Our ROCOR (the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, often referred to as 'The Church Abroad') is the self-governing inheritor of pre-revolutionary Russian Orthodoxy, independent in her administration and pastoral life since 1920 and headed by our Holy Synod and Primate, Metropolitan Nicholas, based in New York. She is distinct from the Russian Orthodox Church - Moscow Patriarchate, headed by Patriarch Kyrill, though the nature of this distinction — as well as of the fraternal and canonical unity that unites all parts of the Orthodox world — is not always well understood by those outside it. Hence we provide a few key points to aid in this understanding:
The ROCOR, since 2007, has been in renewed fraternal Eucharistic Communion with all parts of Canonical Orthodox Christianity, including her patriarchates and local Churches throughout the world — for example, the Romanian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Antiochian and Moscow patriarchates, the Local Orthodox Churches of Greece, Ukraine, the Czech lands, and others (we invite you to learn more about the 2007 Act that re-established this communion, and to read its complete text). The ROCOR cherishes this Eucharistic and canonical communion in the worldwide unity of Orthodox Christianity, while at the same time she retains her full autonomy and self-governance. Her highest authority is her own local ROCOR Council of Bishops, under the guidance of the Synod of Bishops, based in New York, and headed by the Primate of the ROCOR, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, who resides in the Synodal Residence in Manhattan.
Emerging from the 1917-1918 revolution in Russia and the need for the Church to be free from all political interference, the ROCOR has as amongst her founding principles that she is linked to no State, government, or national interests, and diligently retains the freedom of the Church by refusing to permit of any such encroachments. The ROCOR's dioceses encompass dozens of nations and principalities across the world — though none in the 'old world' Orthodox countries such as Greece, Russia, Serbia, etc. — and she attempts to maintain peaceful and fruitful interactions with the governments of all those lands, while never becoming linked to them. A good vision of this can be gained through reading a reflection by the ROCOR's Primate, Metropolitan Nicholas, on a meeting with US Congressmen and others in November 2025, on our Church's freedom from government influence and support for peace the world over.
More on the ROCOR's history can be read here.
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