Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan: ‘We shall overcome divisions and become one Church when God wills’

An interview of Bishop Gabriel, secretary of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, to the official internet-server of the Russian Orthodox Church

The pilgrimage of Your Grace to the holy sites of Russian comes to an end. Could you share your impressions of the pilgrimage?

I have been in Russia for eight days only, but managed to visit many monasteries and churches of the country, such as the Optina Hermitage, St.Nicholas’ Monastery in Ugreshi, the Laura of the Holy Trinity and St.Sergius, and the churches of St.Petersburg. Our pilgrimage was concluded in Valaam and Solovki.

I was deeply impressed with my visit to these holy sites. My heart was moved by the restored churches and monasteries. It is well known that they were returned to the Church in a sad state. We have seen hard work of both monks and laymen done for the restoration of these holy churches through labour or donations. A lot has been done, but much work is needed for the complete restoration of the holy sites.

During my pilgrimage to the holy sites of Russia I happened to meet hierarchs, abbots of the monasteries and rectors of the churches. For instance I had a long talk with Metropolitan Vladimir of St.Petersburg and Ladoga. I consider such contacts to be very helpful for all of us: we should meet, exchange opinions and try to better understand each other. I am confident that we should maintain good relations, as they help solve the problems that divide us

The process is advancing. There were held five joint meetings of the ROCOR Commission on talks with the Moscow Patriarchate and the Moscow Patriarchate Commission on dialogue with the ROCOR.

I think that the dialogue will help solve current problems, and when God wills, we shall opportunely overcome our divisions and become one Church. That desire should be our common. To be honest, even people who treat this process with distrust or misgivings, will not be able to speak against the reunification of the Russian Church, when all problems that divide us are solved.

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• Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan: ‘We shall overcome divisions and become one Church when God wills’