The PSEA Chairman's Report to the Vth All-Diaspora Council

 

            Honorable delegates of the Vth All-Diaspora Council, dear brothers in Christ!

 

            Blessed is God, having gathered us this day with the hope and sincere desire to accept and act upon His Holy will!

 

            All of us gathered here are different people with different opinions.  Nevertheless, since we are Christians, we are directed to be of one Spirit not only with one another, but with the brothers and sisters who came before us, who preserved and practiced the Orthodox faith.  We must remain in one Spirit with the entire Catholic Orthodox Church.

 

            We possess the spiritual legacy of the Russian Church Abroad, as expressed in its conciliar decisions and in the efforts and thoughts of its faithful members.  Since we believe that our Church can save us, then we must apply all effort not to fall away from this Church.  Our every step must be carefully checked against the works of our Councils, with care, and our hearts must hearken to the words and reasoning of those more attuned spiritually.  We are obligated to be the guardians of the legacy we have inherited and not its squanderers or interpreters.  There is no other path.

 

            The turbulent events of the beginning of the 20th century resulted, on one hand, in an open opposition to the Church, and on the other hand, in an atheistic political system.  From the first day the atheists came to power their “hell-sent” efforts to destroy the Church began.  We know from history what sophisticated plots and torments were conceived by people such as Tuchkov and his accomplices.  I personally believe that the work begun at that time continues, albeit in different forms and directions, depending on the circumstances, and stronger or weaker at various times.

 

            Please forgive me for this reminder, I make it only because I see the same similarities in events occurring today in the Russian Church, and which have their origin in those years that were so terrible for our homeland.

 

            We are all recent witnesses and participants of those sorrowful days, when, having surrendered to outside pressure and in contradiction to the conciliar will of the Church itself (as expressed in its statements in Nyack and the IV All-Diaspora Council), a part of the body of the Church separated and largely merged into the administrative and political system of the Russian Federation.  The artificial way in which the process of “union” was carried out clearly shows one of the characteristics of “sergianism,” a policy which unfortunately still has not received a final judgment or assessment.  In fact, I believe the issue is no longer only about the Moscow Patriarchate, which is still not totally free and not sufficiently independent, but to what extent the government officials of the Russian Federation now present themselves as conduits of God’s will.  As a result, the MP is part of the secular government structure and must serve it.  It is clear that contemporary governments (not only the RF, but others as well) differ greatly spiritually and literally from the standards of Orthodox governance of the days of Constantine the Great.  In light of that, it is not clear why the Orthodox Church needs to be so tightly interwoven with contemporary secular government structures.  The usual answer, to have a positive influence of political power, is insufficient, because in reality, everything turns out backwards.  Our parishes, which joined the MP, sadly have become (or are steadily becoming) integral parts of the political system of the RF, “embassies of Russia” if you will (as former ROCA Archpriest Victor Potapov put it).  This assumption of a political nature is the first consequence one expects from the union of a part of our Church Abroad parishes with the MP.  It is unavoidable that other changes will follow, further distancing our former brothers and sisters from the Church Abroad of the time of the first metropolitans. 

 

            A similar case exists with ecumenism.  After various discussions and an unsuccessful attempt by Metropolitan Hilarion to raise the subject at the Council, the MP (and that means the ROCA parishes that are a part of it) has decided to endorse this heresy, which is borne out by the Patriarchate’s growing level of ecumenical activity.  The Church Abroad has proclaimed anathema against ecumenism twice already; by Metropolitan Philaret, and it was reaffirmed later by Metropolitan Vitaliy.  In light of this, we cannot have anything to do with its proponents, not anything.

 

            Unfortunately, in recent times, it has not been possible to come to an understanding with those who left the Church Abroad before May 17, 2008.  There is only one reason; they have created new “movements” in Orthodoxy and the majority of them do not want to return to the ROCA.  Nevertheless, the hope remains that we will be able to normalize relations with some of them.  I met with RTOC Bishop Dionisiy, who also spoke for Bishop Iriney, and they and their clergy and parishes are ready to join us, as they consider the ROCA to be the canonical Church and they disagree with the current RTOC administration and its creation of a new church body ostensibly called the Catacomb Church, established at the “Holy Council” in Odessa in October, 2008.  The only remaining question is whether we will accept them as brothers and not be overly strict with them, as with those who broke off relations with the Synod of Metropolitan Laurus before we did.  In this regard, I would like to recall the words of the Epistle of the Provisional Supreme Ecclesiastical Authority of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad on December 6-8, 2007: “In light of the pending Vth All-Diaspora Council and our sincere desire to see all of the clergy and laypeople of the Church Abroad, who remained faithful to it and did not accept union with the Moscow Patriarchate, to be one in brotherly love, we declare that we do not dare judge those who left the ROCA Synod of Bishops before May 17 for religious reasons and call on all faithful members of the ROCA to make all efforts to restore the unity of the church.”

 

            I believe it should be noted here that the destruction and division of the Church begun by the atheists in the beginning of the 20th century is being perpetuated today of our own volition by many of us who call ourselves Orthodox Christians, whether through being inflexible, or bitter, or having false feelings of uniqueness, or lack of charity to one’s brothers in Christ.  We will have no future and we will be condemned to further division and hostility if we do not learn to love our brothers even if we think they have strayed, while trying to remain loyal to Christ.  Certainly, we must distinguish heresy from folly and ambition from true sacrifice and draw the proper conclusions; that a person who makes mistakes is not necessarily a heretic, and we should not give in to provocations from those lusting for power.  I am convinced that above all we must not allow outside influence or pressure in any way to affect our church community.  While observing and respecting civil law, we cannot rely on anyone except for God.  There are no political, patriotic, or material priorities that are more important than the Church and they cannot dictate certain actions to anyone, let alone the church administration.  We must always remain ready to leave our possessions behind and even some supposed spiritual riches if they become an obstacle between us and Christ.  The early Christians lived like this and this is the standard for all of us, exemplified by our Savior Himself.

 

            By the Grace of God, we have been able to remain free, and I believe and am sure that one of our main tasks is to safeguard this freedom in Christ.

 

 

            By God’s Providence, a meeting was held on July 10, 2007 in Astoria, NY, USA, and a provisional administration was formed, whose first task was to prepare for the convocation of the Vth All-Diaspora Council, which would have the authority to restore our Supreme Ecclesiastical Authority – the Holy Synod and the ROCA Hierarch.  At this Council, we have gathered to elect our new Synod and the authority of the PSEA has expired and it should be dissolved.  But I, as its Chairman, must first present all the actions and decisions of the Provisional Supreme Ecclesiastical Authority for consideration by the Council.

 

            At the end of November and beginning of December, 2007, in the Old Calendar monastery of the Holy Martyr Cyprian and Martyr Justinian in Greece, I worked with the Synod of Resistance and we created the “Act of the Essential Principles of the Combined Efforts of the Greek and Russian Anti-Ecumenists.”  The signing of this Act confirmed the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad and the Old Calendar Church of Greece (and the Romanian and Bulgarian Old Calendar Churches).  At the request of the PSEA, the Synod of the Old Calendar Church of Greece decided to help us with the bishops’ ordinations of candidates who were selected in our diocese, guided by a spirit of sobornost.  In December, 2007, in Odessa, Bishops Ambrose of Methone and Georgiy of Alania and I consecrated Archimandrite Andronik and Hegumen Sofroniy as bishops.  I feel we at the Council must express our gratitude to the episcopate of the Sister Church for this assistance and support of our Church during that difficult time for our Church.

 

            Later, in May, 2008, in the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the USA, the Most Reverend Andronik and Sofroniy and I ordained Hegumen Georgiy, who was elected in the Odessa diocese, as Bishop of Bolgrad and Vicar Bishop in the Odessa diocese.

 

            At the five previous meetings of the PSEA, we also made the following decisions, which require approval by a council:

 

1.      The first PSEA meeting, on 11 JUL 07 in Astoria, approved the following decisions:

To create the Northern American Administrative District, which will temporarily include the Eastern American, Chicago-Detroit, Western American, and Canadian dioceses.  To elect Hegumen Andronik (Kotlaroff) as the Administrator of the Northern American Administrative District.

To elect Archpriest Georgiy Petrenko as the Administrator of the South American diocese.

To create the Central Russian Administrative District to include the Moscow, Suzdal, Siberian, and Kuban dioceses.  It will also include parishes in countries of the former USSR (except for Ukraine, Belarus, and Modova).  To elect Archpriest Valeriy Kravitz as the Administrator of the Central Russian Administrative District.

To elect Hieromonk Sofroniy (Musienko) as the Administrator of the St. Petersburg diocese.

To elect Hieromonk John (Smelic) as the Administrator of the Australian-New Zealand diocese.

To temporarily assign the parishes in England and Europe to the PSEA Chairman.

To create the ROCA Mission.

 

2.      The second PSEA meeting, on 06-08 DEC 07 in Odessa, approved the following decisions:

To form the Pre-Council committee for the preparation and convening of the Vth All-Diaspora Council, and to include the following sub-committees:

-         Administrative-organizational; responsible for organizational, administrative, and financial tasks in preparation and convening of the Vth All-Diaspora Council.

-         Liturgical-canonical; responsible for providing research materials for the decisions and determinations of the Vth All-Diaspora Council, in part to assess the actions of the ROCA church administration from the early 1990’s until May 17, 2007.  It is also responsible for setting the schedule of services during the Vth All-Diaspora Council.

-         Secretariat; responsible for preparing the Statement calling for the Vth All-Diaspora Council, the daily schedule, the draft versions of decisions and determinations, providing necessary information for planning the Vth All-Diaspora Council, and coordinating any organizational questions leading up to the Council.

-         Canonization; responsible for preparing all the necessary materials to decide if the Third ROCA First Hierarch, Metropolitan Philaret, is to be canonized.

 

3.      The third PSEA meeting, on 13-15 MAY 08 in New York, reviewed and approved the documents collected for the Council and also approved the following decision:

Determination of the ROCA PSEA

Regarding relations with the Moscow Patriarchate

and those who separated from the ROCA before May 17th, 2007.

 

The ROCA PSEA does not consider the “Act of Eucharistic Communion” to be in accordance with the traditional relationship of the ROCA to the Moscow Patriarchate.  Therefore, it is deemed necessary to issue a final judgment on it at the coming All-Diaspora Council.  Until a corresponding collegial determination on the matter is issued, the basis of our relationship should be the Status of the parishes of the free Russian Orthodox Church, approved by the ROCOR Synod of Bishops on May 2/15, 1990.

 

Since the last year did not bring the anticipated decision of those who separated from us to restore their affiliation to the Church Abroad, the following determination is announced:

 

Regarding ROCOR(V) – they are deemed a self-proclaimed church group and the ordinations performed by them are considered incomplete.

 

Regarding those who split off from ROCA earlier, and in light of their unwillingness to be a part of ROCA and their establishment of new church structures, relationships with them should be governed by collegial and synodal decisions approved previously.

 

Regarding ROAC – the Resolution of the ROCOR Bishops’ Sobor of 1996 to deny Bishop Valentin clerical standing remains in force and his future actions as a cleric will not be recognized.

 

Regarding RTOC – the Decision of the ROCA Holy Synod on May 3/16, 2003, to forbid Archbishop Lazarus and Bishop Venyamin from serving remains in force.  Therefore, all of their later actions as clerics may not be considered valid.

 

4.      The fourth PSEA meeting, on 02-04 SEP 08 in Odessa, approved the following decisions:

The documents forming the basis of the schedule of the Council were approved.

After reviewing the submitted documents and some discussion, it was decided to accept Archbishop John (Zaitsev) with the office of bishop, and Bishop Afanasiy (Savitsky) remaining as bishop, into the body of the ROCA, along with their flocks.  After the laying on of hands, they are known as Bishop John of Buinsk and Volzhsk, whose diocese will include the republic of Tatarstan, and the Mariy El, Chuvashiye, and Ulyanovsk oblasts; and Bishop Afanasiy of Vologodsk and Velikoustyuzhsk, whose diocese will include the Vologodsk oblast.

To re-establish the Council of Russian Eminences.

 

5.      The fourth and final PSEA meeting, which was held on 18 NOV 08 before the start of the Council, gave final approval to all documents prepared for the Council, and it was decided to invite RTOC Bishop Stefan (Sabelnik) to the Council per his earlier request.

 

I have listed the primary decisions which were made at all the meetings of our PSEA and which require approval at the Council.  All decisions made at our meetings were discussed and approved in the sincere desire to strengthen and affirm the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which we consider a historical part of the Local

Russian Orthodox Church and which was created with forethought to be a free religious entity.

 

Our Church currently consists of 6 bishops, 70 priests, 15 deacons, 102 parishes (not including the catacomb parishes), 2 monasteries (male and female), and 2 smaller female cells.  The Mission is conducting its business and we have a correspondence seminary in Odessa.  This is what we have as we begin the Vth All-Diaspora Council.  The question now is not whether there are many of us or only a few, but to what extent the principles of the Gospels are maintained, to what extent we will accept in our hearts the faith and spiritual wisdom of the preceding generations of faithful members of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

 

            In conclusion, I would like to say that I hope the primary result of our Council is the firm establishment of sobornost in our Church.  I personally await open and honest discussions at the Council of all matters forming the basis of our future life.  I also expect all of us to accept all the decisions, even if someone does not fully agree with them.  If those who disagree remain convinced they are right, then let them prove they are right at the next Council, so that a decision that was accepted perhaps without sufficient discussion can be changed for the better.

 

            We should not fear making mistakes and try to hide them.  We should learn to admit and correct them, since God abides in truth, not in stubbornness.  Without humility and mutual understanding, it is not possible to achieve all of this.  Truth and peace, charity and honesty always live together in God’s Church.  May they abide in us, so that we may live according to the words of the Apostles: “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.(Ephesians 4:2-3).

 

            May our Lord Jesus Christ dwell among us, now and forever, and for all ages!

 

            Humble Servant of the Vth All-Diaspora Council,

            The Most Reverend,

            + Agafangel

            Bishop of Taurida and Odessa

            ROCA PSEA Chairman

 

            November 5\18, 2008, New York

            Martyrs Galacteon and Episteme