SAN REMO, ITALY: January 29, 2019
Public statement by the parish council of the Church of Christ the Savior, St Seraphim of Sarov and Great Martyr Catherine in San Remo, Italy

As a result of the aggressive actions of the Italian Metropoliate of the Constantinople Patriarchate against our parish and rector, we are forced to it impossible to remain in Eucharistic communion with this patriarchate. Since the Archdiocese of Russian Orthodox Churches in Western Europe is in full canonical and Eucharistic communion with Constantinople, it is with profound sorrow that we made the decision to depart from its jurisdiction and hope that the parishes of the Archdiocese, during its meeting on February 23, will return to the Mother Russian Church.

The parish council unanimously made the decision to request the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to receive our parish under its omophorion. The overwhelming majority of members of the parish support this decision. An extraordinary Parish Assembly scheduled for February 3 will legally formalize and confirm our intentions.

The Russian Church Abroad is the best choice for us, since it is an inseparable, autonomous part of the Local Russian Orthodox Church, being independent in educational, administrative, management, property, and civil matters. In addition, her historical roots are closely bound to the Russian diaspora, of which we are honored to be a part.

On January 24, the parish was accepted under the omophorion of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and is included in its Western European Diocese. Priest Dionisy Baikov is appointed Rector of the Church of Christ the Savior, St Seraphim of Sarov and Great Martyr Catherine in San Remo, officially called “The Russian Orthodox Church in San Remo.”

From this day, during divine services in our church, we will commemorate:

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia,

His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, and

His Grace Bishop Irenei of Richmond and Western Europe.

We thank everyone for prayerful support,

The Parish Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in San Remo, Italy.
January 25, 2019
Holy Martyr Tatiana of Rome.

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