View source for Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate

{{short description|Synodal institution of the Russian Orthodox Church}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                = Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate
| native_name         = Отдел внешних церковных связей Московского Патриархата
| native_name_lang    = ru
| logo_caption        = Logo of the DECR
| image               = Danilov monastery 17.jpg
| caption             = Building in the [[Danilov Monastery]] of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate
| logo                = Logo of the DECR.jpeg
| logo_size           = 80
| abbreviation        = DECR
| formation           = 4 April 1946
| founders            = [[Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus']] [[Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow|Alexy I]]
| type                = Synodal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate
| headquarters        =
| language            = Russian
| leader_title        = Chairman
| leader_name         = [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] [[Anthony (Sevryuk)]]
| website             = http://mospat.ru/
| formerly            = Department for External Church Relations
}}
The '''Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate''' ('''DECR''')<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/en/department/history/|title=Background {{!}} The Russian Orthodox Church|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-28|quote=Department for external church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate (DECR)}}</ref> ({{Langx|ru|Отде́л вне́шних церко́вных свя́зей Моско́вского патриарха́та (ОВЦС)}}; until August 2000: '''Department for External Church Relations,''' {{langx|ru|Отдел внешних церковных сношений|links=no}}) is one of the [[synod]]al institutions of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]]. It was established on 4 April 1946.
== History ==
=== Creation ===
On 20 September 1918, the [[1917–18 Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church|Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church]] "for the sake of resolving difficulties on the path to unity and to possibly facilitate [...] the achievement of the ultimate goal" (that is, restoring unity and communication) instructed the Synod to form a standing commission under the Synod with branches in Russia and far abroad to interact with non-Eastern-Orthodox churches. However, it was not possible to establish that Commission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/archive/1997/02/sobor_02/|title=Доклад председателя богословской комиссии митрополита Минского и Слуцкого Филарета, Патриаршего Экзарха всея Беларуси|date=2 February 1997|website=mospat.ru|access-date=2019-11-29}}</ref>
On 4 April 1946, by decision of the [[Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church]], the Department for external church relations was formed and had as its goal "the management of foreign institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church (dioceses, parishes, exarchates, metropolitan districts, spiritual missions, etc.; relations with [[Eastern Orthodox Church organization|autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches]]; correspondence with foreign institutions; processing of foreign correspondence: translation into Russian, preparation of answers, preparation of archival and scientific references; preparation of reports on all fundamental issues arising in connection with the management of foreign institutions, the relationship of the Russian Church with other autocephalous Churches and the leadership of non-Eastern-Orthodox religions".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/church-and-time/764|title=Отдел внешних церковных связей Московского Патриархата — Церковь и Время|website=mospat.ru|access-date=2019-11-26|archive-date=2016-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220101528/https://mospat.ru/church-and-time/764|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Initially, the department had a small staff; along with Metropolitan Nicholas, the first employee of the department was {{Interlanguage link|Alexey Buevsky|lt=|ru|Буевский, Алексей Сергеевич|WD=}} ([[clerk]] since May 1946).<ref>ЖМП. — 1990. — № 12. — С. 26—27.</ref>
According to David Gzgyan, member of the {{Interlanguage link|Russian Orthodox Church’s Inter-conciliar Conference|lt=|ru|Межсоборное присутствие|WD=}}: "under the new Patriarch, [[Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow|Alexy I]], in 1945 a special body was created in the structure of the Moscow Patriarchate: the Department for External Church Relations [...] since then, its head has been the 'person number two' of the Russian Orthodox Church. This situation is unique in the whole history of the church throughout the world: the key role in the activities of the Church belonged to the department of external relations, which normally should occupy the most modest place. Today, the DECR, of course, is not the same, but the general veil of "special status" remains. In the second half of the 1940s, the Department was allocated colossal funds to carry out numerous contacts with the Middle Eastern patriarchates and churches of Europe, including non-Eastern-Orthodox (for example, [[Anglicanism|Anglican]]). In addition, it was given a large-scale task: to create an anti-[[Catholic Church|Vatican]] block."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2275215|title="Внутри церкви не осталось соборности"|date=16 September 2013|work=Коммерсантъ|access-date=2019-11-26}}</ref>
The work to strengthen the department in 1960-1961 was carried out by the {{Interlanguage link|Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church|lt=|ru|Совет по делам Русской православной церкви|WD=}} under the [[Council of Ministers of the USSR]], "fulfilling the decision of the [[Central Committee of the CPSU]] of July 25, 1960."<ref>Письмо председателя Совета по делам Русской православной церкви В. А. Куроедова в ЦК КПСС № 315/с 19 сентября 1960 г. Секретно. // {{Interlanguage link|Historical Archive|lt=''Исторический архив''|ru|Исторический архив|WD=}}: журнал. — 2008. — № 1. — С. 64.</ref>
In accordance with the decision of the [[Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church|Holy Synod]] of 16 March 1961, the head of the department should always be in the [[Bishop|episcopal dignity]] and a permanent member of the [[Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church]].<ref>Журнал Московской Патриархии. — 1961. — № 4. — С. 6.</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/en/department/today/|title=DECR today {{!}} The Russian Orthodox Church|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-29}}</ref>
In the first half of 1962, the DECR purchased a building on {{Interlanguage link|Ryleyev Street|lt=|ru|Гагаринский переулок|WD=}}, which became its headquarter for many years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www-old.srcc.msu.ru/bib_roc/jmp/03/07-03/10.htm|title=Московские патриаршиеи митрополичьи резиденции в 1917-1945 годах|website=www-old.srcc.msu.ru|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref>
From 1967<ref name=":4" /> (or 1965<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravenc.ru/text/468861.html|title=ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫЙ БЮЛЛЕТЕНЬ ОТДЕЛА ВНЕШНИХ ЦЕРКОВНЫХ СВЯЗЕЙ МОСКОВСКОГО ПАТРИАРХАТА|website=www.pravenc.ru|access-date=2019-11-30}}</ref>) to 2009, the DECR of the MP published the ''Information Bulletin of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate'' ({{Langx|ru|Информационный бюллетень Отдела внешних церковных сношений Московского Патриархата}}).<ref name=":5" /> The newsletter gave information on international church contacts, the most significant events concerning the Russian Orthodox Church and [[Eastern Orthodox Church organization|other local]] and non-Eastern-Orthodox churches, as well as reviews of articles published in foreign church periodicals, etc.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravenc.ru/text/182371.html|title=ЖУРНАЛЫ ДУХОВНЫЕ|website=www.pravenc.ru|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref><ref name=":5" />
On December 16, 1969, the Holy Synod decided: "1. To establish in [[Kiev]] under the Exarch of Ukraine a branch of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; 2. The Chairperson of the branch shall be His Grace [[List of Metropolitans and Patriarchs of Kiev#Metropolitans and Archbishops of Kiev and Galicia (1921–1990)|Metropolitan of Kiev and Galicia, Exarch of Ukraine]]."<ref>ЖМП. — 1970. — № 1. — С. 5.</ref>
=== 1970s to 2009 ===
On July 25, 1979, by the decision of the Holy Synod in [[Leningrad]], another branch of the DECR was established under the Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod.<ref name=":1" />
On the occasion of its 35th anniversary, on 6 March 1981 the DECR was awarded the {{Interlanguage link|Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh|lt=|ru|Орден Преподобного Сергия Радонежского|WD=}}, 1st class.<ref>''Балязин В. Н., Дуров В. А., Казакевич А. Н.'' Самые знаменитые награды России. — М.: Вече, 2000. — C. 399. — {{ISBN|5-7838-0684-6}}.</ref>[[File:Danilov_monastery_13.jpg|thumb|239x239px|alt=|Entry to the [[Danilov Monastery]], with the building of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate behind (in [[cyan]])]]On 15 October 1985, the DECR moved from a small mansion on Ryleyev Street, number 18/2, to the restored New fraternal building, which has four floors, on the territory of the [[Danilov Monastery|Moscow Danilov Monastery]] which had been the transferred to the Church on the eve of the anniversary of the 1000th anniversary of the [[Baptism of Rus|baptism of Rus']].<ref name=":1" />
On 27 April 1986, the year of its 40th anniversary, the department was awarded the {{Interlanguage link|Order of saint Grand Duke Vladimir Equal-to-the-Apostles|lt=|ru|Орден Святого равноапостольного великого князя Владимира|WD=}}, 1st class.<ref>''Балязин В. Н., Дуров В. А., Казакевич А. Н.'' Самые знаменитые награды России. — М.: Вече, 2000. — C. 394—395. — {{ISBN|5-7838-0684-6}}.</ref>
On 21 August 1997, in connection with the restructuring of the department, "instead of the pre-existing sectors responsible for certain narrow areas of the Department's activities", new divisions appeared: the secretariat for inter-Eastern-Orthodox relations and foreign institutions, the secretariat for inter-Christian relations, the secretariat for relations between the Church and society and the administrative and financial secretariat;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/archive/1997/08/nr220871/|title=Реорганизация ОВЦС МП : Русская Православная Церковь|website=mospat.ru|access-date=2019-11-27|archive-date=2016-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806181230/https://mospat.ru/archive/1997/08/nr220871/|url-status=dead}}</ref> sectors for foreign institutions, Eastern Orthodox pilgrimage, and later the communication service and publication sector.
=== Since 2009 ===
==== {{Anchor|Patriarch Kirill's decentralisation}}Patriarch Kirill's decentralisation ====
On 31 March 2009, the [[Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church|Holy Synod]], at its first meeting under the chairmanship of the newly elected [[Patriarch Kirill]], reformed the DECR, forming new synodal institutions, which were entrusted with certain areas of activity previously dealt with by the DECR.<ref name=":6" /> The {{Interlanguage link|Synodal Department for Church-Society Relations|lt=Department for Church-Society Relations|ru|Синодальный отдел по взаимоотношениям Церкви и общества|WD=}}, independent from the DECR,<ref name=":3" /> was created; this department was responsible for "the implementation of relations with legislative bodies, political parties, professional and creative unions, and other civil society institutions in the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate." Dioceses, {{Interlanguage link|Podvoriye|lt=representative offices|ru|Подворье|WD=}}, [[metochion]]s, monasteries and [[wiktionary:stavropegic#English|stavropegic]] parishes far abroad, which were previously under the authority of the DECR, were directly subordinated to the Patriarch of Moscow of All Russia; to manage them, the Moscow Patriarchate's Secretariat for Institutions Abroad{{Efn|Since 2010, it is named the {{ill|Moscow Patriarchate's Administration for Institutions Abroad|ru|Управление Московской патриархии по зарубежным учреждениям}}|name=|group=}} was created. The {{Interlanguage link|Synodal Information Department|lt=|ru|Синодальный информационный отдел|WD=}} was created.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/600732.html|title=ЖУРНАЛЫ заседания Священного Синода Русской Православной Церкви от 31 марта 2009 года / Официальные документы / Патриархия.ru|website=Патриархия.ru|language=ru|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref> The post-graduate department of the [[Moscow Theological Academy]], which operated under the DECR, was transformed into the {{Interlanguage link|All-Church postgraduate and doctoral school named after Saints Cyril and Methodius Equal-to-the-Apostles|lt=|ru|Общецерковная аспирантура и докторантура имени святых равноапостольных Кирилла и Мефодия|WD=}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/600982.html|title=В Русской Православной Церкви создан Секретариат Московской Патриархии по зарубежным учреждениям / Новости / Патриархия.ru|website=Патриархия.ru|language=ru|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pravoslavie.ru/45748.html|title=Исполнилось 65 лет со дня основания Отдела внешних церковных связей / Православие.Ru|website=www.pravoslavie.ru|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref>
In 2011, on the occasion of its 65th anniversary, with funds allocated by the Saint Gregory the Theologian's Charity Foundation, the DECR facade was decorated with a [[mosaic]] image of the [[Blessed virgin mary|Blessed Virgin Mary]] with an [[omophorion]] in her hands.<ref name=":0" />
On April 6, 2016, with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, the award of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate was established: the [[medal of St. Mark of Ephesus]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pravmir.ru/uchrezhdena-nagrada-otdela-vneshnih-tserkovnyih-svyazey-medal-svyatitelya-marka-efesskogo/|title=Учреждена награда Отдела внешних церковных связей — медаль святителя Марка Ефесского|website=www.pravmir.ru|language=ru-RU|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref>
== Contemporary situation ==
The status and functions of the department are determined by the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church adopted by the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2000, in particular chapter VIII,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/en/documents/ustav/viii/|title=VIII. The Moscow Patriarchate and the Synodal Institutions {{!}} The Russian Orthodox Church|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref> and the charter of the department, approved by the [[Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church|Holy Synod]] in 1992 and amended in 1999 and 2001.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/52719.html|title=Отдел внешних церковных связей (ОВЦС) / Организации / Патриархия.ru|website=Патриархия.ru|language=ru|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref>
=== Role of the DECR ===
The purpose, tasks and functions of the DECR are defined as follows:
{{Quote|text=The DECR is accountable to His Holiness the Patriarch and the Holy Synod, which annually approve its work plan. The documents guiding the DECR’s work are resolutions of the Local and Bishops’ Councils of the Russian Orthodox Church, resolutions of the Holy Synod and Patriarchal instructions. The DECR chairman is appointed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. [...]
The DECR maintains the Russian Orthodox Church’s relations with the Local Orthodox Churches, non-Orthodox Churches, Christian associations, non-Christian religious communities, as well as governmental, parliamentary, non-governmental institutions abroad and inter-governmental, religious and public international organizations.
Among the DECR's tasks is to inform His Holiness the Patriarch and the Holy Synod about developments and events taking place outside the Russian Orthodox Church and affecting its interests, as well as to draft church-wide documents and decisions concerning the inter-Orthodox, inter-Christian, interreligious and international relations and other issues within its competence.
One of the main spheres of the DECR's work is fraternal cooperation with the Local Orthodox Churches carried out through the DECR Secretariat for Inter-Orthodox Relations. [...]
Relations with non-Orthodox Christians are maintained through the efforts of the DECR Secretariat for Inter-Christian Relations. [...]
The Secretariat for Far Abroad Countries promotes the Moscow Patriarchate's relations with inter-governmental institutions, international non-governmental organizations, as well as governmental bodies, public and interreligious associations and non-Christian religious communities in far abroad countries. It also works with compatriots who live outside the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Within the structure of the Department for External Church Relations there is also the Secretariat for Interreligious Relations that maintains and promotes contacts with various religious communities both in the countries of the Moscow Patriarchate’s canonical responsibility and in far abroad countries, as well as at international platforms, and helps develop the dialogue with traditional religions of the Russian Federation, in particular, within the framework of the Interreligious Council of Russia.
The DECR Communication Service is in charge of contacts with secular mass media and monitors publications about the Russian Orthodox Church. It also maintains the DECR’s official web-site and helps maintain the official site of the Moscow Patriarchate.
The Publications Section publishes the ''{{ill|Church and Time|ru|Церковь и время}}'' theological and church-public magazine and carries out specific publishing projects.<ref name=":3" />|sign=|source=}}
=== Structure of the DECR===
The following divisions which compose the DECR are:<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
*Secretariats:
*# Secretariat for Inter-Eastern-Orthodox Relations;
*# Secretariat for Inter-Christian Relations;
*# Secretariat for Interreligious Relations;
*# Secretariat for Far Abroad Countries.
*Sections:
*# Economy Section;
*#Protocol Section;
*#Publications Section.
* Services:
*#Communication Service;
*# Legal Service;
*#Language (i.e. Translation<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/ru/department/today/|title=Современная деятельность {{!}} Русская Православная Церковь|language=ru-RU|access-date=2019-11-30}}</ref>) Service.
* Commission for the Affairs of [[Old Believers]]' Parishes and for Cooperation with the Old Believers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1496072.html|title=ЖУРНАЛЫ заседания Священного Синода Русской Православной Церкви от 20 апреля 2005 года / Официальные документы / Патриархия.ru|website=Патриархия.ru|language=ru|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref>
*Branches:
**Branch of the department in [[St. Petersburg]];
**Branch of the department in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vzcz.church.ua/2019/11/11/uoc-decr-staff-member-participates-in-conferences-held-in-romania/?lang=en|title=UOC DECR Staff-member participates in conferences held in Romania — Відділ зовнішніх церковних зв'язків УПЦ|website=vzcz.church.ua|access-date=2019-11-29}}</ref>
The DECR has a number of divisions whose work is auxiliary: archive, office, [[warehouse]], {{Clarify span|typewriting bureau|date=November 2019}}, shipping.<ref name=":2" />
== Chairman of the DECR ==
The following people have been chairmen of the DECR:<ref name=":2" />
* Metropolitan [[Nicholas (Yarushevich)]] (April 4, 1946 – June 21, 1960)
* Metropolitan [[Nikodim (Rotov)]] (June 21, 1960 – May 30, 1972)
* Metropolitan [[Juvenal (Poyarkov)]] (May 30, 1972 – April 14, 1981)
* Metropolitan [[Philaret (Vakhromeyev)]] (April 14, 1981 – November 13, 1989)
* Metropolitan [[Patriarch Kirill of Moscow|Kirill (Gundyaev)]] (November 13, 1989 – February 1, 2009)
* Archbishop [[Mark (Golovkov)]] (February 11 – March 31, 2009) (''[[Locum Tenens|temporarily]]'')
* Metropolitan [[Hilarion (Alfeyev)]] (March 31, 2009 – June 7, 2022)
* Metropolitan [[Anthony (Sevryuk)]] (June 7, 2022 – present)
== Current leadership of the DECR ==
* Metropolitan [[Anthony (Sevryuk)]] of Volokolamsk - chairman;<ref name=":2" />
** Archpriest {{Interlanguage link|Balashov, Nikolay Vladimirovich|lt=Nikolay Balashov|ru|Балашов, Николай Владимирович|WD=}} - vice-chairman;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mospat.ru/en/department/today/|title=DECR today {{!}} The Russian Orthodox Church|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-28}}</ref>
**Archimandrite {{Interlanguage link|Philaret (Bulekov)|lt=|ru|Филарет (Булеков)|WD=}} - vice-chairman;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/1434630.html|title=ЖУРНАЛЫ заседания Священного Синода от 22 марта 2011 года / Официальные документы / Патриархия.ru|website=Патриархия.ru|language=ru|access-date=2019-11-27}}</ref>
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
== Further reading ==
* Митрополит Смоленский и Калининградский [[Patriarch Kirill of Moscow|Кирилл]]. ''К 55-летию Отдела внешних церковных связей Московского Патриархата.'' // «Церковь и время». М., 2001, стр. 7—69.
* «На службе Церкви: К 65-летию Отдела внешних церковных связей Московского Патриархата» Москва, 2011.
== External links ==
* [http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/52719.html Presentation on the official website of the Moscow Patriarchate] (in Russian)
* [https://mospat.ru/en/department/ Presentation on the official website of the DECR] (in English)
*[https://vzcz.church.ua/ Website of the Ukrainian branch of the DECR]
*[http://orthodoxeurope.org/ Former website]
*[http://www.list-org.com/company/1257910 Legal information]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080501003532/http://mospat.ru/index.php?mid=215 Former presentation of the DECR from before Patriarch Kirill's decentralisation, explaining the DECR's role]
[[Category:1946 establishments in Russia]]
[[Category:Russian Orthodox Church in Russia]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1946]]