Russian Orthodox churches may unite soon

[Waldemar]

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=9700900

May 17 2004 3:33PM
Russian Orthodox churches may unite soon

MOSCOW. May 17 (Interfax) - Archpriest Pyotr Perekryostov, a widely known U.S.-based theologian and columnist for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia said the church's rapprochement with the Russian Orthodox Church may proceed faster than opponents would like.

"On numerous occasions, great decisions in the history of the church were made very fast," Father Pyotr told a meeting with instructors and students of Moscow's religious schools in the Trinity- Sergius Lavra on Sunday.

Archpriest Nikolai Artyomov, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia's special envoy who has arrived from Germany, told the gathering that he was amazed by attempts to obstruct unification with the Patriarchal church.

"The opponents of reunification are renowned for their somewhat narrow view of the situation. Their views can be understood, but not accepted," he said.

The visit by the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, headed by Metropolitan Laurus, coincided with the celebration of the Day of Butovo New Martyrs last Saturday, Father Nikolai said.
The Church Outside Russia could not for years forgive the Moscow Patriarchy's loyalty to the Soviet communist authorities, expressed in a declaration issued by Metropolitan Sergius in 1927.

Butovo is the site where nearly 1,000 Orthodox Christians, who preferred death over abandoning their faith, were shot in the Stalin era. Patriarch Alexy and Metropolitan Laurus laid foundation stones for a church there two years [sic] ago. (Actually two days ago)

"New Martyrs is the basis on which the Russian church may reunite, and the fact that the visit of the Church Outside Russia's delegation coincided with the day of memory for those people is a clear demonstration of the will of Providence that the doubting and opponents of unification cannot fail to see," Father Nikolai said

[尼古拉前执事]

From the Xenia list as it is appearing on Russian TV:

Patriarch Alexey has just served a panikhida on the grave of (as it is said
in the news) "His Holiness Patriarch Sergey Stragorodsky" and praised him as
a brilliant fugire in Church history. It was done in the time when the
delegation of ROCOR(L) is in Moscow.

I remember one of MP bishops some time ago suggested to canonize "together"
Sergy Stragorodsky (father of Sergianism) and St. Joseph of Petrograd
(founder of Catacomb church).

Also for those who does not know yet (remember, that most of the New Martyrs
that were "canonised" by MP did not recognise Moscow Patriarchate)

[尼古拉前执事]

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/05/18/church.shtml

Created: 18.05.2004 19:29 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 19:29
MSK

The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Aleksy
II, and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church
Abroad, Metropolitan of East America and New York
Laurus declared on Tuesday that they intend to reunite
the church.

This decision was taken during negotiations between
the heads of two parts of Russian Orthodox Church,
Moscow patriarchy was quoted by Interfax news agency
as saying.

"The common wish of Moscow patriarchy and Russian
Church Abroad to overcome the tragic division of our
people that happened in consequence of the revolution
and civil war was expressed during the interlocution,"
the patriarchy said.

The important role in the reunification will be given
to the commissions established by the two parts of the
church in December. They worked separately recently
and it is expected that they will start a joint work.
They are to determine the status of the Church Abroad
and to develop common principles of relationship
between the Orthodox Church and the state, unorthodox
communities and secular organizations.

This is the first official visit of Metropolitan
Laurus to Russia. He came with a delegation of
hierarchs and priests from the church.

A split in the Russian Orthodox Church took place in
1917, after the October Revolution. In 1927, Moscow
Metropolitan Sergy signed a declaration recognizing
the Soviet authorities. This declaration is the main
obstacle for a merger of the churches.

The residence of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad is
situated in Jordanville, NY. It has about 250
congregations all over the world, 30 of them in
Russia. Since the 1990s Aleksy II has sent letters to
its heads calling for a reconciliation but received no
answer. In October 2003 Russian President Vladimir
Putin met bishops of the church and sent an invitation
to Laurus who was elected head of the church in 2001.

[OrthodoxyOrDeath]

Saint John of San Francisco characterized the signs of the end of the world: "There will be a mass falling away from faith, moreover many bishops will betray faith justifying themselves by pointing at the splendid state of the Church. People will be disposed to search for compromise. A forthright confession of faith will disappear. People will excel in justifying their fall, and tender evil will contribute to such general disposition, and people will become accustomed to apostasy and to sweetness of compromise and sin." (Discourse on the Terrible Judgment)

These are the days!

[Waldemar]

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.htm ... &PageNum=0

Russian patriarch calls for overcoming split in Russian Church
19.05.2004, 17.29

MOSCOW, May 19 (Itar-Tass) -- Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and all Russia said the Russian Orthodox Church should overcome the split caused by the 1917 revolution and the civil war for the sake of posterity.

“Overcoming discord sown in the last century would be a guarantee of future well-being of the Church and the nation,” he said after consecrating a church in Moscow. The ceremony was attended by the head of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad, Metropolitan Lavr.

Alexy II recalled the words said by martyr Veniamin of Petrograd in 1922 that “the Russians will reunite”.

Referring to the talks the previous day where the sides had confirmed their commitment to unity, the patriarch said, “These words are now coming true”.
“We are praying together, and this testifies to our desire to restore unity,” Alexy II said. “We have one Lord God, one Church and one Baptism. And we should preserve the unity of spirit in an alliance of peace.”

[Waldemar]

Starets Anatole the Younger of Optina, in the very first days of the Revolution, in February 1917, made a prophecy in the form of a vivid picture of the future of Russia:

“There will be a storm. And the Russian ship will be smashed to pieces. But people can be saved even on splinters and fragments. And not everyone will perish. One must pray, everyone must repent and pray fervently. And what happens after a storm? ...There will be a calm.’ At this everyone said: ‘But there is no more ship, it is shattered to pieces; it has perished, everything has perished.’ ‘It is not so,’ said Batiushka. ‘A great miracle of God will be manifested. And all the splinters and fragments, by the will of God and His power, will come together and be united, and the ship will be rebuilt in its beauty and will go on its own way as foreordained by God. And this will be a miracle evident to everyone.” [Orthodox Russia, 1970, no. 1, p. 9].

[Waldemar]

Well...not to everyone!