Statement of the ROCA Bishops (Diaspora District of the Russian Orthodox Church)

Statement of the ROCA Bishops

(Diaspora District of the Russian Orthodox Church)

As the episcopal consecrations of several of our Bishops were performed with the participation of Bishops from the Synod of Metropolitan Cyprian (Kutsumbas), we believe that it is necessary to clarify our position in regard to the ecclesiology of this hierarch.

We, as archpastors of Christ’s flock, never adhered to the teachings of Met. Cyprian, as expressed in his work “Ecclesiological Theses.” We do not accept his teachings, are not guided by them in our archpastoral work, and do not regard them as Orthodox.

With respect to the Churches of “World Orthodoxy,” we adhere to the traditional ecclesiology of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which is foreign to both extremes.

Archbishop Andronik

Archbishop Sofroniy

Bishop Stefan (note below)

Bishop Andrei

Due to the state of his health, Bishop Stefan was unable to participate in composing this statement. His name has been included as a member of the Council of Bishops and also because the rejection of Met. Cyprian’s teachings was one of the conditions for the unification of the dioceses of Bishop Stefan and Archbishop Andronik.