True Orthodox Church in Russia

True Orthodox Church in Russia
Acronym(s)	TOCiR
Origin	Catacomb
Founded	2003
Current primate	Met. Seraphim (Motovilov)
Headquarters	Moscow, Russia
Territory	Russia, Ukraine, Columbia, Venezuela, Brazil
Liturgical language(s)	Russian/local
Musical tradition	Slavonic
Bishops	21
Parishes	117
Monasteries
Official website	www.ipckatakomb.ru

True Orthodox Church in Russia (TOCiR) is a Russian catacomb church, which traces its history back to Decree No. 362 of Patriarch Tikhon after the rise of the Communists in Russia. Its current primate is Metropolitan Seraphim (Motovilov) of Moscow.

The church began in 1996 as legal jurisdiction with the help of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church under Patriarch Dimitri (Yarema). The UAOC consecrated John (Modzalevsky), and appointed him to lead the new RTOC. But a disagreement between Bishop John and the new RTOC synod led to a split, with the RTOC considering Bishop John defrocked. Patriarch Dimitri did not support the decision of the RTOC, and the two bodies ceased Eucharistic communion.

In 1997, a catacomb jurisdiction under Rafael Motovilov (now Met. Seraphim) was received into the new RTOC, eventually being consecrated by Archbishop Ambrose (Katamadze), Archbishop Stefan (Linitsky) and Archbishop Moses (Khojavu).

On February 25, 1998, a Council of Bishops of the True orthodox churches was held in Moscow, which was attended by catacomb Bishops previously separated from the Church, as well as people from ROAC/FROC, Suzdal synod, and Valentinian synods. These Bishops expressed their desire to enter communion with Russian true orthodox church, entering into its structure with their dioceses, clergy and congregation. Bishops of the RTOC accepted them and included both structures in one Holy Synod of the RTOC.

In 1999, owing to false rumors regarding spurious teaching and activity with non-canonical groups, the some Bishops of the RTOC synod attempted to suspend and later defrock future Metropolitan Seraphim. A schism occurred, resulting in the majority of the church forming a new legal jurisdiction, the TOCiR under Metropolitan Seraphim.

In July 2003, at the "Unified Council of Bishops of the True Orthodox Church in Russia," several additional catacomb jurisdictions united, and elected Metropolitan Seraphim as "Metropolitan of Moscow" with which the title of "Patriarchal Locum Tenens". In 2005, his title was amended to "Archbishop of Moscow, Metropolitan of All-Russia" and elected "First Hierarch".

Since 2011, the True Orthodox Church in Russia is in communion with The Holy Metropolitan Synod of Genuine Orthodox Christians of the Patristic Calendar, and shortly thereafter with the Autonomous Orthodox Metropolia of North and South America and the British Isles.

External Links

• True Orthodox Church in Russia (Official Site)
• TOCiR Blog (Official Blog)