A delegation of the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church visits the Russian Orthodox Church

A DELEGATION OF THE JAPANESE AUTONOMOUS ORTHODOX CHURCH VISITS THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

A delegation of the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church was in Moscow for an official visit to the Russian Orthodox Church from August 16 to 24, 1999. The delegation included archpriest Justin Yamaguchi, archpriest Savva Onami and archpriest Job Baba, members of the Metropolitan Council of the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church, and archpriest Cyril Arihara, archpriest Judas Nashiro and priest Andrew Tsuye, who came to take monastic vows. Archpriest Job Nagaya of the Russian Orthodox Church Representation in Tokyo acted as interpreter.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: After the death of His Eminence Theodosios (Nagashima), Archbishop of Tokyo and Metropolitan of All Japan, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia as Primate of its Mother Church assumed the administration over the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church till its Council elects a new Primate. On June 4, 1999, the Holy Synod entrusted Bishop Innocent of Chita and Transbaikal with taking archpastoral care of the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church parishes on behalf of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and with celebrating divine services at them till its new Primate takes over.

The delegation of the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church arrived in the evening of August 16.

On the same day, they met with the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, at Serebryany Bor. Taking part in the meeting were also Archbishop Clement of Kaluga and Borovsk, vice-chairman of the Department for External Church Relations, and Bishop Innocent of Chita and Transbaikal.

On August 17, the clerics of the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church made a pilgrimage to shrines in Moscow. The first was the Church of Our Lady of Kazan in Red Square. Then the Japanese clergy bowed at the venerated copy of the miracle-working Icon of Our Lady of Iveron at the chapel near the Resurrection Gates.

In the afternoon, the Japanese delegation was received by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia at his residence in St. Daniel’s monastery. After the audience, the delegation visited the Church of Christ the Savior under construction and was introduced there to the history of its construction, destruction and reconstruction. Later that day the delegation visited the Church of St. George the Victorer on Poklonnaya Hill.

On August 18, the guests were introduced to the history of the Donskoy monastery in Moscow and its churches, where they venerated the relics of the Holy Patriarch Tikhon, saw the small and large cathedrals and the restored cell of Patriarch Tikhon.

On the same day the delegation went to the Ugreshski monastery of St. Nicholas to see the major restoration work, the church, the chapel and the vestry museum.

In the evening, all the members of the delegation served the All-Night Vigil together with His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia at the Transfiguration Chapel of the Church of Christ the Savior.

On August 19, the Day of the Holy Transfiguration, the Japanese clergymen concelebrated the divine liturgy together with His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration in the New Monastery of Our Savior in Moscow. His Holiness Alexy granted high awards to the senior clergymen of the Japanese Church – archpriest Justin Yamaguchi was elevated to the rank of protopresbyter, while archpriests Savva Onami and Job Baba were mitred.
In the afternoon, the guests left for St. Sergius’ Laura of the Holy Trinity. On the following day they saw the sights in the Laura, the largest monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church, and visited the Moscow Theological Academy to be introduced to the collection of the Museum of Church Archeology and the School of Iconography.

In the evening, the three candidates for episcopal thrones were tonsured. Archpriest Cyril Arihara was given the monastic name of Peter in honor of St. Peter of Moscow, archpriest Judas Nashiro – Daniel in honor of St. Daniel of Moscow, while priest Andrew Tsuye – Seraphim in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The taking of monastic vows was attended by Bishop Innocent of Chita and Transbaikal, Bishop Yevgeny of Vereya, rector of Moscow Seminary and Academy, archimandrite Theognost, father superior of the Laura, and many of its brethren.

After the newly-tonsured were greeted, members of the Metropolitan Council of the Japanese Church, protopresbyter Justin Yamaguchi, archpriest Savva Onami and archpriest Job Baba, left for Moscow.

On August 21, the members of the Metropolitan Council visited St. Andronic’s monastery of Our Savior and the St. Andrew Rublev Museum, as well as the Bulgarian and Athonian church representations in Moscow.

In the afternoon, the clerics of the Japanese Church had an opportunity to attend a tea ceremony at the Main Botanical Garden, arranged by the Urasenke tea school at Moscow University.

In the evening, they worshipped at the All-Night Vigil in the Church of the Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Council at St. Daniel’s monastery.

On Sunday, August 22, protopresbyter Justin Yamaguchi, archpriest Savva Onami and archpriest Job Baba concelebrated the divine liturgy with the father superior of St. Daniel’s monastery, archimandrite Alexis.

In the afternoon, the Japanese delegation visited the Tretyakov Gallery and its Church of St. Nicholas.

In the evening, the guests made a pilgrimage to St. Savva’s monastery at Storozhki near Zvenigorod, Moscow region, to venerate the relics of St. Savva, the founder of the monastery. They were received there by the father superior, archimandrite Theoctist. Remarkably, the visit was made on the day marking the anniversary of translation of the relics of St. Savva from St. Daniel’s monastery to their original place.

On August 23, protopresbyter Justin Yamaguchi, archpriest Savva Onami and archpriest Job Baba visited the Sofrino workshops. They were introduced their to the work of the largest factory of the Russian Orthodox Church to produce church articles.

On August 24, the members of the Metropolitan Council had a farewell audience with His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.

In the afternoon, protopresbyter Justin Yamaguchi, archpriest Savva Onami and archpriest Job Baba left for Tokyo, while the newly-tonsured hieromonk Peter (Arihara), Daniel (Nashiro) and Seraphim (Tsuye) and archpriest John Nagaya continued their familiarization with dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church. The first station on their route was the Pskov Monastery of the Caves to be followed by the Optina hermitage and the Kaluga diocese. Then the guests are to visit the Sanaskarsky monastery to see the life of the Saransk diocese. The last point in their program will be a visit to St. Seraphim’s monastery at Diveyevo and veneration of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov.