On the Visit to Russia of the Official Delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

In these joyous Paschal days, an official delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, headed by its First Hierarch, Metropolitan Laurus of Eastern America and New York, came to Russia at the invitation of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On May 14, 2004, the day the delegation arrived in Moscow, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus had a meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. The discussion was held in a warm atmosphere of mutual understanding. The following day, the delegation members prayed at the service performed by His Holiness the Patriarch at Butovo Polygon, the site of the murder of countless martyrs by the godless regime, many of whom have been glorified as saints. The delegates also made a pilgrimage to Donskoy and Danilov Monasteries, Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra and the holy sites of the Moscow Kremlin.

On May 17-18, joint discussions between the delegates of the Russian Church Abroad and those of the Moscow Patriarch were held. On May 18, these discussions were held under the chairmanship of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia.

Participating in the discussions on behalf of the Moscow Patriarchate were Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna, President of the Synodal Commission on the Glorification of Saints; Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, President of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Archbishop Innokenty of Korsun, President of the Synodal Committee on Dialog with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia; Protopriest Vladislav Tsypin of the Historical-Judicial Committee of the of the Moscow Patriarchate; the Prior of Sretensky Monastery, Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov); Protopriest Leonid Roldugin, Dean of the Preobrazhensky Deanery of Moscow; Protopriest Nikolai Balashov, Secretary of the Inter-Orthodox Relations of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate; Protopriest Georgii Mitrofanov, a teacher of St. Petersburg Theological Seminary and Protopriest Maksim Kozlov, Associate Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy.

The official delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia at the discussions was headed by Metropolitan Laurus of Eastern America and New York. Comprising the delegation were also Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and Great Britain, President of the Committee on Discussions with the Moscow Patriarchate; Archbishop Kyrill of Western America and San Francisco; Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff, Rector of Holy Transfiguration Cathedral in Los Angeles and Secretary of the Committee on Discussions with the Moscow Patriarchate; Protopriest Peter Perekrestov, Secretary of the Western American Diocese; Protopriest Nikolai Artemoff, Secretary of the German Diocese; Protopriest Peter Holodny, Treasurer of the Synod of Bishops; Priest Serafim Gan, member of the administration of the Synod of Bishops, and Priest Pavel Ivanov, clergyman of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.

Expressed at the joint discussions was the common desire of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to overcome the tragic division of our people, which arose as a result of the revolution and civil war, and the desire to achieve the reestablishment of Eucharistic communion and canonical unity within one Local Russian Orthodox Church, an indissoluble part of which the Russian Church Abroad always sensed itself. Our goal is to draw nearer that day when with one mouth and one heart we would glorify God.

An important role in the resolution of various problems which hinder the restoration of the fullness of communion is reserved for the Committees which were established in December 2003 by the hierarchies of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The Committees, having earlier worked separately, will in the near future commence working jointly. The Committees are charged with developing a common understanding on the following matters, based on the historical experience of the Russian Church and the problems facing the Church today:

The Committees must prepare, by God's will, a joint statement on the above questions of principle, which is to reflect their current understanding of both the Church in Russia and the Church Abroad. This statement will be presented for confirmation by the hierarchies of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Church Abroad.

It was recognized as necessary to continue the joint academic-historical study of church events of the 20th century, especially the examination of the podvig of the holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia and the experience of the Church existing under conditions of persecution by the godless regimes.

Witnessing with joy the growing mutual understanding in discussing those topics which in the past were causes of division, the participants of these talks noted the importance of refraining from steps which could harm the further process of rapprochement, in part, from the expression of animosity. A special duty in this regard lies upon the clergymen and participants of church institutions.

The Delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus and the group of pilgrims accompanying him plans on May 19 to attend the consecration of the church of the Life-Giving Trinity in Borisovskiye Prudy, dedicated to the 1000 year anniversary of the baptism of Russia, and on the day of the Ascension of the Lord, May 20, to attend the patriarchal service in the Great Church of the Ascension at Nikitskiye Gates.

On May 21, the Delegation will depart for Ekaterinburg, where its members will pray at the site of the martyric end of the Royal Passion-bearers. The delegation also intends on visiting the holy sites of St. Petersburg, Sarov, Diveevo and Kursk. The Delegation will leave Russia on May 28.

The participants of the joint discussions in Moscow are full of faith that mortal weakness and limitations will be overcome by the power of God through the prayers of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.

Christ is Risen!