Appeal
of the Conference of the Diocese of Geneva and Western Europe of
the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
Gathering for our diocesan conference, we, the archpastors, pastors
and representatives of the laity of the Western European Diocese
of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, prayed to the
Lord during Divine Liturgy that He send down upon us His peace,
and that He guide us along the path of the Holy Fathers of the VII
Ecumenical Councils, whom we commemorated today, in our striving
for "the unity of all," especially within the Local Russian
Orthodox Church.
Indeed, "it would be monstrous to feel pleasure in the schisms
and divisions of the Churches, and not to consider that the greatest
of goods consists in the knitting together of the members of Christ’s
body," said St Basil the Great, who also wrote to his correspondent,
"I exhort you then, drive out of your mind the idea that you
need communion with no one else!"
This is why, recognizing the need for unity within the Body of Christ,
the archpastors of the Diocese of Geneva and Western Europe, first
St John of Shanghai, then Archbishop Anthony of Geneva of blessed
memory, labored on behalf of ecclesiastical peace. Let us remember
the words of Archbishop Anthony spoken at the III All-Diaspora Council
in Jordanville in 1974: "The unity of the Church is not an
empty sound, they are not idle words—this is her nature and her
foundation!"
Still, if at that time one could hope for the unity of the Russian
Orthodox Churches of the diaspora, there could be no thought of
any discussions with the Moscow Patriarchate. In fact, the God-battling
state tried to physically destroy the Church in Russia herself and
to cause strife within church life outside its borders. For that
reason, contact between the two parts of the Russian Church was
undesirable, both for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia,
and for the Church in Russia, which would have lost the free voice
that denounced the persecutions it was subjected to.
Through the mercy of God, these terrible persecutions have ceased,
and the uncounted martyrs are now glorified in the Russian Land.
May we not be worthy of "condemnation, for not shewing all
possible anxiety for the unity of the Churches, with all zeal and
eagerness in mutual unanimity and godly agreement!" as St Basil
also wrote.
In light of the above, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox
Church Outside of Russia, headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus,
entered into dialog, "speaking the truth in love" (Ephesians
4:15), with the hierarchy of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Nonetheless, in such dialog there can be no victors nor vanquished;
only the triumph of the one Truth of Christ. Besides, in contrast
to the ideologies of this world, which only dream of the destruction
of their enemies, the Church sees salvation only in common repentance,
so that the errors of one side and another would serve as lessons
for the future.
Still, the unity we desire cannot be achieved alongside dogmatic
confusion—this is the great temptation of the modern world. The
negotiating commissions were yet able to overcome a series of differences
in matters of the relationship between the Church and the civil
authorities. Still, although both sides are also in agreement to
confess the sole Church of Christ which is the Orthodox Church,
rejecting the so-called "branch theory," the matter of
the World Council of Churches is still not resolved.
Dialog will therefore continue, and its results will be subjected
to consideration by the IV All-Diaspora Council to be held is San
Francisco in May, 2006, with the participation of all the bishops
of the Russian Church Abroad, and also representatives of the clergy
and laity of each diocese. After conciliar contemplation, final
decisions will be made by the Council of Bishops.
Still, a portion of the flock expresses concern over the hastened
process of reconciliation even as some important questions remain
unresolved. They also believe that Providence, through the tragic
fate of the Russian emigration, gave them the freedom of conscience
to confess their faith—this gift which we wish to preserve at all
costs.
We implore the Council of Bishops not to ignore our warning against
new divisions among our communities. For we do not forget those
who departed from us, and pray to the Lord that He heal this wound
inflicted upon our Diocese.
Rejoicing with all our hearts over the progress of dialog today,
we cannot anticipate its final result, and, therefore, the decisions
that the Council of Bishops will make. That is why we call upon
our flock to earnestly pray to our Heavenly Father that His sole
Will be done. May our prayers be lifted as spiritual incense, and
may the Lord send down upon us Divine Grace and the Gift of the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
Vevey, October 17/30, 2005
†
Bishop Ambroise,
Administrator of the Diocese of Geneva and Western Europe
† Bishop Agapit of Stuttgart
The clergymen and lay delegates of the Diocese of Geneva and Western
Europe
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