Русская Православная Церковь Заграницей | Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe| Великобританская и Западно - Европейская Епархия
Diocesan Chancellery - 58 Shrewsbury Road, Prenton, CH43 2HY
Annual General MeeCng
held (virtually) on 16[th] January 2023
Agenda
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Open with prayer
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Those present and apologies
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Annual Report
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Financial Statement
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Addikon of Trustee
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AOB
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Close with prayer
Annual Report
SubmiGed to the Annual General MeeCng of the Trustees of the Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe (ROCOR)
This report is presented to the Trustees by the Chancellor of the Diocese for its Annual Meekng on the 16[th] January 2023, held virtually. This meekng shall also receive the financial statement and report to be submiqed to the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales no later than February 6[th] 2023.
IntroducCon
The Diocese was granted Charitable Status on November 9[th] 2020. As a new charity, it has been given certain flexibility in its early days to submit its Annual Report and Financial Statement by February 6[th] 2023 at the very latest. It will normally submit its reports to the Charity Commission at about this kme as the accounkng year concludes on December 31[st] each year. In future years, the kmetable of accounkng will be clearer. It is usual for Charikes to have 10 months from April 6[th] each year to submit their accounts and reports to the Charity Commission. The Diocesan Chancellor sought specialist advice from the Charity Commissioners and was advised of a suitable kmetable by Mr Mukhtar Abdi, an advisor assigned to the new charity last April.
Fulfilment of the Aims of the Diocese
• Establishing places of worship and devoCon of the Russian Orthodox Faith
The Diocese maintains almost 40 places of worship across Great Britain, Ireland and Western Europe. Over the past two years the Diocese has opened new places of worship in Telford, Llanelli, St Leonards on Sea and Durham, a new Parish in Monaco and a new mission in Lucerne, Switzerland (three of these in the calendar year covered by this report). It has received into its care a parish in Arnhem, the Netherlands, and is expanding opportunikes for worship throughout its eleven nakonal territories. During the period covered by this report, with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrickons upon places of worship li{ed completely, the Diocesan Chancellor is pleased to report that the Diocese has experience marked growth and reinvigorakon. New missions
have been well received and quickly seem to aqract the faithful and older, established cathedrals and parishes have benefiqed from a marked influx of faithful and an increased fervour. For instance, a parish in Pau, France, which had been served infrequently for many years, has now a full cycle of services and a growing congregakon. Through the dedicakon of the Diocesan clergy during the pandemic period, the response to that dedicakon has been an evident growth. At present, during the sorrowful period of warfare in Ukraine, there have a number of recepkons of Ukrainian clergy who have arrived as refugees into the territories of the Diocese; this has not only been an act aid in its own right, but has had a marked influence upon the capacity of the Diocese to meet the needs of an ever-growing number of worshippers — especially the extraordinary number of Ukrainian and other refugees that have markedly swelled the number of faithful in its parishes. An addikon, the Diocese has undertaken the ordinakon of a large number of new priests and deacons, subdeacons and readers which has greatly contributed to the strengthening of its life right across its many countries. Clearly, there is much to be thankful for. Skll, there are unmet needs across the territories of the Diocese and much work to do: a pressing need is the establishment of both male and female monaskc life and it is hoped that 2023-24 will see progress in this area. The Diocesan Bishop has visited many of our parishes this year which conknues to strengthen their resolve and fervour of faith.
• Raising awareness of the Russian Orthodox Faith and encouraging missionary and outreach acCviCes to enlighten others about the Russian Orthodox Faith
The chief venue for this is the care and expansion of parochial life, which is the centre of mission and witness to Orthodoxy in the UK and in Europe, and which has been growing ind dramakc ways as already described. In addikon, the Diocese runs an ever-expanding website of more than 840 arkcles and pages that convey both doctrinal and catechekcal informakon, as well as current news and ackvikes, which is a significant means of reaching out to the wider populakon. The websites of the Diocesan parishes and missions are also well visited and used. New missions in new areas bring great blessings and soon aqract new worshipers. Addikonally, the Diocese and its parishes organise outreach through a wide variety of means including youth camps (including, this year, summer and camps for children of refugees) and colleckons for good causes. In 2022 the Diocese raised tens of thousands of pounds in aid for those suffering due to the situakon in Ukraine; it raised over four thousand pounds for our communikes in the Holy Land; it has sent funds to our Synod in New York to be distributed for charitable purposes; and other such ackvikes. In 2022 it raised funds for the Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, as well as the internakonal Fund For Assistance of the ROCOR, which provides emergency relief and aid worldwide. The Diocese had a long visit from the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon which was both spiritually beneficial for the parishes but also drew many new people to come to venerate the icon and learn about Orthodox life and faith. Addikonally, the London Cathedral began in late November to operate a Food Bank in Chiswick, which has had a vastly greater uptake than ankcipated; and through this charitable work to aid those suffering from the cost of living crisis, it shares the love of God and ackvely demonstrates to its recipients the Orthodox faith ‘in ackon’ through care for neighbour.
• Carrying out Russian Orthodox religious pracCces, devoConal acts and pilgrimages
Under the care of the Diocesan Bishop, the Diocese’s large colleckon of parishes carry out the full suite of Orthodox Divine Services, which is the heart of its mission and aim. Through its labours, Orthodox faithful in the UK and ten other European nakons have ready access to all the Orthodox services on a weekly and even daily basis. Further, it has sponsored a European Church Musicians’ conference, first held in 2021 and which has become an annual event drawing singers from Orthodox parishes from Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Great Britain and even as far afield the United States of America, in order to train Orthodox choir conductors and singers and enhance the skills of those leading the tradikonal worship for which Russian Orthodoxy is known. In terms of
pilgrimages, a Diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy Land was organised in 2022 (and so again for 2023) together with other Holy Land pilgrimages organised on a parish-by-parish basis; a pilgrimage to the holy places of Ireland aqracted a mulknakonal group of pilgrims; the annual pilgrimage to the shrine of the Holy Martyrs of Lyons in France took place and again aqracted large numbers; and many others (including to Mt Athos, Moldova, Greece, Durham, and elsewhere). All these ackvikes strengthen and enhance the spiritual lives of the faithful and lead to deeper devokon — not least to the saints of the God-preserved lands of Western Europe and the Briksh Isles. In recent months, the Diocesan Bishop was able to call together all his clergy to London for a Clergy Convocakon: the first to take place since the pandemic and the first since the new Charity was formed. Though travel was somewhat hampered due to the current internakonal situakon, the event brought together more than 40 clerics from across the Diocese, from different nakonal backgrounds and with different linguiskc and cultural needs yet all united in their one faith in Christ and ackve in the mission of the Diocese to the world.
• Providing religious educaCon, training and resources to the Russian Orthodox Faith community
Many of the Diocese’s parishes have Saturday or Sunday Schools and organised youth groups and ackvikes. The Cathedral in London sponsors an independent Orthodox school. Children’s summer camps organised annually (four held in 2022) all include essenkal educakonal elements in Orthodox belief and prackce; and service-orientated retreats for older youths provide the experience of ‘puˆng faith into ackon’ by, for example, supporkng parishes through building ackvikes (in St Leonards on Sea, they have thus constructed a new church). Clergy and Altar-server formakon workshops were held throughout the year, in addikon to the training of Readers and Subdeacons that regularly takes place within the parishes and the Diocesan Cathedrals. The Diocese addikonally published in 2022 an updated edikon of its Liturgical Handbook , which provides liturgical instruckon and a host of related resources to Orthodoxy clergy and servers. It makes devokonal materials available on its website, and through its parishes.
Conclusion
The Diocese is, at the conclusion of 2022, in a much stronger posikon both spiritually and materially. We should aim over the coming years to consolidate the achievements of the past year and a half and move towards the establishment of a permanent residence for the Bishop and the establishment of monaskc life in the Diocese as spiritual resources and places of devokon and training. It is with deep graktude to God that all these posikve developments are reported to this meekng, and a real sense of hope enables us to embrace our future.
Archpriest Paul EllioG
Chancellor of the Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe (ROCOR)
Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe (ROCOR)
Financial Activities
January - December 2021
| JAN 2021 | FEB 2021 | MAR 2021 | APR 2021 | MAY 2021 | JUN 2021 | JUL 2021 | AUG 2021 | SEP 2021 | OCT 2021 | NOV 2021 | DEC 2021 | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | |||||||||||||
| Diocesan Income (Parish Assessments, Decree 1) | 11,884.31 | 5,597.93 | 22,453.09 | 4,279.14 | 0.00 | 2,239.91 | 2,134.00 | 766.66 | 769.30 | 768.82 | 2,823.63 | 781.01 | £54,497.80 |
| Collections for Diocesan Support | 257.36 | 387.91 | 823.04 | 2,041.19 | 1,893.13 | 2,706.75 | 1,033.03 | 1,080.54 | 870.50 | 1,525.99 | 1,411.79 | 783.48 | £14,814.71 |
| Diocesan Youth Fund | 138.80 | 0.00 | 35.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 299.99 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £473.79 |
| Total Diocesan Income (Parish Assessments, Decree 1) | 12,280.47 | 5,985.84 | 23,311.13 | 6,320.33 | 1,893.13 | 5,246.65 | 3,167.03 | 1,847.20 | 1,639.80 | 2,294.81 | 4,235.42 | 1,564.49 | £69,786.30 |
| Donations and legacies | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 | 100.00 | 50.00 | 0.00 | 50.00 | 50.00 | 50.00 | 50.00 | 1,700.05 | £2,150.05 |
| Uncategorised Income | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 780.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 52.50 | 0.00 | £832.50 |
| Total Income | £12,280.47 | £5,985.84 | £23,311.13 | £6,420.33 | £1,993.13 | £5,296.65 | £3,167.03 | £2,677.20 | £1,689.80 | £2,344.81 | £4,337.92 | £3,264.54 | £72,768.85 |
| TOTAL | £12,280.47 | £5,985.84 | £23,311.13 | £6,420.33 | £1,993.13 | £5,296.65 | £3,167.03 | £2,677.20 | £1,689.80 | £2,344.81 | £4,337.92 | £3,264.54 | £72,768.85 |
| Expenditures | |||||||||||||
| Chancellery Operational Costs | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £0.00 |
| Bank and accounting charges | 41.40 | 0.00 | 28.80 | 14.40 | 14.40 | 14.40 | 74.40 | 0.00 | 28.80 | 14.40 | 14.40 | 29.40 | £274.80 |
| Printing, Postage and Stationery | 120.66 | 236.23 | 0.00 | 67.47 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 36.60 | 57.06 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £518.02 |
| Web site and internet costs | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 388.17 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £388.17 |
| Total Chancellery Operational Costs | 162.06 | 236.23 | 28.80 | 470.04 | 14.40 | 14.40 | 74.40 | 0.00 | 65.40 | 71.46 | 14.40 | 29.40 | £1,180.99 |
| Charitable Contributions (General) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £0.00 |
| Charity in Support of Clergy | -4.49 | 655.00 | 50.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 780.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 186.15 | 218.47 | £1,885.13 |
| Total Charitable Contributions (General) | -4.49 | 655.00 | 50.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 780.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 186.15 | 218.47 | £1,885.13 |
| Hierarch Travel | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £0.00 |
| Hierarch Travel (Diocesan expense) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,443.14 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £1,443.14 |
| Total Hierarch Travel | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,443.14 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £1,443.14 |
| Hierarchical Maintenance | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,100.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £2,100.00 |
| Council Tax | 238.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 254.46 | 251.00 | 251.00 | 251.00 | 251.00 | 251.00 | 251.00 | 251.00 | 251.00 | £2,500.46 |
| Dedicated-Donation Hierarch Support (from earmarked | 0.00 | 160.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £160.00 |
| donations) | |||||||||||||
| Electricity and Gas | 69.05 | 69.05 | 69.05 | 22.89 | 120.09 | 120.09 | 120.09 | 120.09 | 120.09 | 120.09 | 125.13 | 125.13 | £1,200.84 |
| Medical Insurance | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 261.90 | 0.00 | 261.90 | 0.00 | 130.95 | 261.90 | 0.00 | 130.95 | 261.90 | £1,309.50 |
| Residence Rent / Mortgage | 2,100.00 | 2,100.00 | 2,100.00 | 2,100.00 | 2,100.00 | 2,100.00 | 0.00 | 2,150.00 | 2,150.00 | 2,150.00 | 2,150.00 | 2,150.00 | £23,350.00 |
| Water | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 255.52 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 255.51 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £511.03 |
| Total Hierarchical Maintenance | 2,407.05 | 2,329.05 | 2,169.05 | 2,894.77 | 2,471.09 | 2,732.99 | 2,471.09 | 2,652.04 | 2,782.99 | 2,776.60 | 2,657.08 | 2,788.03 | £31,131.83 |
| Salary (Diocesan Bishop) | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | £12,000.00 |
| Uncategorised Expenditure | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,645.38 | 138.25 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £1,783.63 |
| Total Expenditures | £3,564.62 | £4,220.28 | £3,247.85 | £4,364.81 | £3,485.49 | £3,747.39 | £5,190.87 | £4,570.29 | £5,291.53 | £3,848.06 | £3,857.63 | £4,035.90 | £49,424.72 |
| NET OPERATING INCOME | £8,715.85 | £1,765.56 | £20,063.28 | £2,055.52 | £ - | £1,549.26 | £ - | £ - | £ - | £ - | £480.29 | £ -771.36 | £23,344.13 |
| 1,492.36 | 2,023.84 | 1,893.09 | 3,601.73 | 1,503.25 |
Accrual Basis Wednesday, 14 December 2022 01:16 pm GMT+00:00
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Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe (ROCOR)
Financial Activities
January - December 2021
| JAN 2021 | FEB 2021 | MAR 2021 | APR 2021 | MAY 2021 | JUN 2021 | JUL 2021 | AUG 2021 | SEP 2021 | OCT 2021 | NOV 2021 | DEC 2021 | TOTAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Income | |||||||||||||
| Transit IN Collections | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £0.00 |
| IN - Collections or Assessments for Synod | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 62.16 | £62.16 |
| IN - Fund For Assistance | 0.00 | 0.00 | 28.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 40.00 | £68.00 |
| IN - Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,372.88 | 289.68 | 0.00 | 91.36 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 61.09 | £3,815.01 |
| IN - Jerusalem Ecclesiastical Mission | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,519.35 | 4,356.66 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £5,876.01 |
| IN - Other / Special transit collection | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 2,652.35 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £2,652.35 |
| Total Transit IN Collections | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,400.88 | 4,461.38 | 4,356.66 | 91.36 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 163.25 | £12,473.53 |
| Total Other Income | £0.00 | £0.00 | £3,400.88 | £4,461.38 | £4,356.66 | £91.36 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £163.25 | £12,473.53 |
| Other Expenditures | |||||||||||||
| Transit OUT transfers | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £0.00 |
| OUT - Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,662.56 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £3,662.56 |
| OUT - Jerusalem Ecclesiastical Mission | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 6,546.69 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £6,546.69 |
| Total Transit OUT transfers | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 3,662.56 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 6,546.69 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | £10,209.25 |
| Total Other Expenditures | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £3,662.56 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £6,546.69 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £10,209.25 |
| NET OTHER INCOME | £0.00 | £0.00 | £3,400.88 | £798.82 | £4,356.66 | £91.36 | £ -6,546.69 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £0.00 | £163.25 | £2,264.28 |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | £8,715.85 | £1,765.56 | £23,464.16 | £2,854.34 | £2,864.30 | £1,640.62 | £ -8,570.53 | £ -1,893.09 | £ -3,601.73 | £ -1,503.25 | £480.29 | £ -608.11 | £25,608.41 |
Accrual Basis Wednesday, 14 December 2022 01:16 pm GMT+00:00
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS'S REPORT TO THE TRUS EESOFTHE DIOCES OF GREAT BRITAIN AND WESTERN EUROPE ROCOR I repirt on the accounts of the charity for the year ded 31 December 2021 which compris¢ the Statement of Frnancial Activities, Balance She£t and the related notes. Respeclive responsibilities of tru5t¢es alld examin¢r The charitys tntee8 are responsible ftr the prepardi1( of the accwnts. The d)aritys trustees consider that an audit is not required for the year (under s43(2} of th¢ Charities Act 1993 {the Act) and that an independtht examination is needed. It is my resp¢Jnsibility to: exÉ¥min¢ the account5 (under se10 43{3)(a) ifihe 1993 A(*)- to tollow th¢ procedure5 laid down Èn the General Directi(ms givffl by the Charity Ci)mmi5sioners (under s43 (7) (b) of the 1993 Act as am(mdedl. and to state W&her particu18r mattus have come to my attention. Basis of llldependent ExxmiDeT'S Port My examination was oarried out in aecordance with the Gentral Dirxtl(S givaj by the Charity Commissithers. An examinati includes a revielv of the accounting rewrds kept by the Charit). and a comtmnson of the accounts pregthted with those rttords. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as TsleeS cottcerning any suth rnatter9. The PredureS undertaken do ngt provide all the evidence th would be r4uired in an audit an¢1 consequently. I do not expre&8 an audit opinion on the view given by the ac¢0 Independent Exxmincr's statem¢Bt In connection with my examinati(. no mattff has come to Tny attention.. 11 whid] gives me reas(Mable eause to believe that in any material rospect the rquirements to ke¢p accounting records in aecordance with $ttOn 41 of th¢ A¢X: aljd to prepare acwunts wht¢h acc(rd with the accounting records 8nd to comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act have not been met: 2} to which, in my opini(, atttion should be draTr in ordtr io enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be rched. Mrc C Yew & Companv Accountants 54 G}bUtle R(Hd London SW17 7NF 24 January 2023