Latvian Orthodox Autonomous Church Explained

Latvian Orthodox Autonomous Church
Country:	Latvia
Headquarters:	Daugavpils
Denomination:	True Orthodoxy
Parishes:	11
Bishop:	Victor (Konturozov)
Parent Church:	Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church
Bishop Title:	Archbishop of Daugavpils and Latvia

The Latvian Orthodox Autonomous Church (^[1]), or All Holy Orthodox Church of Latvia,^[2] is a True Orthodox church in Latvia which is part of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church.^{[3] [4]}

Since 2011, the LOAC has declared itself a part of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, commemorating the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople in its liturgies.^{[5] [6]}

The current primate of the LOAC is Archbishop Victor of Daugavpils and Latvia.^{[7] [8]}

History

Since 1994, this church had asked the Latvian State to be recognized as an Eastern Orthodox religious association, because the Latvian law only allows for one institution to be registered for each religious denomination and that the Latvian Orthodox Church is already registered.^{[9] [10] [11] [12] [13]}

As of March 2018, the LOAC had not been recognized by Latvia as an Orthodox religious organization. However, in October 2019, the LOAC managed to be officially registered along with the Latvian Orthodox Church, because the LOAC claimed it (the LOAC) was already registered in 1936.^{[14] [15]}

The church had around 14 parishes as of 2006. The church had around 220 believers in Latvia as of 2015.^[16]

References

1. Web site: Lietā par atteikumu reģistrēt Latvijas Pareizticīgo Autonomo Baznīcu reliģisko organizāciju reģistrā iesniedz pieteikumu Satversmes tiesā. 10 July 2017. at.gov.lv. 2019-01-17.
2. Web site: Visu Svēto Latvijas Pareizticīgā (autonomā) draudze, 40801051645 - par uzņēmumu. LURSOFT. 2019-01-17. Lursoft. lv. 2019-01-17.
3. Web site: Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church - Bishops Archbishop Victor of Daugavpils and Latvia. www.roac-suzdal.narod.ru. 2019-02-23.
4. Web site: Bishops His Eminence, The Most Reverend Archbishop VICTOR of Daugavpils and Latvia. The ROAC of America: The Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church of America Official Web Site. 2019-02-23.
5. Web site: Константинополь пытается вытеснить РПЦ из Латвии. www.ng.ru. ru. 2019-10-01. 2019-10-21.
6. Web site: Латвийской церкви могут подыскать предстоятеля-латыша. www.ng.ru. ru. 2019-07-16. 2019-10-21.
7. Hoppenbrouwers. Frans. 2006. Current Developments - The Baltic Area . Journal of Eastern Christian Studies. 56. 85–104. Foundation/Stichting Communicantes Information Exchange Projects for the Catholic Church in Eastern Europe.
8. Web site: ВИКТОР АРХИЕПИСКОП ДАУГАВПИЛССКИЙ И ЛАТВИЙСКИЙ - 1 Января 2014 - Блог - Храм св. Царя-Мученика Николая II. st-rexnikolas.ru. 2019-10-21.
9. 2 October 2017. 2017. eurel - Données sociologiques et juridiques sur la religion en Europe et au-delà. en.
10. Web site: Pār reliģiskajām konfesijām velkas pārmaiņu negaiss. 14 March 2018. nra.lv. lv. 2019-01-17.
11. Web site: Application is submitted to the Constitutional Court in case regarding the refusal to list the Latvian Orthodox Autonomous Church in the register of religious organizations. 10 July 2017. at.gov.lv. 2019-01-17.
12. Web site: The ruling in dispute over the refusal to list the Latvian Orthodox Autonomous Church in the register of religious organizations will be available in March. 8 February 2017. at.gov.lv. 2019-01-17.
13. Web site: Zem Konstantinopoles vai Maskavas patriarha – strīds par jaunu pareizticīgu baznīcu Latvijā nonāk ST. Tomsone. Danute. 2017-07-23. delfi.lv. lv. 2019-01-17.
14. Web site: Latvian "Autonomous Church" of Constantinople legally registered parallel to canonical Church under Moscow. 30 October 2019. OrthoChristian.Com. 2019-11-01.
15. Web site: Latvijas Pareizticīgā Autonomā Baznīca, Konstantinopoles Patriarhāta jurisdikcijā. www.firmas.lv. lv. 2019-11-01.
16. 2017-05-15. Quelques chiffres sur les appartenances religieuses. eurel - Données sociologiques et juridiques sur la religion en Europe et au-delà. en.