Legal Action Against Our Lady of Vladimir Convent Continues

[Joshua F]

I wonder who gets the Vladimir icon?

The Vladimir Icon and all religious property, the name of the convent, the corporation, and principle assets are retained by the convent in exchange for future transfer (in seven years) of limited real property, specifically the property in Moss Beach.

So, basically, the Convent is free to remain with Metropolitan Vitaly and retains almost everything it was fighting for.

See http://www.rocie.org/articles/112/1.html for the press release from the Convent's legal team.

-Joshua Fraese

[bogoliubtsy]

Well, it was mighty nice of the ROCOR synod to do that, since the Synod owns Church property.

[Joshua F]

It's interesting that they did agree to settle on these terms, and the settlement marks a major shift in position for the Synodal side... just a few months ago they made the turnover of the Vladimir Icon a pre-requisite for even sitting down to discuss settling. This seems to indicate a reconsideration of their legal position - perhaps their claims were not as strong as they originally hoped?

It may also have had something to do with all the preliminary motions for the Synod being denied and all the convent's motions being accepted. once again, the courts have sided with the ROCIE, hopefully this will mean our monastics and clergy will soon be free from legal harrasment altogether.

[Daniel]

Joshua,
Thanks for the information. A friend locally told be the same thing last night.

Well, it was mighty nice of the ROCOR synod to do that, since the Synod owns Church property.

From what I was told, the Synod never had really rights to the properties. The convent's first house was gifted to them by an Anglican women, and all the subsequent properties were purched through their own effort. So I have been told.