Speech by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and all Russia at the opening of the 6th World Russian Council december 13, 2001

SPEECH BY HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCH ALEXY II OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA AT THE OPENING OF THE 6TH WORLD RUSSIAN COUNCIL December 13, 2001

Your Excellency, Highly Esteemed Vladimir Vladimirovich; Much-esteemed heads and representatives of the highest bodies of the legislative, executive and judicial power; Most reverend archpastors; Representatives of other traditional confessions; Dear fathers, brothers and sisters; Friends:

I am delighted to address the participants in the 6th World Russian People’s Council, which is held for the first time at the Church of Christ the Saviour.

When this church was rising from non-existence, we were confident that its revival would become a sign of the spiritual renewal of Holy Russia. The presence of the President of Russia here, as well as outstanding statesmen, military commanders, the cream of the Russian intelligentsia, and leaders of public associations speaks of the fact that the Church and the nation are together again. We discuss together the most complicated and important themes, moved by concern for the country and the world. With a special feeling I welcome those who have come from various cities and villages, from Ukraine and Belorussia, from other countries in the canonical territory of our Church and from the Russian diaspora.

The theme of the Council is “Russia: Faith and Civilization. Dialogue of Epochs”. Only recently, in the end of the 20th century, we anticipated a new century with good hopes. Unfortunately, this year has brought to the world an unprecedented tragedy, during which thousands of people lost their life and health, while millions, if not billions, of others watched on TV screens the triumph of an evil will. Today, thanks to the joint efforts of various nations and states, terrorists have been deprived of many opportunities for committing evil actions. But, I believe, nobody will claim that the evil of terrorism has been defeated for good. Moreover, I will risk suggesting that in the world there are still a great many problems that, if not give grounds for terrorism, than at least can be used by culprits for false self-justification and attracting supporters. I mean the injustices laid in the present world order, the inequitable distribution of power and wealth among the countries and continents, the attempts of some forces, both in East and West, to impose their will on the nations.

Russia should take part in solution of all these problems. Let it be our own contribution to building a lasting peace with justice on all the continents. It is our profound conviction: our country, which has always been considered a center of the Eastern Christian civilization, has something to say to the world. To this end, however, it is necessary to subject our future path to profound reflection, and first of all, to become renewed spiritually.

I will remind you all of the words of the ancient Psalter: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! The Lords looks down from heaven, he sees all the sons of men” (Ps. 33:12-13). The Russian people should come to feel again their calling as an inspired nation enlightened by the light of the Gospel. The age-old Orthodox heritage, the steadfast faithfulness to the intact Truth of Christ – this is what gives us strength to revive the country and to participate creatively in outlining the destiny of the world experiencing an ideological and moral crisis today. Russian Orthodoxy is profoundly national. But at the same time, it gives a universal dimension to the people’s life. Indeed, the Lord said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt. 28:18-20). Never to withdraw to ourselves, but to enlighten the world with the light of Christ – this mission of our Church and our nations is the basis of our indissoluble link with the world.

We have always felt ourselves to be one of the bridges linking East and West, North and South. Indeed, the Russian civilization has imbibed many influences and created a unique communication space for faiths, cultures and traditions. Especially noteworthy is the millennium-long experience of dialogue and cooperation between Orthodox Christians and Islam. This experience is especially called for at a time when attempts are made to cause a clash between the faithful of the two great world religions. Each of them, just as any other traditional religious community, has the right not only to its own way of life, but also participation in building the world order and establishing its principles. This right was respected in Russia in past centuries. It deserves, I believe, even greater respect today both in our country and in the world, the more so that these two are now practically inseparable.

Indeed, the recent tragedy in America has shown once again that the states and nations are closely interconnected in today’s world. Nobody is immune from new dreadful dangers. It is only together that we may overcome the universal evil of terrorism. Moreover, in order to protect its interests so that it may remain what it is, any country should participate most actively in the world processes. Today many of our compatriots realize this. Different nations have common problems, and no one of them is capable to resolve them on one’ own. This also means that no one has the right to impose on the world one-sided approaches and receipts, as only mutual respect, consultations and cooperation can prevent a global catastrophe and establish a world order that would assert equality among all people on the Earth, make it possible for their time-honoured traditions to develop and give every nations access to the determination of the destiny of the world human home.

Russia and the entire Orthodox civilization should become one of the decision-making centers in the world to make a favourable impact on its present and future. Let the words of Fyodor Dostoyevsky become prophetic. He wrote that our country “will say its new, healthy and still unheard-of word to the whole world, to the European humanity and civilization. It will be a beneficial word said verily now for bringing all humanity into a new brotherly universal union, the sources of which lie in the genius of the Slavs, mainly in the spirit of the great Russian people, who have suffered so long, who have been doomed to silence for so many centuries, but have always contained great energies for a future interpretation and resolution of many bitter and most fateful misunderstandings of the Western European civilization”.

I wish the participants in the Council a wise and fruitful discussion on the most complex problems facing us all today. Let your thoughts and words be inspired by profound faith, hope for a better future, concern and love for Russia, our people and all who are near and who are far. May God’s blessing be with us all in our actions, thoughts and reflections together on questions and problems to be discussed during this forum.