1925 m. šv. Kotrynos bendruomenės nuostatos ir veikla buvo pasmerkta Lenkijos autokefalinės Stačiatikių bažnyčios vadovybės, kuri pagrindiniams parapijos steigimo iniciatoriams pritaikė bažnytines sankcijas (ekskomunikavimą). Paskutinį smūgį sudavė civilinės valdžios įstaigos, 1925 m. ir
1929 m. blokavusios Vilniaus šv. Kotrynos stačiatikių parapijos įregistravimą, o 1936 m. ją likvidavusios.

ST. CATHERINE ORTHODOX PARISH IN VILNIUS IN 1925–1936:
THE OPPOSITION FLASHPOINT TO THE ORTHODOX AUTHORITY OF WARSAW

Andrius Marcinkevičius

Summary

The history of St. Catherine Orthodox parish in Vilnius hasn’t been analysed in Lithuanian historiography so far. R. Laukaitytė and G. Šlevis had published some facts related to the history of the
St. Catherine parish, but it wasn’t the main aid they proposed.

A loyal to Moscow Patriarchate St. Catherine Orthodox parish in Vilnius in 1924–1925 was established as the protest form of the small part of Vilnius Orthodox society. This protest was against its integration into the structure of the Polish Orthodox Church. The main reasons of St. Catherine parishioner’s displeasure were administrational reforms effected in Eastern Lithuania by the authority of the Poland Orthodox Metropolis: the deposition of promuscovite archbishop Eleuterijus from Vilnius in 1922 and appointment of loyal to Poland archbishop Teodosijus in 1923, the liquidation of Lithuanian Orthodox Episcopate Council and foundation of Orthodox Ecclesiastical Consistory in 1923. The additional reason which caused the establishment of St. Catherine parish in Vilnius was the intention of the Polish Orthodox Church to make a break with the Moscow Patriarchate and declare autocephalia without Moscow’s acceptance.

The juridical status of St. Catherine parish in Vilnius wasn’t perfected because of negative attitude of governmental institutions. That’s why St. Catherine parish which existed in 1924–1936 obtained the image of the illegal religious organisation and acted isolated from the other part of Orthodox society which had acknowledged the authority of the Polish Orthodox Church. This isolation was strengthened by reason not to recognise the authority of Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church and by the resolutions and reforms which were effected in Eastern Lithuania. The members of St. Catherine community had declared loyalty to the Moscow Patriarchate and archbishop Eleuterijus, also tried to save their old religious traditions. Otherwise, they criticised not autocephalia in general but the way by which it was effected in Poland (without acceptance of the Moscow Patriarchate).

The activity of St. Catherine parish in Vilnius was damned by the Polish Orthodox Church which has made a decision to excommunicate nine establishers of the parish in 1925. Besides, the political authorities had punished St. Catherine community not providing its registration. In spite of this St. Catherine parish in Vilnius existed almost 12 years and finally was liquidated in 1936.

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