Archpriest Matfei (Maciej) Leshchinsky has been elected vicar bishop of the Archdiocese of Russian Orthodox Churches in Western Europe, headquartered in Paris. Experts describe the election as controlled. Although the Assembly voted independently, the only candidate was someone Moscow was certain to approve and consecrate.
This was reported by Parlons Orthodoxie.
The Archdiocese had previously faced serious pastoral difficulties due to a shortage of bishops. Candidates nominated by the Archdiocese for consecration had long failed to secure Moscow’s approval, effectively paralysing the normal administration of parishes across Europe.
Experts describe the election of Archpriest Matfei Leshchinsky, who serves at St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris, as a direct compromise with the Moscow Patriarchate aimed at easing growing jurisdictional tensions. For Paris, he is “one of their own”, having served in France for many years. For Moscow, he is a familiar and loyal candidate who raises no geopolitical objections.
The election was therefore a controlled process. The Assembly cast its votes independently, but the pool of viable candidates was effectively restricted to someone Moscow was certain to approve and consecrate.
We previously reported that a meeting of the Archdiocese of Russian parishes, specifically the part that joined the Russian Orthodox Church in 2019, was due to take place in Paris. The meeting was postponed over the summer, officially because of the heat. In the meantime, the agenda shifted in Moscow’s favour.
As LF reported, the Moscow Patriarchate has been accused of obstructing the activities of the Archdiocese of Orthodox Churches of Russian Tradition in Western Europe, which came under its jurisdiction in 2019, particularly by ignoring matters relating to episcopal appointments.
Read Sergei Shumilo’s article on LF examining whether the Russian Orthodox tradition in Europe can preserve its independence or will ultimately fall under the control of the Moscow Patriarchate, which has become one of the ideological instruments of Russia’s ruling regime.
