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Eastern Churches Journal is published by the Society ofSaint Contents John Chrysostom, and discusses Eastern Christian Churches. 1 ISSN 1354·0580 From the Editor Patron: His Holiness Maximos V The Catholic - Orthodox Theological Dialogue Greek-Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, , • Initiative ofArchbishop Elias (Zoghby) 11 and all the East ,gt( In Memoriam: E. J. B. Fry and Dom Bede Winslow fOb • Patriarch Bartholomew regarding the 29 Editor: Serge Keleher Eastern Catholic Churches Editorial Board: Bishop KaIlistos ofDiokleia, Bishop Vsevolod of E"}7 • Traditions Regarding the Procession ofthe 35 Scopelos, Bishop Rowan Williams ofMonmouth, Holy Spirit Brother Elias O. Carm, Jack Figel,Andrew 47 Onuferko, Donal Savage, Vincent Saverino, • US Catholic and Orthodox Bishops Visit Graham Woolfenden, Roman Yereniuk Rome and Istanbul Editor Emeritus of Chrysostom: Helle Georgiadis • Reconciliation and Ecclesiology ofSister Churches 55 by Waclaw Hryniewicz The ECJ Advisory Board is listed on page 10. Christological Issues in the Raising ofLazarus 73 The aims of the Society of Saint John Chrysostom, founded in 1926, by Hierodeacon Patapios are to make known the history, worship, spirituality, discipline and 91 theology of Eastern Christendom, and to work and pray that all Chris­ A Visit to and Syria tians, particularly the Eastern Churches, may find with by Serge Keleher one another to attain that fullness of unity which Jesus Christ desires. Liturgical L/ltinization 105 Articles, reviews, and letters express the views oftheir authors and do by Graham Woolfenden not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editors, or of the Society. Heritage Institute Museum and Library 125 Documents are published for informational value, without necessarily by Robert Karlowich and Richard Renoff endorsing their content. Send comments orarticles. (in hardcopy andlor 135 computer diskette - either PC or Macintosh) to: Authority ofOrder and Power ofGovernance by George Nedungatt Eastern Churches Journal Eastern Churches Journal 169 PMP House, Gardner Road P.O. Box 146 A Temple for the Lord Maidenhead, Berkshire, England Fairfax, Virginia, USA by Serge Keleher SL67RJ 22030-0146 The is at the heart of 'communio' 177 by Jean-Marie R. Tillard, O.P. Subscription rates for Eastern Churches Journal are $30.00 (US) per - .~ calendar year in the US and Canada. Elsewhere, airmail subscriptions The Problems of Liturgical Change 185 are £35.00 or $50.00 (US). Back issues are available for $15.00 (US) by Graham Woolfenden per issue or $30.00 per year (three issues). Postage included. © 1995, Eastern Christian Publications, Inc.

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Reviews From the Editor

• The Theology ofMarriage in the East Syrian Tradition 193 lakovos announces retirement by Louis Edakalatbur It seems like tbe end ofan era. Archbishop Iakovos' leadership • Liturgy and Ethos: A Study Based on the Malankara 194 through tbese past four decades has been marked by a tremendous Liturgy ofMarriage by Chacko Aeratb expansion of tbe Greek Ortbodox Archdiocese of Nortb and Soutb • Nicholas Charnetsky, C.Ss.R, Bishop-Confessor 195 America, witb a restoration of diocesan bishops. His Eminence's firm by Stephen Joseph Bachtalowsky insistence on a full professional, theological educationfor all tbe priests has resulted in a body of well-educated clergy qualified to represent Documents Greek Orthodoxy in the pluralist societies of the western hemisphere. Archbishop Iakovos's organization and ongoing guidance oftbeStand­ • Message oftbe Primates ofthe Orthodox Churches 201 ing Conference ofCanonical Orthodox Bishops in America (SCOBA) • Announcement oftbe Apostolic Letter on the 208 has provided a consultative framework for tbe various ethnic jurisdic­ Union of Brest tions ofEastern Ortbodoxy in tbe USA and Canada. Archbishop Iako­ • Apostolic Letter on the Fourtb Centenary ofthe 212 vos has forthrightly led the Ortbodox presence in American society, Union of Brest heightening the awareness ofEastern Orthodoxy among Americans of all backgrounds. • Letter from Patriarch Alexis to Patriarch Bartbolomew 225 Archbishop Iakovos was already an experienced ecumenist 233 • Reply from Patriarch Bartbolomew to Patriarch Alexis before he came to tbe Americas. His Eminence had worked in Geneva Chronicle ofthe Eastern Churches 239 at tbe central offices of the World Council of Churches. Those who particularly valued his unique contribution to feared tbat 247 Contributors to tbe Issue the heavy responsibilities he would have as head oftbe Greek Archdio­ Future Articles 248 cese ofNortb and South America might require himto limit his activity -'<-. in Christian unity. But it was just the opposite. Archbishop Iakovos has 248 Back Issues been oneofthe foremost Greek Orthodox representatives in ecumenical Books Available 249 endeavors throughout his service in tbe Americas. His Eminence was a strong mover in tbe World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches, and played a major rOle in the rapprochement between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and tbe Roman Catholic Church, both in tbe dialogue of love and in tbe tbeological dialogue. Nor was his work confined to words; no one will ever forget the sight of Archbishop Iakovos marching arm-in-arm with tbe Reverend Martin Lutber King, Jr. during the civil rights movement. The Greek Archdiocese has made incalculable gains under Archbishop Iakovos. His Eminence has also extended his pastoral solicitude to the Ukrainian Orthodox Diocese and.tbe Carpatbo-Rus-

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ECJ Advisory Board Initiative of Archbishop Elias (Zoghby)

Archbishop Isidoros of Pelusium, Damascus, Syria Document of the Greek-Catholic Bishop Henry Hill, Toronto, Canada Holy Synod of Antioch Bishop Robert Jacobson, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Bishop , Warren, Michigan, USA Raboueh, 20/7/95 • 4/8/95

Another step towards a fraternal discussion with Rome for the Sebastian Brock, Oxford, England re-establishment of the internal unity of the Patriarchate of Antioch Kevin Cummins, Athens, Greece (broken in 1724); this initiative seems to follow the papal suggestion Roula Cummins, Athens, Greece at the end of Ut Unum Sint. Father John Custer, Columbus, Ohio, USA John Erickson, Crestwood, New York, USA Father Serge Gajek, Lublin, Poland David Goa, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Profession of Faith John-Paul Himka, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada of Ivan Hrechko, L'viv, Ukraine Father Waclaw Hryniewicz, Lublin, Poland Kyr Elias (Zoghby), Archbishop-Emeritus ofBaalbeck Father Philip Khairallah, Cleveland, Ohio, USA Father Jonathan Morse, Stamford, Connecticut, USA Mitrophoric Archpriest Alexander Nadson, London, England 1. I believe everything which Eastern Orthodoxy teaches. Father Aidan Nichols Op' Cambridge, England 2. I am in communion with the Bishop of Rome, in the limits Father Ken Novakowsky, L'viv, Ukraine recognized to the first among the Bishops by the Holy Fathers of the Father David Petras, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA East during the first millennium, before the separation. Father John Petro, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Father Ron Roberson, Washington, District ofColumbia, USA , 18 February 1995 Darren Smyth, Oxford, England Andrew Sorokowsky, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA Father Antony Ugolnik, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA Father Theo van der Voort, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Father Deacon Alexandre Winogradsky, Paris, France + Elias (Zoghby) Canon Hugh Wybrew, Oxford, England Greek-Catholic Archbishop-Emeritus ofBaalbeck, Lebanon

11 10 Eastern Churches Journal, Vol. 2 No.3 Documents visible unity ofall believers who make up the Mystical Body ofChrist. Letter from Patriarch Alexis to Patriarch Bartholomew The veneration ofMary, which unites East and West so intimately, will serve, I am convinced, the cause of unity. TheMostHoly Virgin, already present everywherein our midst 18 May 1995, No. 1308 - both in so many sacred buildings and in the life of faith of so many His Holiness, the Most Holy BARTHOLOMEW I, families -continuously speaks ofunity, a unity for which sheconstantly Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch intercedes. Iftoday, in commemorating the Union of Brest, we recall the marvelous wealth of veneration that the Christian people of the Ukraine have offered to the Mother of God, we cannot but draw from CHRIST IS RISEN! this admiration for the history, spirituality and prayer of those peoples Your Holiness, Beloved in the Lord, Brother and Co-celebrant: the consequences for unity which are so closely linked to those treas­ ures. Oursincerest felicitations to Your Holiness during these saving days ofthe luminous Resurrection of Christ. Mary, who has inspired in their trials: fathers and mothers, young people, the sick and the aged; Mary, the column offire capable The inexplicable and regrettable, deplorable event clouded the ofguiding so many martyrs ofthe faith, is certainly at work in preparing joys which we were experiencing on this Feast of Feasts and Triumph the hoped-for union ofall Christians: in the light ofthis, the Ukrainian ofTriumphs and prompted us to address Your Holiness with this epistle. Greek Catholic Church certainly has its own role to play. We became aware that on 11 March, in Constantinople, hier­ To Mary the Church offers her thanks and asks her to make us archs of the so-called "Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA and share her concern for unity. With filial trust let us abandon ourselves to Diaspora" were received ipto full ecclesiastical communion. With her, that we may be with her where God will be all in all. profound sorrow we are forced to declare that the action of the Con­ stantinople Patriarchate is an absolute contradiction ofcanonical order To you, dear Brothers and Sisters, I impart my Apostolic in the structuring of ecclesiastical life, and represents in itself, the Blessing. From the Vatican, on 12 November, Memorial of Saint flouting of counciliar order in relations between Local Orthodox Josaphat, in the year 1995, the eighteenth of my Pontificate. Churches (III Ecum. 8; Ant. 9; Apost. 12,16;Sard. 13;Carth. 31; 1st-2nd Council, 15; etc.). The latest history of the "Ukrainian Autocephalous Church in the USA and Diaspora" is gel)erally known. Itbegan with a schism and in violation of canonical foundations in ecclesiastical life, and contin­ ues even to this day. The founders of the Ukrainian autocephalous movement may be compared to the biblical Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Num. 16:1-35), daring to willfully usurp the grace of the high priest services and in October 1921, in violation ofthe sacred canons (Apost. 1, Antioch 19, I Ecum. 6), installed bishops for themselves through the laying on of hands of priests, suspended from sacerdotal offices, and by common laity. In ecclesiastical history they received the designation

224 225 Eastern Churches Journal, Vol. 2 No.3 Documents samosvyaty ("self-consecrators") and by their own transgressions fell Volynsk for creating and heading the schismatic group of"self-conse­ away from ecclesiastical communion with the Orthodox world. crators" of the Autocephalous Ukrainian Church, and, removed his monasticism and every sacerdotal rank. The results of this falling away by the schismatics brought about the inevitable heretical encroachment upon Church dogma and In the post-war period, as is known, the Ukrainian Orthodox (her) Order. In Kiev, October 1921, at the so-called "All Ukrainian Church continued its uncanonical schismatic existence in North Amer­ Church Sobor," at which there was not one Orthodox hierarch present, ica, and several other regions ofthe world. laity and scores of priests under ecclesiastical interdict, decided to We cite a quotation from the minutes of the VIIth Meeting of darken the life of the Church with lawless innovations. The goal was the Standing Conference ofCanonical Bishops in America (SCOBA), to make firm narrow nationalism in ecclesiastical life over Orthodoxy witnessing to the lack of grace of the "ordinations" of the head of this in general. This is the direct continuation of the heresy of phyletism "church," and a portion ofits episcopate and clergy: from which the Most Holy Constantinopolitan Church suffered in the recent past. Every Local Church is called upon to serve not only an Inasmuch as the chiefHierarch oftheAutocephalous Ukrainian individual people, but all Orthodox Christians nurtured by her, regard­ Orthodox Church functioned as a bishop in the United States less of nationality. between the two World Wars without being ordained in the Apostolic Succession, and then endeavored to obtain ordina­ Not being satisfied with this, Ukrainian schismatics even en­ tion in an irregular manner, and as the body over which he croached upon the very life of Church Order, transforming it into the presides retains in its active ministry men whose only priest­ well-known Renovationist schism. The so-called sobornopravie ("rule hood is derived from his attempted ordination in the period in by council"), the overthrow of hierarchical administration in the which he was not in the Apostolic Succession, the following Church, married episcopate, and much more, witnessed to the disregard considerations are impottant: for the foundations ofecclesiastical Tradition by the schismatics. By the Lord's mercy, the schismproved to be transient as it was 1. Certain communities in this body are obviously, even now, brazen, and after some time it came to an end, almost totally. New deprived of the grace ofthe Sacred Mysteries, while retaining developments toward autocephalous strivings came about only in the the external forms of the Church. years of the Second World War. Several Ukrainian bishops who had been within the jurisdiction ofthe Polish Orthodox Church, in violation 2. Almost an entire generation will not have received the of Church canons, established, anew, the so-called "Ukrainian Ortho­ Mystery ofChrismation. This is an especial difficulty in respect dox Autocephalous Church" on the territory occupied by Germany. In to young men who have been, or may be, admitted to Holy this manner the autocephalous movement was given an appearance of Orders. a valid hierarchical administration. According to a decision of the "sobor" of this Church, which took place in Kiev, 1942, all clergy 3. The attempted admission of any of these communities into ordained by the "self-consecrators" were received in their existing the Church would eventually throw doubt on the existence of status. Such disregard for the rules of ecclesiastical life, for lengthy the grace of Holy Orders in any part of the Church which had decades, deprived autocephalists of communion with the fullness of sacramental fellowship with them, and would incidentally Ecumenical Orthodoxy. place the Church at a serious polemical disadvantage over against other bodies, e.g., the Latin communion. The Hierarchical Council ofthe Russian Orthodox Church, 28 March 1942, unfrocked Bishop Polycarp (Sikorsky) of Vladimir-

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To our grief, the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Your Holiness, I believe it is evident, that the "Ukrainian groupings in dispersion officially have not condemned their previous Orthodox Church in the USA" also remained in full communion with and subsequent errors which touch the foundations of ecclesiastical the schismatic, so-called "Ukrainian Orthodox Church - Kievan Patri­ Orderand represent, in themselves, nothing more than heresy (Basil the archate," created by the former Metropolitan of Kiev, Philaret (Denis­ Great I). Such obstinate non-repentance of her pastors in sins of their enko), and is now headed by "patriarch" Vladimir Romaniuk. predecessors, and their own, have hindered the Church of Christ to Canonical sanctions relative to Metropolitan Philaret (Denis­ extend her maternal mercy upon the Ukrainian flock, remaining outside enko) were taken by the Sacred Synod ofthe Russian Orthodox Church of their Mother-Church, the Moscow Patriarchate. 7 May 1992. On 11 June 1992, the Hierarchical Council ofour Church The general disregard for the canons of Christ's Church, with judged the anti-ecclesiastical activity of Metropolitan Philaret (Denis­ which the history of the Ukrainian autocephalous movement is filled, enko), and, atthattime theretook placejudgmentaction onthis question revealed itself with especial strength in 1989, and subsequent years, in by the Hierarchical Council. Metropolitan Philaret (Denisenko) was the process of establishing the so-called "Ukrainian Autocephalous relieved ofhis rank and deprived ofall sacerdotal Orders, and all rights Orthodox Church ofthe Greek-Ukrainian Rite," created by the former associated with clergy. Corresponding documents were sent to Your unfrocked Bishop of Zhitomir, John (Bodnarchuk). He wil\fully pro­ Holiness without delay. claimed himself the "primate" of this "church." The new schismatic In receiving under Your omophorion the so-called "Ukrainian teacher immediately entered into communion with "metropolitan" Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the USA and Diaspora," Your Mstyslav (Skripnik), head of the so-called "Ukrainian Autocephalous Holiness entered into communion with the schismatic group in Ukraine, Orthodox Church in the USA" successor of the mentioned former headed by two false-patriarchs: Vladimir (Romaniuk) and Dimitri bishop, Polycarp (Sikorsky). "Metropolitan" Mstyslav (Skripnik) ele­ (Yarema). To the point: the schismatics themselves receive Your action vated Bishop John (BodnarchUk) to "archbishop," and later headed the of 11 March of this year precisely in this manner. created "UkrainianAutocephalous Orthodox Church," from June 1990, withthewil\fully appropriated title"patriarchofKiev andAll Ukraine." It is evident totally, that the given action brought enormous After the death of "patriarch" Mstyslav Skripnik, this "church" is damage to Church unity of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine and faith­ headed by "patriarch" Dimitri Yarema. fulness to sacred canons. It has given impulse to endeavors by schis­ matics to assert themselves in Ukraine as the dominant "legal" Church. Proper canonical prohibitions were decreed by the Sacred All of this brings down upon Orthodox bishops, clergy and laity new Synod ofthe Russian Orthodox Church 14 November 1989 relating to sufferings, causing enormous damage to the prestige of the Constanti­ former Bishop John of Zhitomir, founder of the "autocephalous nopolitan Patriarchate in the eyes of the Orthodox people in Ukraine. church," and clergy, and then by the Local Council ofour Church, 7-8 June, 1990. At that time, these documents were sent to Your Holiness, We are forced, with all firmness, to place Your Holiness on as well as to all the other Heads of the Local Orthodox Churches. notice that the Russian Church wil\ not, under any circumstance, enter into communion with those so-called bishops received into Your juris­ Your Holiness, You know what deep pain we experienced in diction on 11 March until a decision on the Ukrainian autocephalous 1990, in connection with the one-sided, without prior consultation with schism is resolved in a legal, canonical, manner. us, decision of the Sacred Synod of the Constantinopolitan Church in receiving into Your jurisdiction the so-called "Ukrainian Greek Ortho­ Our position is based upon the following reasons: dox Church ofCanada." Now, the new decision taken without consult­ a.) Absence of a clear declaration by the representatives ofthe ation with us gives birth to still more serious problems. so-called "Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the USA and

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Diaspora" denouncing, by them, the "self-consecrators" of 1921, and problems arising in connection with the part of the episcopate and the genesis, by them, of violations of canonical Order of the Orthodox clergy without grace ofthe Ukrainian Autocephalous Church. Addition­ Church. ally, the action of the Constantinopolitan Patriarchate disagrees with the position of Your Holiness, which You presented during the visit to b.) Presence of prayerful eucharistic communion between the our Church in June 1993, on "solidarity and assistance to the suffering mentioned so-called "Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in faithful of the Ukrainian Church," and, in substance, as official decla­ the USA and Diaspora" and the schismatics in Ukraine headed by ration that the "Ecumenical Patriarchate recognizes only one canonical false-patriarchs Vladimir (Romaniuk) and Dimitri (Yarema). metropolitan of Kiev, the Most Reverend Vladimir (Sabodan), Metro­ c.) Most flagrant violation of sacred canons expressed in the politan of Kiev and All Ukraine, for, as the head of the Ukrainian reception of schismatics having broken away from one Local Church, Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Dimitri (Yarema), willfully calls in this case the Rnssian, and gone into the jurisdiction ofanother Local himself "Patriarch of Kiev and All Ukraine." Church, in this case the Constantinopolitan, not only without a gram­ We regret profoundly, as we are forced to admit, that serious mata ofrelease and agreement ofthe Russian Church, but even without damage will be born to the unity of North American Orthodoxy as the her being informed. result ofaction taken by the Constantinopolitan Throne. We especially emphasize that the action undertaken by You has The latter is especially sorrowful for us, for the Russian Ortho­ given birth to an unprecedented and canonically an extremely danger­ dox Church always was aware of her special responsibility for growth ous situation, with which our Church cannot be in communion, at this on the ecclesiastical field, planted by her in North America. She will time, by part of the Constantinopolitan Church, namely with the never weaken in her prayers to the Great Chief Pastor, our Lord Jesus Ukrainian schismatics illegally received into the jurisdiction of the Christ, for the desired unity of the North American flock, that the Ecumenical Patriarchate. This action not only cannot serve the begin­ historic placement of Holy Orthodoxy in America be crowned with a ning of "great healing of the Church," and "ecclesiastical building" in common Orthodox witness to its maturity. Ukraine, as You stated in the greetings spoken in the Constantinopolitan Patriarchate in the Phanar on 11 March ofthis year, but, on the contrary, The second question, about which we would like to speak, is this brings new divisions and brings nearerthe danger point for relations in connection with the recent visit to us by the Most Reverend Arch­ between our Churches in casting forth the call for Orthodox unity, for bishop Stilian of Australia, Metropolitan John of Pergamos, and Met­ which we pray, and strive to strengthen. ropolitan Meliton of Philadelphia, concerning the ecclesiastical position in Estonia. To our great astonishment and sorrow, the above­ And, ofcourse, the action You performed cannot have any tie mentioned brethren offered to us an unexpected resolve of the given whatsoever to the Triumph of Orthodoxy, to that sacred day. As we problem. The essence of their offer concltided with: That some of the consider this event, it was darkened. parishes of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church within the juris­ We sorrow deeply, that the warnings we sent to Your Holiness diction ofthe Moscow Patriarchate be transferred to the jurisdiction of atthe end ofFebruary with the MostReverend Archbishop Stilian, after the ConstantinopolitanChurch. This proposal staggered us, for we were hearing ofthe impending event indirectly, have not received the proper witnesses to the fact, as at many All-Orthodox gatherings, when prob­ influence. lems of ordering ecclesiastical life were discussed, ordering ecclesias­ tical life in the diaspora, representatives ofYour Holy Church presented The action taken by Your Holiness, as we noted above, is in the highly satisfactory canonical point of view: That on one territory complete contradiction to the resolution of the VIIth Meeting of the there must be one bishop. What an astonishing revelation it was for us, Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America, dedicated to

230 231 Eastern Churches Journal, Vol. 2 NO.3 Documents when the brethren who came to us, buried in oblivion this basic canonical and ecclesiastical principle, literally proposed the creation of parallel jurisdictions on Estonian soil, made up ofOrthodox communi­ Reply from Patriarch Bartholomew to Patriarch Alexis ties which have been in the jurisdiction of our Church for many centuries. July 11, 1995, Prot. No. 937 We declare to Your Holiness: We do not agree, categorically, with such form ofproposals. We consider that they violate the principle of canonical independence of a Local Church and aggravates the Your Beatitude and Most Holy ALEXIY, Patriarch ofMoscow and all ecclesiastical schism in Estonia. All problems ofOrthodoxy in Estonia Russia, ourModesty's most beloved and dear brotherin Christ God and must be decided on the basis of sacred canons and on the conditions of concelebrant, embracing Your venerable Beatitude fraternally in the non-interference by civil authorities in inner-Church life. Lord, we greet You exuberantly. I remain in hope, that the above regretful circumstances, We received Your Beloved and distinguished Beatitude's equally as the seriousness ofconcerns by the Russian OrthodoxChurch, lengthy letter dated May 18, 1995, Protocol No. 1308, and read it with and the present testimony are marks of our special sincerity in our due care during a session of our Holy and Sacred Synod. The tone of relationships: That it be received with proper understanding by the this letter and its contents, which do not in the le.ast correspond to the Sacerdotal Authorities of the Most Holy Constantinopolitan Church; presumed kindred and by definition good relations between our two and, reflect in conformable actions, in the name ofmultiplying love and sister Churches, naturally stirred in all of us here - and certainly in all counciliar agreement in the Orthodox world. ofthe other Orthodox who received it - not only astonishment, but also Continually praying for deliverance from our personal trans­ very deep bitterness and even grave disappointment. gressions, and understanding the strivings of separated brethren in The unexpected character of this letter compelled us, out of Ukraine and Estonia to commune with all-Orthodox oneness, we bear respect for the peace held between us, not to respond immediately, so in mind the commandment ofthe Apostle Paul that "all things be done that it not be thought that we were hasty or under pressure in judging decently and according to order" (1 Cor. 14:40), that no damage come the curious and discomforting contents of the letter, or that we were to the sacred unity of the Holy Orthodox Church. under the effect ofthe unfavorable sentiments which wejustifiably felt. Prayerfully we wish Your beloved Holiness saving sojourns of Therefore, after having allowed a reasonable amount of time joy in Christ the Risen Giver of Life. to pass, we answer you today with calmness by first returning the Paschal greeting of peace on the occasion ofOur Lord's Resurrection. Then, in the most official terms and in the language of evangelical TRULY CHRIST IS RISEN! sincerity, we are obliged to present the views ofthe Holy Great Church ofChrist in Constantinopleonthis matter with the hope that inthe future we will not need to readdress such troubling concerns. With unalterable brotherly love in Christ, At apy rate, Your Beatitude, itis quite evident thatin answering +ALEXIS you we will not render account on the accusations made against us, Patriarch ofMoscow and All Rus' whether directly or through insinuation, as though we were guilty. You felt ityour right to impute these accusations upon us for having received

232 233 i.. Eastern Churches Journal, Vol. 2 No.3 Documents under our omophorion our brethren who for decades were dispersed in continuation and as a natural consequence of similar formal acts of here and there in the Diaspora- certainly through no fault ofthe Mother the past clearly aimed at unification in the spirit described above. We Church of Constantinople - into various ecclesiastical formations and regret that unfortunately the same cannot be said for the repeated who with great anguish sought peace and salvation in God. Rather, the actions undertaken by the Church ofRussia in these very same regions Church, which knows how to exercise "acribeia" and "oikonomia" ofthe Diaspora. The consequences ofsuch actions nbt only undermines toward the salvation ofsouls, in time responsibly examined these cases the peace of the Church which has existed between us until now, but in detail as they occurred. Thus, we think that you should have more also mortally injures pan-Orthodox order and progress; the foremost assiduously avoided any illegitimate oversteppings and judgments. and most outrageous instance being the totally unmanageable "auto­ cephality" of the Metropolia in America. We, therefore, should like to remind you briefly of only a few but very important truths concerning the issue, which, unfortunately, Fourth, we must confess with great sadness that throughout the Your beloved Beatitude and the MostReverend brothers with you either entire seventy years ofSoviet tyranny the Mother Church ofConstan­ overlooked out of human weakness, or, even worse, because you tinople, while painfully observing the uncanonical defiances or inci­ believed it possible for the issues of those affected to be passed over dents going onhere and there, had the impression that such actions were without protest. dictated or even imposed by the hegemonic tactics of the atheistic regime. First, we must state categorically that we do not recognize the Most Holy Church of Russia as having any authority whatsoever over Thus, we co-suffered with you and judged with leniency. the Ukrainians in the Diaspora who have come under the omophorion Today, however, when the winds of freedom in Christ blow again for ofthe Church ofConstantinople since they, being abroad, had the right all it would be truly sad to think that the long-term and unconsciously to seek the protected shelter of the Mother Church of Constantinople - from reckoning the greater endurance the redefining of the jurisdic­ with which they historically have unbroken bonds and whose rightful tional boundaries ofyour Most Holy Church as effected by the vicissi­ jurisdictional authority and obligation it is to bring about their restora­ tudes of history. However, as you were so timely reminded by our tion. three-man delegation headed by His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos ofAustralia with regard to the Estonian ecclesiastical issue, the Church Second, the often troubled past throughout the history of each ofConstantinople would beable to teach many through its own example individual group concerned here as it relates to the Church - for which, of martyrdom. It is well known that during the Ottoman Empire, the we repeat, as it is known, the leaders ofschisms and irregular situations Church of Constantinople, after rather immense jurisdictional expan­ are not the only ones to blame, and still less to blame are their distant sion, found that in these new times she had to strip herself - certainly descendants of today - was by no means unknown to the Church of this was painful and not pleasant - of her racially closest children, the Constantinople due to her inherent ties to all the Orthodox peoples of Hellenes, because she did not want to be an impediment to their further the Balkans and beyond. Thus, regretfully, but with great forbearance" progress toward political freedom. The Church realized that true we can at best characterize the canonical-historical presentation of the strength is not found in great numbers and worldly well being, but in problem in your letter as an oversimplification. bearing wituess to the will of God through obedience. Third, it is certainly well known to Your Beatitude and your Fifth, ofcourse to a certain extent we can comprehend the fears brothers that the recent attempt by the Church of Constantinople to Your BeatitudeandyourHoly Synod have as to the consequences which regularize a faction within the Diaspora's pending canonical issues ­ the settlement ofthe Ukrainians in the Diaspora could eventually have which ought not to be - was neither without precedence nor was it a had on the general situation in Ukraine, if proper care had not been hurried or novel action. On the contrary, this recent attempt came about

234 235 Eastern Churches Journal, Vol. 2 No.3 Documents taken. In this regard we would like to assure you that the induction of blue sky. We were even astounded that during a recent trip to Geneva the Ukrainian communities into the canonical order of the Orthodox Your Beatitude unjustifiably eschewed our Holy Stauropegial Church Church by receiving them under the omophorion of the Ecumenical there by not celebrating the solemn on the occasion of Patriarch will, we believe, finally prove to be beneficial for the rela­ your visit and instead you felt the need to go to a heterodox church, tionship between the Most Holy Church of Russia and the faithful in which was indeed scandalous not only to the Orthodox, but to others as Ukraine. This is so because on the one hand those received were well. obligated to formally declare that they will not seek autocephaly ofthe Seventh, we do not wish, dear brother, to comment on all that Ukrainian Church, or event a part of it, through know methods em­ His Eminence Metropolitan Damaskinos of Switzerland relayed to us ployed by the "autocephalists" who operate in every way possible. On in writing concerning similar complaints coming either from Your the other hand, it is no longer possible for them to cooperate or to Beatitude directly or from His Eminence Metropolitan Kyrillos of commune with schismatic Ukrainian groups which are out ofcommun­ Smolensk and Kalliningrad who was accompanying you. Because ion with the Orthodox Church without bearing harm to themselves, when you say, among otherthings, thatfor ourrecentvisittothe Vatican provided the canonical principle "one who receives communion with the consent ofall the Orthodox was needed, or that we "concelebrated" another who is out ofcommunionfinds oneselfalso out ofcommunion" with the Pope ofRome, then, certainly, our understanding ofeach other is still valid for them. becomes especially problematic. The same must be also said of our dutiful assistance offered Nonetheless, Your Beatitude, as much for ourselves personally Estonia, as our official delegation mentioned above tried to fully as for the most reverend brothers with us, we in no way desire to agitate explain when they visited you. Responding to the persistent petition of our fraternal relations. Our relations indeed are indispensable for all of the Estonian Orthodox Church to return to the autonomous status us now more than ever as we are in the midst of a world which is granted her by the Ecumenical Throne in a Patriarchal and Synodal constantly changing and being subjected to a myriad ofdangers. Like­ Tome, which unfortunately was forcefully and simultaneously unilat­ wise, however, we must state that the rumors regarding a break in our erally abolished when the Soviets deprived the Estonians of political relations or any other kind ofthreat find no justification whatsoever in freedom, we are providinga way out of the bitterness borne from the our good conscience; in no way, therefore,. will we be pressured by any hardships contiguously endured during the tyrannical period. of our brothers. This would be demeaning and unacceptable not only The development and further regularization in their relations for us, but them as well. with the Church of Russia would thus become easier psychologically Prayingfrom the depths ofour heart thatboth in peaceandgood and certainly no one could then deny the Church of Russia's contribu­ health you willcontinue the good fight for the restructuring andspiritual tion to them. edification of the Russian people which, to the joy and spiritual pride Sixth, after having explained both of these matters - Ukraine of us all, is being renewed with God's blessings after their hardships, and Estonia - we were left with the impression that we had not only we remain with indissoluble love in the Lord and esteem. fraternally informed the Most Holy Church ofRussia of our intentions and actions regarding these issues, but that we had also listened to the fears and objections which you expressed to ourPatriarchal delegation. Your venerable Beatitude's Beloved brother in Christ, Our Holy and Sacred Synod indeed properly weighed all these things with respect to how it would further handle things. For these reasons we must say that your letter came literally as a lightning bolt out ofthe +BARTHOLOMEW ofConstantinople

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