22nd May, 2006

To all the clergy of the Diocese of Sourozh

Dear brothers and concelebrants!

Christ is Risen!
           
            A few days ago it became known that His Grace, Bishop Basil, already having been retired, sent many of you decrees dated 1st February, 2006, according to which ‘you are released from all your responsibilities in the diocese’.
            In connection with this, I urge all of you not to let yourselves be disturbed by this but to carry on, as before, your work in the parishes which have been entrusted to you. A decree sent out by a bishop after his administrative authority has been ended has neither canonical nor juridical force.
            It should be understood that it is impossible to recognise as lawful this unprecedented situation in which almost all the clergy of a diocese are declared to be dismissed. Apart from which, the canonical meaning of letters dismissorial consists in the fact that they are credential letters, given to a clergyman upon the occasion of his transfer to a particular diocese. It is self-evident that since February, no clergyman of the Diocese of Sourozh has transferred to another diocese and, indeed, could not transfer, in so far as nothing was known about the dismissal letters before 11th May, 2006.
            If any of the clergy of the Diocese of Sourozh, for one reason or another, really do require letters dismissorial in order to transfer to another diocese, then they can apply to the temporary Administrator of the Diocese of Sourozh: each case will be reviewed individually; it is, however, desirable that the corresponding decisions should be taken only after the commission appointed by His Holiness Alexis, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, has finished its work.

            May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.
           

 

                                                      + Innokenty

Archbishop of Korsun,
Temporary Administrator of the Diocese of Sourozh