Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sourozh - Beginnings of Tensions Within The Diocese

Beginnings of Tensions Within The Diocese

In years prior to the death of Metropolitan Anthony, several problems were noted amongst the clergy of the Diocese:

• Certain members of clergy felt there was 'a very serious lack of priests and deacons'; an absence of 'after-ordination' training for clergy; an 'Episcopal dismissiveness' of 'the normal ecclesiastical awards system'; an 'Episcopal dismissiveness' of monastic life within the diocese. Moreover, it was claimed that 'probably most of' the clergy 'have no written evidence that were ever ordained'.
• Some felt there existed a divide within the diocese between 'London and not-London', and that there was 'little or no appreciation of the difficulties faced by parishes outside the larger centres at Oxford/London'.
• Some clergy felt there existed an insufficient number of Episcopal visitations to 'provincial' parishes and communities outside London (i.e. less than one a year), and, correspondingly, that there existed an isolation of particular priests in such parishes and community, whose work was not properly appreciated within the diocese.
• Some felt an absence of any 'culture of trust and honesty' amongst the clergy, and there to be instead a clerical culture of 'point-scoring'. Some felt themselves unable to make 'express uncertainties, fears and problems' within the diocese, and to have no way of raising sensitive issues in confidence.
• Some were worried that 'the visions and aims of the Diocese' were 'limited to handouts of the Metropolitan's speeches', and that there was 'no follow up or discussion among the clergy' – something which left 'a dangerous vacuum'.
• Some clergy considered the diocese to be doing 'nothing at present' to address the 'large influx of Russians from abroad' – 'things are left to drift and matters are simply getting worse'.