Episkop Varnava Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Date of Birth: 19.02.1945 Country: France

1. Birth and Family Background
2. Education and Journey to Priesthood
3. Secret Episcopal Consecration
4. Appointment in France and Controversial Episcopal Consecration
5. Recognition and Appointment in Russia
6. Conflicts and Controversies
7. Departure from Russia and Rift with ROCOR
8. Conflicts within the "Russian Orthodox Church in Exile"

Birth and Family Background

Vladimir Prokofiev was born into a family of Russian émigrés. His father, Nikolai Pavlovich Prokofiev, was a former aristocrat and officer, while his mother hailed from an aristocratic Georgian family.

Education and Journey to Priesthood

Prokofiev received his education at the Jesuit boarding school Saint George in Meudon, near Paris. He later became a novice at Mount Athos in Greece, where he found a spiritual mentor. Eventually, he was ordained as a priest at the Michael the Archangel Church in Cannes, France.

Secret Episcopal Consecration

In 1982, Prokofiev was secretly consecrated as Bishop of Menton by Archbishop Antony and Bishop Mark. This act was carried out in Erlangen, Bavaria, and was not officially recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) at the time.

Appointment in France and Controversial Episcopal Consecration

Prokofiev was assigned as vicar to France. However, he later caused controversy by ordaining the catacomb Archimandrite Lazar as a bishop for "the rebirth and leadership of the Church in Russia." This ordination took place in a Moscow apartment and was not recognized by the official authorities.

Recognition and Appointment in Russia

In 1990, Prokofiev and Lazar were officially recognized by the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR. In 1992, Prokofiev was appointed as the representative of the Synod in Russia and as the rector of the Synodal courtyard in the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent in Moscow.

Conflicts and Controversies

Prokofiev's affiliation with the controversial "Memory" movement alienated him from other factions within Russian ecclesiastical circles. His ordination of Oleg Uryupin, who later founded the "Church of St. John the Theologian," also raised concerns.

Departure from Russia and Rift with ROCOR

In 1993, Prokofiev was recalled from Russia due to his willingness to recognize the canonical status of the schismatic Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He also objected to a letter sent by the ROCOR Synod to the Serbian Patriarch Paul, which he viewed as compromising due to Paul's ties to the Moscow Patriarchate.

Suspension, Defiance, and Founding of the "Russian Orthodox Church in Exile"

Prokofiev's objections to the ROCOR Synod's actions resulted in his suspension from the priesthood in 2001. However, he refused to acknowledge the suspension or the election of Metropolitan Laurus as the new Primate. Along with Metropolitan Vitaly, he established the "Russian Orthodox Church in Exile," where he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop and appointed as Vitaly's deputy.

Conflicts within the "Russian Orthodox Church in Exile"

Prokofiev soon clashed with Archpriest Veniamin Zhukov and other bishops within the "Russian Orthodox Church in Exile." This led to his suspension and ultimate defrocking in 2005. Despite the sanctions against him, Prokofiev continued to administer parishes loyal to him, including those in Russia. His followers maintained that he was the legitimate bishop of the European Diocese of the "Russian Orthodox Church in Exile" and that he had been unlawfully removed from his position.