The activity of the renewed metochion of the church of Antioch in Moscow during the years of the abbacy of bishop Basil (Samakhi) in 1948-1962

Based on published and archival materials, the article examines the circumstances of the resumption of the metochion of the Antiochian Patriarchate in Moscow in 1948 and its activities under the first rector - cleric of the Antiochian Church, Archimandrite, and subsequently Bishop Basil (Samakha). Bishop Basil proved himself to be an energetic and skillful church diplomat, and took part in all key contacts between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Patriarchate of Antioch during his years as rector of the metochion. Patriarch Alexander III of Antioch (Tahan) was playing a double game. Assuring the leadership of the USSR and the Moscow Patriarch of their devotion to the interests of the Soviet Union and the Russian Orthodox Church, and receiving large sums of money for church needs from Moscow, the Primate of the Church of Antioch interacted with the Americans and accepted money from them. In such a difficult political situation, Bishop Basil acted as an intermediary between the heads of the two fraternal Churches. However, the abbot of the compound did not forget about his personal interests either. His very consecration as bishop was not coordinated with Patriarch Alexy I of Moscow, which almost led to the removal of the newly-appointed bishop from office and his sending to Antioch. However, Bishop Basil had a great influence on the development of relations between the two fraternal Churches, and during the years of his abbacy, the metochion became an important channel of communication between the highest hierarchy of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Church of Antioch.