“The Reunification of the Russian Church Was a Miracle of the 21st Century”

Washington journalist Dmitry Zlodorev wrote a book about the long and difficult process of reuniting the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which had been divided for many decades after the Bolshevik Revolution, with the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. The editorial team of Russian Life asked the author to explain how the book was written and the relevance of the chosen topic.

— Dmitry, how did the idea of writing a book about the “Russian schism” and the reunification of the churches come about?

I came to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in 2011. At first, I just attended services at our St John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC. But over time, I felt that I could be useful not just as a parishioner, but also as a journalist. I listened to our priests, primarily our Rector, Archpriest Victor Potapov, and understood that they were a treasure trove of fascinating information. They told wonderful stories about church life and the life of the Russian emigration. I felt that all of this needed to be recorded and shared with people.

Gradually, I began to get to know our archbishops, priests, and deacons from other parishes, thereby expanding the “geography” of my messages. Almost all of them, in private conversations and in interviews, shared memories that were somehow related to the process of reconciliation with the Moscow Patriarchate. At some point, I felt that all of this was literally begging to be put on paper. After all, these people had so many interesting things to say!

For example, protodeacon Viktor Lokhmatov from the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, our “Lavra Abroad,” was a cell attendant to the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, Metropolitan Laurus (Skurla). He shared such amazing details about the hierarch, particularly about the first meeting, which took place long before the reconciliation, with the current head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Onouphry (Berezovsky). At that time, Metropolitan Onouphry was visiting Canada, and a mutual acquaintance arranged for them to meet at a hotel on the border. The two archbishops talked to each other for several hours. In Father Victor's opinion, that meeting served as an impetus for unification.

Another cleric, Fr Victor of Washington, DC, told me about the All-Diaspora Council in San Francisco in 2006, where the historic decision was made about reconciliation. At that time, many in the Church Abroad had serious doubts about the legitimacy of such a step, but Vladyka Laurus intentionally invited all the dissenters. According to Father Victor, they literally insulted the metropolitan, who humbly listened to all their complaints and prayed. Then the participants of the council decided to serve a moleben at the relics of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco, after which they very quickly made a positive decision.

Father Victor told me how, after the vote, he told one of the opponents of reunification that a miracle had occurred. The opponent agreed and said it was the work of the Holy Spirit. And people told me many such stories. They are not only interesting but also instructive and important. This is our history, the life of our Church, and of ourselves.

— Why was overcoming the schism such a significant event for the Russian church?

One of the protagonists of the book, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, told me how once in his youth, seeing only a few dozen people at the service, he thought about what would happen to the Church Abroad when the older generation passed away. It would likely continue to exist, but without an influx, we would likely have very few Russian parishioners, and newly arrived emigrants would attend other churches. Moreover, a schism is always painful. It is very important that this wound has healed, and now we can live a united life as before.

- How long did it take to work on the book?

— I'm not sure that this can be talked about in the past tense. Yes, the manuscript is ready. But as long as it is not published, changes can be made to it. And now I understand that it would be very useful to hear the memories of other people involved in the reunification. For example, many say that it would be very valuable to communicate with Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov), who was one of the main supporters of the reunification from the side of the Russian Orthodox Church. Many foreign priests have told me about his role.

In addition, I increasingly feel the need to write memoirs about Bishop Basil (Rodzianko), with whom I had the good fortune to communicate shortly before his death in 1999. Yes, Vladyka died long before the reconciliation, and in general served in the Orthodox Church in America. But from my fleeting communication with him, from the memoirs of people who knew him very well, I understand that he always wanted to see the Russian Church united. I hope that Vladyka’s long-time assistant, Marilyn Sweezy, Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen), who was his spiritual son, and Fr Victor Potapov will share their stories. And, of course, I hold out hope of recording an interview with Vladyka's niece, Matushka Maria Potapova.

— Who helped you write the book? Perhaps you turned to one of the clergy for a blessing.

— To be honest, I am not experienced in many aspects of church life and do not know how to get a blessing for such things. But it was very valuable for me to receive the verbal blessing of our ever-memorable First Hierarch, Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral). He passed away on May 16, 2022, just a day before the 15th anniversary of the reunion. And a few months before that, we met for the last time. I asked Vladyka then to share his memories and to bless me to write the book.

It is very significant for me that this conversation took place in the presence of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. The great shrine, which people in Russia stand in line for days to venerate, was located on the analogion just two meters from us. It was a miracle!

That meeting was organized for us at the home of Fr Victor Potapov. He also introduced me to many other figures in this book. Fr Serafim Gan of Sea Cliff, NY, generously shared his contacts. By the way, at one time, for some reason, I did not ask him to share his own memories of the reconciliation of the Churches, and now I am thinking of filling this gap.

— How did you select the memories of the participants in the events of those years, which were already quite distant? Whose memories made the strongest impression on you as an author?

The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is like a family, everyone here knows each other. That helped me a lot. It was a kind of chain: the memories of one person led me to another, then to a third, and so on. I didn't even know most of the people, but I was told: "You need to communicate with so-and-so." And so everything worked out.

Interestingly, during the entire time I worked on the book, not one person refused to speak to me, although I assume that our bishops and priests have a lot to tend to without me disturbing them. But they all agreed. Maybe because it is also important for them?

As for the stories, they are all amazing. Vladyka Hilarion told how as a young man he went to a church of the Moscow Patriarchate in Canada and wanted to go to study at a seminary in the USSR, and when this dream did not come true, he joined the bosom of ROCOR and entered Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY. Metropolitan Mark (Arndt) of Berlin and Germany shared his memories of his trips to Mount Athos, where he had visited the Russian Monastery of St Panteleimon long before the reconciliation and met its abbot at the time, Archimandrite Avel (Makedonov).

And I vividly imagine the stories of Fr Nikolai Artemov from Munich about how, on the day of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion, he ran in the rain between different entrances at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow to lead the members of his delegation inside. And there are a lot of such stories - instructive and sometimes funny.

- And which of the clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate most of all supported the idea of overcoming the schism?

First of all, this is, of course, Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, he and the First Hierarch, Metropolitan Laurus, were the main drivers of the process. Without them, the reunion would still have happened, but perhaps later. I was told that His Holiness had approached Vladyka Laurus' predecessor, Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov), with a proposal for a meeting, but had not received an answer. Archpriest George Larin of blessed memory told me how at one of the sessions the parties could not find common ground, and then Metropolitan Kirill [current Patriarch of Moscow—ed,] said: "Our brothers abroad are right, we must accept their point of view." According to Fr George, such support was important for the ROCOR delegation.

And, of course, almost all of my interlocutors suggested that I talk to the current Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov), who participated in many meetings and was an ardent supporter of reconciliation. At first, I was simply embarrassed to distract Vladyka with questions, but now I understand: maybe it's good that the book has not yet been published. I understand that he is really very busy, but perhaps it will still be possible to include his memories there.

— Writing this manuscript is not tied to any date, to ayn anniversary. Why do you consider the topic you raise in your book relevant?

I am an investigative journalist, and in my work I am constantly guided by some events and dates. Originally going to write this book for the 15th anniversary of the reunification of the churches. But then other circumstances arose, the plans had to be changed. And now I think that this may be even for the best. After all, as St John of Shanghai said, there are no accidents in the life of an Orthodox person. It seems to me that in the current difficult situation, when they are trying to divide us on various grounds, the story of reconciliation is very relevant.

- Do you think there is a danger of a new schism in the Russian Church today? Where can this threat of schism come from and how do the people in your book assess this threat?

Unfortunately, even the first split was not completely healed. Yes, the two branches of the Russian Church have again become one, but many in the diaspora did not accept this. With what pain the ever-memorable Fr George Larin told me that his own brother had stopped communicating with him, and that some wonderful parishioners had left his parish. Fr Stefan Pavlenko of Burlingame, CA, was upset that one of his parishioners lived a stone's throw from the church, but in all these years he went there only once, to buy a calendar.

Now we are again facing the threat of schism, but I know that all our bishops and priests are doing everything to prevent it. And I am sure that this will not happen, because, as it is said in the Gospel of Matthew, "I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

— Nowadays, it is sometimes much more difficult to publish a book than to write it? Where and how do you expect to publish your work?

I am now convinced that it is more difficult to publish than to write. But the road will be mastered by the one who walks. I would like the book to be published within the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, which is ready to provide it with rich photographic material.

I know that our Synod is looking for funding. But if you manage to find them in Russia or in any other country, it would be great. It is important that people be able to read these amazing stories and experience how the Russian Church overcame the schism that lasted for almost 90 years. After all, this is our common history, and knowing it, we can move forward more confidently, and most importantly, we can strengthen Orthodox unity and the spirit of Christian love.