Ecumenical Patriarchate Dissolves Western Europe Exarchate for Churches of the Russian Tradition

In a surprise move,the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has dissolved its Western Europe Exarchate for Churches of Russian Tradition.According to a communique,at its meeting on 27 November 2018 in Constantinople,the Synod revoked its Tomos of 1999 that granted pastoral care and administration of Orthodox parishes of Russian tradition to an Archbishop-Exarch.
The communique explains:
This decision responds to the pastoral and spiritual needs of our time,with the greatest respect for canon law and our spiritual responsibility.
Indeed,the historical circumstances that led to its creation of such a structure in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution of October 1917,just a hundred years ago,have changed profoundly.*
It is through pastoral solicitude that the Ecumenical Patriarchate decided to integrate and connect the parishes to the different Holy Cities of the Patriarchate in the countries where they are located.Our Mother Church will continue to ensure and guarantee the preservation of their liturgical and spiritual tradition.*
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit always be with you,by the prayers of the Most Holy Mother of God and of all the saints.
Phanar,
November 27,2018*
Analysis:The former Exarchate had about 100 parishes serving around 100,000 Orthodox Christians in France,Belgium,the UK and other countries.It also was the home of institutions including the Orthodox Monastery of the Veil of Our Lady at Bussy-en-Othe,France and the celebrated St.Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute,which educated and formed the likes of Father Georges Florovsky,Olivier Clement,and Fathers Alexander Schmemann and John Meyendorff.
Basically,the parishes were becoming less ethnically Russian as many converts from diverse backgrounds increased in number.It no longer made pastoral sense to isolate them from the rest of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in an ethnic enclave.
Now the Russian tradition parishes in France,for example,will be integrated into the Metropolis of France alongside the Greek Orthodox parishes under His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel,while retaining their traditional liturgical practices and spirituality.
These parishes have existed parallel to the Moscow Patriarchate's structure in Western Europe.