Delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Visits Moscow

DELEGATION OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OUTSIDE OF RUSSIA VISITS MOSCOW

A delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia consisting of Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand, Bishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, Archpriest Nikolai Artemoff, secretary of the German diocese and Archpriest Peter Holodny, treasurer of the Synod of Bishops, arrived in Moscow on 17 November 2003 at the invitation of the Russian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate.

On November 18 His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia received members of the delegation in episcopal rank at his working residence in Chisty Pereulok. The problems of church unity were discussed with warmth and cordiality.

On November 19 His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II chaired the conversations held at the Patriarchal residence in St.Daniel’s Monastery between of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in full strength and the permanent members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church: Metropolitan Philaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna and Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations.

Taking part in the conversation also were Archimandrite Tikhon, superior of the Moscow Sretensky Monastery and Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, DECR secretary for interOrthodox relations.

Both parties expressed their will to establish communion in prayer and the Eucharistic communion. It was decided to set up commissions, which would facilitate the solution of the problems accumulated during many years. The participants expressed their willingness to follow the path leading to the unity of the Church in the spirit of genuine repentance on the basis of common canonical Tradition and with respect to the ecclesiastical and administrative realities, which took shape during the 20th century. Such a rapprochement, heartily expected by the faithful of the Russian Church both in the Fatherland in diaspora, will be the most important contribution into the spiritual overcoming of the tragic consequences of the revolution of Civil War in Russia, which were tangible during the long decades of confrontation and misunderstanding.

The questions discussed at the meeting will be considered at the sessions of the Holy Synod and Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Synod of Bishops and the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

A visit of the President of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Metropolitan Laurus to Moscow early in 2004 will become the most important landmark on the way to unity. It is expected that during the visit an agreement will be signed, by which the canonical, pastoral and church-practical foundations of the unity of the Russian Church will be determined.

During the conversations, which were held in the warm atmosphere of mutual understanding, respect and frankness, a wish was expressed that the movement to unity should not run into new obstacles in the form of utterances or actions that might cause damage to the process of rapprochement.

While in Moscow, the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia visited the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St.Sergius, the Moscow Monasteries and the Cathedral Church of Christ the Saviour. The delegation will stay in Moscow till November 22.