DECLARATION in Support of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia by the Federated Union of Cossacks of Russia

Having studied the materials of the Councils of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia of 2000 and 2001, we were gladdened and satisfied that this part of the one Russian Orthodoxy continues to preserve its loyalty to the truth of Christ, the patriotic legacy of Holy Russia and Tsarist Russia.

We were moved to read in the materials of the 2000 Council the admiration expressed for the Russian soldier-martyrs who spilt their blood in Chechnya rather than accept Islam.

We joyfully welcome the election at the Council of 2001 of the new First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Laurus, well-known as a devoted son of the great Russian people and a firm follower of the Russian Orthodox idea.

We support the consistent position of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia against the heretical ecumenical movement and declare that this specifically is one of the main reasons of the tragic division of Russian Orthodox people in Russia and abroad.

For this reason we decisively add our voice to that of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and also to the recently-published Appeal of the starets hieromonk Rafail (Berestov), directed against ecumenism.

We call upon all Russian Orthodox Christians, all patriots, all of Orthodox Cossackdom to support our Declaration and the Appeal of Fr. Rafail and universally join in the battle against the ecumenical heresy. Write declarations of support, conduct Processions of the Cross, pray for the victory over the ecumenical heresy!

If victory is achieved we will finally attain the unity of Russian Orthodoxy desired by all, the Russian people will be united, and then the renascence of the Orthodox Monarchist Russia can become a reality!

Russian people! Cossacks! Let us rise for Mother Russia, for the House of the Most-Holy Mother of God!

The Head of the Supreme Authority of the Federated Union of Cossacks, Major-General A. Soskov
President of the Council of the Cossack Military Orthodox Mission and member of the Union of Russian Writers, Captain I. Smykov

Member of the Cossack Orthodox Mission and member of the Union of Russian Writers, Colonel A. Trapeznikov

10 June 2002
Slavyanskaya ploshchad’
Moscow