Russian Orthodox Diocese of Sourozh - Problems With Accounts

Problems With Accounts

Since 2006 the Diocese has been persistently in substantial arrears with submitting its annual accounts to the Charity Commission as required by law and the same applies to its London Parish. In 2010 the Diocese and the London Parish adopted new internal statutes which make them subject to the direct administrative and spiritual authority and control of the Patriarchal Administration in Moscow. The London Parish, in its 2009 Accounts, said:

"Following the judgement the decision was taken to introduce into the London Cathedral the Statutes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow. This has since been completed at the time of signing these accounts and the new statutes came into being by the end of 2010. This will mean that the 2010 Cathedral Accounts will look different to that of 2009 in that only Trust Assets will be included in the 2010 accounts. In practice what this will mean is that the ordinary income and outgoings (mostly donations and salaries will no longer be included in the Trust Accounts. Income from Covenants and Gift Aid and previous assets and trust account balances will of course continue to be included in the Trust Accounts".

The Trustees of the Diocesan and London Parish charities remain bound by the terms of their Trust Deeds, made in 1944 in the case of the London Parish, and 1979 in the case of the Diocese. These Trust Deeds do not permit the transfer of any assets or property to the Patriarchal Administration in Moscow nor do they allow such assets to be used by the Patriarchal Administration without full consideration (for example, a full market rent) being paid.