His Holiness Patriarchs Alexy meets Russian diplomats – students of the Higher Diplomatic Cources

HIS HOLINESS PATRIARCHS ALEXY MEETS RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS – STUDENTS OF THE HIGHER DIPLOMATIC COURCES

On 30 October 2001 His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia met with Russian diplomats – students of the Higher Diplomatic Courses at the Synodal residence in St.Daniel’s Monastery. His Holiness told them about the major landmarks in the modern history of Russian Orthodoxy, the present situation with religion in Russia, the principles and practice of relations between the Church and the state and between the Church and society, and the positive dynamics of cooperation between healthy forces of Russian society and the Orthodox Church at present. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy said that it was our lot not only restore the walls of the churches, but also to heal human souls.

According to the Primate of the Church, a major sphere of cooperation between the Church the foreign office of Russia is the reconstruction of the Orthodox churches at the Russian embassies in foreign states. The embassy churches are functioning in Prague and Delhi, the foundation stone was consecrated for the embassy church in Rome and construction of churches on the territory of Russian diplomatic mission in the United States and some Arab countries is being considered.

After the meeting His Holiness answered the questions of the journalists. When speaking about prospects of reuniting of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church, he expressed his hope for the betterment of relations between our Churches after the election of a new Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia at its Bishops’ Council. ‘It is too early to work out the total, but we hope that the hearts of the new leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in the person of Metropolitan Laurus will welcome a fraternal message of the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. The message emphasizes that we have no doctrinal differences and there are no reasons today for dividing us as the Church in Russia has gained freedom and the assembly of the new Russian martyrs and confessors was canonized, including the Imperial passion-bearers.

Commenting on the news that the former head of the Russian Church Outside Russia Metropolitan Vitaly after the election of the new Primate expressed his intention to resume his office, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy said: ‘He himself tendered his resignation due to his advanced age and the state of his health, but no one can enter the same river twice’.

Also touched upon was the election of a new head of the Finnish Orthodox Church. His Holiness reminded the journalists that Metropolitan Leo said at the press conference the first to be after his election that the revival of normal relations with the Moscow Patriarchate would be a priority in his activity. ‘For many decades the Russian Orthodox Church has maintained strong friendly relations with its daughter, the Church in Finland, – noted His Holiness Alexy. – But, unfortunately, the interference Archbishop John, the former head of the Finnish Church into ecclesiastical conflict in Estonia has complicated our relations’.

His Holiness the Patriarch expressed his hope for a new impetus in the traditionally fraternal relations between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Finnish Orthodox Church after the election of its new Primate.