and scenes from Saint John’s vision of the Apocalypse for the north wall...and...the Last Judgement” (above the arch). This arrangement was loosely followed by the Church until the Great
Schism and thereafter until the reformation.

690c: The Witenagamot - the Parliament of England - forbade appeals from the Local Church to the Patriarch of Rome, emphasising the sufficiency of the Local Church and its Primate.

693: Death of Bishop Eorcenwald of London. He is buried in Saint Paul's Cathedral, London and later revered as a saint.

700: Saint Aldhelm, Abbot of Malmesbury, attended a Synod in Wessex, from which he sent King Gerren of Dumnonia a letter insisting that his kingdom's Church comply with the practices agreed thirty-six years previously at the Synod of Whitby.

700: Evesham Abbey founded by Saint Egwin, Bishop of Worcester.

704: King Aethelred I retired to the Abbey of Bardney as a monk.

706: Archbishop Bertwald of Canterbury called the Synod of the Nidd which officially recognised Saint Wilfred as Bishop of Hexham and Abbot of Ripon. Saint John of Beverley, the previous Bishop, was transferred to York.

709 King Cenred of Mercia entered a monastery.

713: Queen Cuthburh of Northumbria founds Wimborne Abbey.

715: Foundation of Tewkesbury Abbey on the site of an ancient hermitage,

716: Croyland Abbey built on the site of Saint Guthlac’s hermitage.

720: King Ine of Wessex builds a substantial church at Glastonbury.

731: Saint Bede completed his history of the Church in England.

747 The western ecclesiastical calendar was adopted in England by a Synod meeting in Cloveshoe. In addition, observance of the feast days of Sts. Gregory the Great and Augustine (of Canterbury) was ordered. The English Church made unilateral changes to her calendar until 1161. The Rogation days were adopted.

747: The Witenagamot again forbade appeals to the Roman Patriarch. In both cases, ecclesiastical appeals could go only as far as the Archbishop of Canterbury as Primate of the Local Church.

754: With the Donation of Pepin, the Roman popes became independent of the Eastern Emperor and sovreign in their own territory - which the Franks now referred to as the “Roman Empire”

754-56: The forged “Donation of Constantine” purported to grant the pope of Rome supreme power over the other Patriarchates and to make him the supreme ruler of the universal Church.

768: Archbishop Elfoddw of Gwynedd persuades the Welsh Church to accept the results of the Synod of Whitby.

Regarding vestments of the British Church of the first millennium, perhaps the best example to cite is the set which have survived intact at Durham Cathedral. The stole bears an embroidered inscription which states that the set was made at the order of Queen Elflaed who died in 916, for Bishop Frithstan who held the See of Winchester from 909 to 931. The stole has embroidered on it the figures of sixteen prophets, with Saint Thomas and Saint James at either end, the whole very richly decorated. The matching maniple has the figures of Saint Gregory the Great, Sixtus II Saint Lawrence and Saint Peter, with Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Divine at either end. Saint Cuthbert wore an equal-armed gold pectoral Cross decorated with garnet rectangles and a central circular garnet. It had no figure, a feature which is extremely common among pectoral Crosses of the period. The T headed crozier was used by bishops of the first millennium as well as the crook-headed crozier.

785: The Synod of Cealchythe erects the Archbishopric of Lichfield at the request of King Offa.

792: The Synod of Regensburg condemned Adoptionism.

796: King Offa of all England signs a commercial treaty with his younger European contemporary, the Emperor Charlemagne dealing with him as an equal, while Charlemagne is recorded as having regarded him as an outstanding ruler.

800: Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne as “Roman Emperor” thus asserting his claim to the West, as presented in the forged “Donation of Constantine”. From this time the term “pope” began to be exclusively used for the Bishop of Rome.

800c: The Western Rite Monastery of Saint Mary was established in Jerusalem. A description circa 870 of the monastery is extant.

801: The monks in Jerusalem shocked by Frankish visitors sent by Charlemagne, who used the filioque.

803: The Synod of Cloveshoe made some decisions purporting to effect the whole Church in the British Isles. Introducing the Gregorian Canon into the Liturgy of Saint John, suppressing the Archbishopric of Lichfield.

804: Alcuin wrote to the people of Lyons cautioning them not to insert the filioque into the creed. The exiled Spanish bishop Felix was there advocating its use.

809: Death of Archbishop Elfoddw of Gwynedd

810: Pope Leo III refused permission for the filioque to be inserted in the Creed, saying that he could not override the Councils and the Fathers.

850: Bishop Censteg of Dingerein (Cerniw) accepted the authority of Archbishop Ceolnoth of Canterbury.

860: SS Cyril and Methodios arrived in Moravia and began their mission using the Western Liturgy there. They essentially used an Western (Latin) liturgy translated into Slavonic in Dalmatia.

867: A synod met at Constantinople. It anathematised the doctrine of the Procession of the Spirit from the Father and the Son (filioque) and the practice of clerical celibacy.

871: Alfred the Great, a warrior and scholar, became King of the West Saxons and most of modern England.

879: In November, a council sometimes referred to as the Eighth Ecumenical Council met in Constantinople. The council reaffirmed the creed of A.D. 381 and declared any and all additions to the creed invalid. It also placed Bulgaria formally under the jurisdiction of Constantinople. Three hundred and eighty-three bishops attended. Pope John VIII
accepted the council’s teaching that no one should add to the creed and in a letter to Patriatrch Photios indicated that he believed the filioque to be false. The filioque was not used in Rome until 1014.

893: Asser, a cousin of Nobis, Archbishop of Menevia and literary expert at King Alfred’s court, was made Bishop of Sherborne (+909).

909: William of Aquitaine founded the monastery at Cluny.

944: The Western Rite Monastery of the Holy Saviour was established in Constantinople under imperial favour.

980-985: The Western Rite Benedictine Monastery of Amalfion was founded on Mount Athos by the first Abbot Leo. Abbot Leo and his monks initially dwelt at the Great Lavra of Saint Athanasius while Amalfion was being built. The two monasteries remained closely linked. Abbot John III of Monte Casino dwelt there at the time of Abbot John of Amalfion (circa 993). The monastery and its abbot were among the five senior (oldest established) - recorded on many still extant documents. It flourished under imperial favour until 1287. This is of note because the monastery remained in imperial favour after the Schism in 1054 and after the Sack of Constantinople in 1204, was given further land grants.

988/9: The conversion of Russia. Vladimir of Kiev (son of Svyatoslav and known as Vladimir Ravnoapostolny, “equal to the Apostles”) was Baptised and married to the Roman (Byzantine) princess Anna, the sister of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II. Mass Baptisms followed Vladimir’s Baptism. Vladimir later established bishoprics at Novgorod and Belgorod and a seminary at Kiev for the instruction of local clergy. The British Church had been Orthodox for 950 years at this time.

1054: The Great Schism. At this stage, despite much re-writing of history by later papal historians, the fact is that the papacy held little power in England. It could not enforce its will on the British Bishops. The several pieces of legislation passed by the Witenagamot and the long history of regarding itself as a Local Church which pre-dated the Roman Church, meant that in the aftermath of the Great Schism, the papacy realised that it must secure the British Church by force or risk its possible alliance with Constantinople. The papacy also had little or no power in Sicily and
southern Italy, or in northern Europe to the Baltic coast.

1059: The papacy forged an alliance with the Normans against the German emperor (Henry IV, 1056-1106). At the Investiture of Melphi, Pope Nicholas II (1059-61) presented Capua to the Normans Richard of Aversa and Calabria, Apulia, and Sicily to Robert Guiscard. In return, the Normans swore allegiance to the papacy.

1061: Richeldis, the lady of the manor at Little Walsingham, Norfolk, England, had three visions of the Virgin Mary in which Mary showed her the house where she had lived in Nazareth. Mary instructed Richeldis to build a copy of the house. It is said that Richeldis’ workmen began a structrure in the style then current. The following day, they found
it 70 yards from where they had left it, and completed by unknown hands. Thus began the Shrine of our Lady of Walsingham as a place of pilgrimage. It presently has two Orthodox chapels and an Orthodox Monastery.

1066: The Norman Conquest of England. William of Normandy’s invasion was instigated and supported by the papacy, which had quarreled with King Harold Godwinson. The pope sent William the banner of St. Peter and funds for the conquest on condition that the bishops and abbots of the English Church be replaced with papal bishops and abbots. In William’s newly conquered kingdom the monasteries controlled one-sixth of the kingdom’s revenues. The widow and sons of the last Orthodox King of England, Harold Godwinson, fled to Orthodox Kiev, where she married Prince Golytsin.

The British Church claimed its Divine Liturgy as originating in Ephesus at the time of Saint John’s residence there. Accordingly they referred to it as “the Liturgy of Saint John” (the Theologian). Belonging to the Gallican family of Liturgies, it developed alone in the British Isles for four centuries. After that it began noticeable cross borrowing from other liturgies including as far away as Rome. The Liturgy is best preserved in a book which began its life around AD 600 and ceased having additions and alterations made to it about 950. This Liturgy continued in use in parts of the British Isles until 1171 when the schismatic papal bishops introduced into the British Church in 1066 had it suppressed. It was the basis for the Sarum Liturgy which was used from circa 1020 until after the Henrician split between the English church and the Roman church. It was used thereafter in England by the remnant Roman Catholics until the late nineteenth century, when the 1570 Tridentine rite was enforced. It continued in use in a few Anglican monasteries until the mid twentieth century. It is presently used by the ROCOR Saint Petroc Monastery and its
missions. The rite, directly evolved from the original Liturgy brought to the British Church from Ephesus early in the first millennium, has remained in active use ever since. It is therefore an unarguably legitimate Orthodox Liturgy of very ancient lineage, in continuous use for two millennia. Its predecessor the Liturgy of Saint John the Divine is used
in two monasteries in the Russian Orthodox Diocese of Belgium.

1066 - 1171, the Church in the British Isles came under complete control of the Norman, Papal bishops and was therefore involuntarily included in the schismatic papal church.

1054 - 1287 The three Western Rite Monasteries in Constantinople, Jerusalem and Mount Athos continued within the Orthodox Church

1716-1725: A considerable correspondence was conducted between the English Nonjuring bishops (usually styled in contemporary Orthodox documents as the "Catholic remnant" of the British Church), Peter the Great, Czar of Russia, and the Œcumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. It was proposed that a parish be established in London, which would be
Orthodox and Western Rite. The Nonjurers’ lack of funds prevented their sending the proposed two delegates to Russia to seal the agreement. However, the Patriarch’s second letter to the "British Catholics" expressed a willingness to effect union and fix details later: "As for custom and ecclesiastical order and for the form and discipline of administering
the sacraments, they will be easily settled when once a union is effected."

1840s: The Reverend William Palmer, an eminent Anglican churchman, academic and member of the Oxford Movement, for ten years pursued an intense correspondence with Alexei Stepanovich Khomiakov, the great Russian religious thinker and Metropolitan (Saint) Philaret of Moscow towards the establishment of a Western Rite Orthodox Church in England

1860s Dr. J.J. Overbeck held lengthy conversations with ROC authorities regarding the blessing of the Western Rite for use within Orthodoxy.

1869: In September of this year, the Holy Synod of Russia authorised the use of the corrected text of the Western Rite Liturgy (the Liturgy of Saint Gregory) and Benedictine offices. This was the text of the pre-Tridentine Roman Liturgy.

1870-71: The Old Catholic Schism occured after the “reforms” of the First Vatican Council imposed papal infallibility. The Russian Church openly courted Old Catholics in France and Germany.

1879: In August of this year, Dr. J. J. Overbeck went to Constantinople to request their approval to use the Latin liturgy and Benedictine offices.

1882: The Patriarch and Synod of Constantinople gave conditional approval to the use of the Latin liturgy and Benedictine office.

1890/1891: Bishop Vladimir (Sokolovsky) Russian Orthodox Bishop of Alaska, formally received a parish of Swiss Old Catholics at Dyckesville, near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, as a Western Rite parish.

1892: Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov) successor to Bishop Vladimir made a pastoral visit to the Dyckesville/Fond du Lac Western Rite parish.

1898: The Western Rite Diocese of Moravia and Silesia was organised in Czechoslovakia under the Holy Synod of Russia.

1904: Archbishop Saint Tikhon (Belavin) and Bishop Saint Raphael (Hawaweeny) assisted by Fr. Saint John (Kochuroff) petitioned the Holy Synod of Russia to permit the adaption of the services taken from from the Book of Common Prayer, for use by Orthodox people.

1907: The Commission of the Holy Synod of Russia reported in favour of adaption of the services taken from the Book of Common Prayer and set out the criteria for adaption. The Holy Synod adopted the report.

1921: Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin) was elected Patriarch of Moscow (+1925).

Patriarch Dimitri of Serbia consecrated Fr Gorazd (Pavlik) bishop of the Western Rite Diocese of Moravia and Silesia. Patr. Dimitri’s co-consecrators were Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky) of Kiev (later First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) and Bishops Barnabas, Dositheus and Joseph. Bishop Gorazd was martyred by the
Germans September 4th. 1941. The diocese was later forced to change to Eastern Rite.

1922: The Alcuin Club in England printed the Holy Synod's Commission report in English.

1926: On the 8th of August, the Polish Catholic National Church - Bishop Alexis of Grodno - was received, as a Western Rite Diocese of Poland under the Moscow Patriarchate. This group was largely destroyed by the Germans during World War II with at least one parish remaining into the 21st century. Saint John of Shanghai was tonsured by Metropolitan
Anthony (Khrapovitsky) First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

1927: On February 2nd, the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in America authorised a Western Rite missionary outreach.

1929: The Russian Fraternity of Saint Irenee in France (headed by Vladimir Lossky and Evgraf Kovalevsky) acting under metropolitical guidance, celebrated the Western Rite in a Parish church for the first time.

1934: Saint John of Shanghai was consecrated by Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

1936: Under the terms of a Moscow Ukase, the Western Orthodox Church in France, was set up, headed by Fr. Eugraph (Kovalevsky). A group of Old Roman Catholics led by Louis Charles Winnaert formed the original core membership of this Western Rite national Church.

1944: Fr. Denis (Chambault) professed as a Benedictine within the Moscow Patriarchate in Paris. He founded the Saint-Denis & Saint-Seraphim de Sarov Priory in rue d’Alleray.

Fr. Eugraph (Kovalevsky) completed a restoration of the ancient first millennium Gallican Liturgy - the Liturgy of Saint Germanus.

1947 Fr. Gregorio Baccolini, a Benedictine monk was received in France. He set up a small Orthodox Benedictine house in Rome.

1953: Bishop Alexander (Turner) and three parishes received as Western Rite by Metropolitan Anthony (Bashir) of the Antiochian Archdiocese with Alexander Turner becoming an Archpriest..

1958: Archbishop (Saint) John (Maximovitch) of Paris took over direction of the Western Orthodox Church in France, (l'Eglise Catolique et Orthodoxe de France - ECOF) setting up a Western Rite seminary and Ordaining clergy. He authorised the use of the Liturgy of Saint Germanus.

1958: The Patriarchate of Antioch adopted the provisions of the Russian Holy Synods of 1879 and 1907 and instructed the American Archdiocese to follow them.

1960: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America published the the Holy Synod of Russia in its official Year Book.

1961: The Western Rite Vicariate was created within the Antiochian Metropolitanate of North America. Fr. Alexander Turner became the first Dean of the Vicariate.

1962: In the United States, the Russian Orthodox Bishop Dositheus received the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Royal and blessed it to the Western Rite.

1965: Archbishop John (Maximovitch) Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, having been translated to San Francisco, consecrated Fr. Eugraph Kovalevsky as Bishop Jean-Nectaire, of the Diocese of Saint-Denys for the Orthodox Church of France.

1966-72: After the repose of Archbishop John of San Francisco, some elements of ROCOR immediately set about undoing much of his work, including l'Eglise Catolique et Orthodoxe de France (ECOF). Being abandoned in this manner by ROCOR, it was taken over by the Patriarchate of Romania with statutes and declarations issued in 1972 by Metropolitan Nicholas.

1975: In the United States, the ROCOR Archbishop Nikon received the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Royal and blessed it to the Western Rite.

Saint Michael’s Anglican Parish, Whittier California was received into Orthodoxy (AWRV) as Western Rite - the first Anglican parish to be so received.

1993: Bishop Hilarion (Kapral) of Manhattan ROCOR authorised the establishment of the Christ the Saviour Monastery in Providence Rhode Island and blessed it to the Western Rite.

1994 Saint Petroc Monastery was placed under the personal direction of His Holiness, Patriarch Ignatius IV of Antioch.

1997: Archbishop Hilarion (Kapral) of Sydney ROCOR blessed Saint Petroc Monastery in Tasmania to the Western Rite and directed it to act in a missionary role, setting up Monastery missions using the Western Rite.

1998: With the blessing of Archbishop Hilarion, Saint Petroc Monastery proceeded with the task of applying the instructions in the 1907 report of the Commission of the Holy Synod of Russia and producing a complete Western Rite Prayer Book including the Divine Liturgy, the Offices, the rites of Baptism, Matrimony, Burial, Visitation of the Sick, Divine Offices, Great Litany, Rites of Holy Week, Liturgical Reception of a Bishop, Blessing of Water, Dedication of Objects, Blessing of a House, Grace Before Meals and other Prayers etc. The basis of the Book being the Sarum Missal
which had its roots in the pre-Schism Church in the British Isles.

2001: With the blessing of Archbishop Hilarion, Hieromonk Michael of Saint Petroc Monastery visited l'Eglise Catolique et Orthodoxe de France and after reviewing its operations and the actions of its bishop, and conferring with all parties, he advised Bishop Germain to resign immediately and submit himself to the discipline of the Church. The bishop refused. The Patriarchate of Romania issued a letter deposing the bishop. Hieromonk Michael submitted a written report to Archbishop Hilarion for the Synod, particularly discussing the faithful Orthodox clergy and people who had dissociated themselves from the bishop.

The Saint Dunstan Psalter produced by the Lancelot Andrewes Press became available for use as a Western Rite Orthodox Psalter.

2002: The Saint Ambrose Hymnal produced by the AWRV was authorised for use.

The completed Saint Colman Prayer Book submitted to Archbishop Hilarion.

Archbishop Simon (Ichounine) Russian Orthodox Archbishop of Belgium, authorised the Western Liturgy of Saint John the Divine (Stowe Missal) to be used in the vernacular in the ROC monastery at Pervijze.

2003: The Saint Colman Prayer Book produced by Saint Petroc Monastery was authorised for use by Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney.

2005: The Old Calendarist Western Rite Holyrood Hermitage affiliated with Saint Petroc Monastery

2006: The Saint Colman Prayer Book permitted for use in the ROCOR Diocese of Chicago.

After two years of guidance by Saint Petroc Monastery, and others, the Anglican bishop Robert Waggener converted to Orthodoxy, was Baptised, Chrismated, and subsequently Ordained Sub Deacon, Deacon and Priest by Bishop Basil (Essey). He was assigned to run a parish of people who converted with him.

2007: The centenary of the decision of the Holy Synod of Russia to permit the adaption of the English services for use by Orthodox people was celebrated at St. Mary’s, Capel-le-Ferne and as an hierarchical Solemn High Mass at St. Mary’s, Waverley, using the Divine Liturgy of the English Rite from the Saint Colman Prayer Book.

The Western Rite has flourished within Orthodoxy for 963 years of the first millennium, 421 years of the second millennium and the whole of the third millennium of Christianity - a total of 1,391 years within the Orthodox Church. In other words, for 70% of its existence, the Orthodox Church has contained the Western Rite within it.Being without the Orthodox Western Rite is an abnormal state for the Orthodox Church.

Today, there are around sixty monasteries, parishes, missions and societies within the Patriarchates of Serbia, Moscow, Antioch, and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia spread across France, Belgium, Great Britain, Canada, Canada,the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

WESTERN ORTHODOX HISTORY

THE WESTERN ORTHODOX HERITAGE

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