Word by His Holiness Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, during the reception in honor of His Beatitude Ignatios, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
10.02.2003 · English
WORD BY HIS HOLINESS ALEXY II, PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA,
DURING THE RECEPTION IN HONOR OF HIS BEATITUDE IGNATIOS,
PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH AND ALL THE EAST
21 January 2003
Your Beatitude, Beloved in the Lord Concelebrant and the Most Blessed Brother,
Venerable archpastors of the Orthodox Church of Antioch and our dear guests,
Dear ones who are sharing our meal,
The Lord has granted us the pleasure of enjoying a new meeting with His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios and his fellow travelers, precious guests of the Russian Orthodox Church. For fifteen years that have elapsed since Your Beatitude’s last visit we have carefully kept in our hearts the memory of our fraternal intercourse and have been well aware of the fact that in your person the Russian Church has had a sincere and faithful friend. Now we again can talk together “face to face”, not only by “pen and ink” (3 Jn 13-14).
It is in the spirit of fraternal love and understanding that we discussed common problems of the Orthodox Plenitude, being aware of the fact that the responsibility to take invariable care of the peace and well-being of the Holy Churches of God and the union of all. The Orthodox people in Russia have appreciated Your Beatitude’s contribution of to the cause of peace and unity at its true worth. This high appreciation will be embodied in the award that is to be presented to you today at the new-born Christ the Savior Cathedral, a symbol of the spiritual resurrection of the long-suffering Russian nation.
Fraternal love and prayerful fervor of the Christians from the Orthodox East have always heartened us in our ordeals. Today, it is a special consolation for us to share with Your Beatitude not only our concerns, but also, to a greater extent, the joys of our Holy Church which in recent years has experienced the overall revival of her saving ministry to society.
The feats of the holy Russian New-Martyrs were not vain, but have brought ample fruits to the glory of God and are the common property of the Orthodox Plenitude. Your presence in our midst enables us to feel in a more vivid way that our people are spiritually implicated with the faith and work of the holy apostles and God-bearing men, great champions of the faith, who have given birth to the church tree in the East.
Our spiritual unity is based on love to Christ, adherence to His word and proclamation of the truth of God. There were many examples through the history when mighty powers were breaking up and strong nations were being scattered. However, the Church has shown an example of union, whose height makes it unassailable to the enemies of God. Losing the true spiritual values, the humanity grows increasingly frail and vulnerable. With heartache watching the threats to peace which are culminating in the Middle East, we are convicted that the grace of God alone kept in the Church can overcome the hate and hatred of this world. Indeed, “he who gives heed to the word will prosper” (Prov 16:20).
May the Only Chief Shepherd give peace and prosperity to the Holy Church of Antioch and the people entrusted to her pastoral care! May He strengthen Your Beatitude in your Primatial ministry! May the Lord bless those working to His glory! And may He preserve the unity of the Orthodox Plenitude!
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