| His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus Is Interviewed by Tserkovniy Vestnik’s Chief Editor Sergei Chapnin 1. Your Eminence, the events of May 17 have already entered the history books as a day when by Divine mercy, the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church took place. How do you look back on those days now? What was the most vivid impression you were left with? The biggest impression on me was the divine service in the heart of Russian Orthodoxy, under the vaulted ceilings of the grandiose Uspensky Cathedral of the Mother of God, the resting place of the Moscow Primates. Here lies St Ermogen, a shining example of staunchness in the Orthodox Faith during the Time of Troubles. His guidance led our ancestors to stand firmly for their faith, their Fatherland, and during his imprisonment, yet with his blessing, Archimandrite Dionisy of Holy Trinity-St Sergius Lavra and Avraamy Palitsyn, his protector, sent missives to inspire the defenders of the Muscovite state. I felt then that even after the second Time of Troubles, we must root out internecine strife and restore truth, peace and Divine truth within our hearts. Personally, I feel connection with that cathedral because here, over a hundred years ago, the second Primate of our Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky) of blessed memory was ordained as Bishop of Serpukhov. At one time, I had the honor of being an altar boy when he served. During his nomination, in accordance with tradition, he gave a sermon, in which he gave a remarkably powerful and artistic outline of “the path of a true pastor of Christ,” and in a surge of inspiration foretold the bloody strife that would befall the Russian Orthodox Church in the years of the Revolution. In his epistles, he grieved over the tragedy of our common history, denounced the lies of the atheists, praised the martyrs and confessors who suffered the persecutions, and rejoiced when the religious people of Russia felt joy, support and consolation. |
| Summation of the Joint Work of the Commissions of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate Concluding the eighth joint meeting of the Commissions and summarizing its work, it is worth noting the path traveled, beginning with the meeting between His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, in Moscow in May 2004. It was then that the Commissions were charged with preparing the documents needed to reestablish canonical communion between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Church Abroad. The path towards dialog was opened by fundamental changes in the life of the Orthodox Church in Russia: ruined churches and monasteries are being rebuilt, parish life and spiritual education are returning to normal, more and more people are coming to the Orthodox faith. Orthodox Christians in Russia and abroad are children of one Mother Church, heirs of a great spiritual tradition, cognizant of the artificiality of continuing division. Meetings among clergymen and laypersons, joint conferences, contact on the diocesan and parish level have helped destroy old stereotypes and prejudices, steering mutual relations onto a constructive track and preparing the groundwork for dialog on the hierarchical level. The Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church of 2000, which glorified the host of New Martyrs of Russia and adopted a series of other important positions of principle, was an event that laid the foundation for the irreversible movement towards unity. The Acts of that Council evoked a positive response from the Council of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad held the following October. A series of practical measures were subsequently taken towards rapprochement. Finally, in the bright Paschal days of 2004, at the invitation of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus visited Russia. |
| We sometimes see the term ‘the Russian Saints’, only to find that these saints include St. Olga and St.Vladimir and many others who lived long before Moscow became established as a small town, let alone as the capital of a country now called ‘Russia.’ The problem is that English has no translation for the word ‘Rus’ – the nearest being ‘the Russias’, as in, ‘Alexis II, Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias’. For ‘Rus’ means not only ‘Great Russia’, but also Little Russia (now officially called the Ukraine, even though this only means ‘the borderlands’), White Russia (the translation of Belarus) and Carpatho-Russia (often known in Western history as ‘Ruthenia’). However, in geographical terms, the concept of ‘Rus’ includes not only these four Russias, but also all those places affected by the Russian Orthodox way of life. This includes firstly the one seventh of the earth which is known as the Russian Federation, stretching right across Siberia to the Pacific. Secondly, it includes all those who in various countries accept Russian Orthodoxy. This is ‘Orthodox Rus’. Whether it is in Latvia and Estonia, Japan and Alaska, Venezuela and Brazil, England and France, Russian Orthodox of all nationalities are also part of ‘Rus’. Thus, the Canadian-born Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, can talk quite legitimately of ‘American Rus’ and ‘Australian Rus’. Therefore, although the holiness of the geographical Four Russias ends at the present Belorussian border, some 900 miles from the eastern coasts of England, in a spiritual sense it does not end there at all, but continues right into England, where 1,000 years ago there walked saints who were part of the One worldwide Church and fifty years ago there walked St.John of Shanghai, become Archbishop of Western Europe. Furthermore, in historical terms, since 1917 the holiness of the Russias has become not a matter of over a thousand canonised saints revealed to the Church, but also a matter of tens of thousands of New Martyrs and Confessors. At present theses number over 31,000, though this figure grows monthly and may reach well over 100,000. For the twentieth century was the most fruitful in terms of the numbers of saints – holy martyrs, born out of the Four Russias. As the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus of New York and Eastern America said, ‘The whole land of Rus has become an antimension’ - that is a place filled with the relics of the holy martyrs. |
| Jordanville, NY: Washington Parish’s 20th Annual Pilgrimage to Jose Muñoz-Cortes’ Grave Source: Eastern American Diocese, ROCOR In 2018, the children of the Church mark the 36th anniversary of the appearance of the myrrh-streaming Montreal-Iveron Icon of the Mother of God (November 24, 1982), the 21st anniversary of the martyric death of its guardian, Brother Jose Muñoz-Cortes (October 31, 1997), and the 11th anniversary of the appearance of the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon of the Mother of God (October 6, 2007). Preparations for the Washington Cathedral of St. John the Baptist’s 20th annual pilgrimage to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY began long before that event. Registration opened after the parish’s patronal feast of the Beheading of St. John the Forerunner & Baptist of the Lord, and in a matter of days, all of the seats on the tour bus had been reserved. In preparation for the two-day visit to the “Diasporan Lavra,” provisions had to be purchased and food prepared for the many pilgrims and for the monastic brotherhood. From the very first of the pilgrimages, this had been the parish’s practice, so as not to excessively distract the monks from their vocation of prayer; it was a practice requested by the ever-memorable abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery and First Hierarch of ROCOR, Metropolitan Laurus (Skurla; +2008). One week before the Washington pilgrimage, on October 27/28, Archpriest Serge Lukianov brought a group of parishioners from the Diocesan Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky in Howell, NJ to the “Diasporan Lavra” to honor the memory of Jose Muñoz-Cortes. On Friday, November 2, the eve of the pilgrimage to Holy Trinity Monastery, pilgrims who lived far from Washington arrived in the nation’s capital to spend the night in the parish house, to go to Confession, and to join in preparations. The local group of pilgrims was joined by Orthodox Christians from the West Coast of the United States, other states, and Canada. The wonderworking, myrrh-streaming “Hawaiian” Iveron Icon of the Mother of God was brought from far-off Honolulu, and arrived at the cathedral at 8:00 PM on November 2. It was brought by Priest Athanasius Kone, the newly appointed rector of the Honolulu parish of the Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. The church was filled to capacity for a moleben and akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos. After the service, four priests of the cathedral heard pilgrims’ confessions. |
| Munich: Interview of Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany: " Attaining Church Unity is a Spiritual Podvig " Archbishop Mark of Berlin In late December 2005, an Orthodox Conference of the Diocese of Berlin and Germany of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was held. Sergei Chapnin, Editor-in-Chief of Tserkovnij Vestnik [ " Church Messenger " ], participated in the Conference at the invitation of Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany. His Eminence spoke to him of the attitudes in the Russian Church Abroad, and about the work of the Synodal Commission on talks with the Moscow Patriarchate in an interview with Tserkovnyj Vestnik: -Your Eminence, at what stage are the talks between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate? Which problems have been resolved and which remain before the Commissions during this period before the convening of the All-Diaspora Council? - The Commissions of each Church examined all the fundamental questions set before us at the meeting of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus and the delegation of our Church with His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and several members of his Synod. The following problems were on the agenda for years: the glorification of the New Martyrs, the relationship between the Church and state, Orthodoxy and ecumenism. In these areas we managed to achieve a great deal of complicated work. The fundamental positions were often diametrically opposed, but we still found a common tongue. As a whole, the hierarchies of both sides accepted the documents we prepared. I will note: this does not mean that the documents have been adopted by the entire Church, but by the hierarchies. In this regard I can immediately state what the desired conclusion of this process is: we foresee that the All-Diaspora Council will examine these documents and summaries of the work that was done, and only after this will the Council of Bishops make its decisions. Whether they will be adopted in the form we propose or whether changes will be required I cannot predict. |
| The Emigration of Faith An Intevrview with Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov) This Friday, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, who died last Sunday, will be buried in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, where he served as abbot. He played a crucial role in the reunification of the Orthodox Churches. It is symbolic that Vladyka Laurus died on the first Sunday of Great Lent, the feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy. His spiritual and historic role in the life of the Church served exactly that—the triumph of Orthodoxy. The Prior of Moscow’s Sretensky Monastery, Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov) talks with Russkaya Gazeta about Metropolitan Laurus’ role in the unification of the Churches. RG: Metropolitan Laurus’ role in the reunification of the Russian Churches is called crucial and preeminent. What was it that depended upon him personally? Archimandrite Tikhon: The question of the reunification of the Churches depended enormously on two persons—His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II and Vladyka Laurus. All that one or the other had to say was—not even a categorical " no " —but " the time has not come, " and the process would have been stalled for many years. But both one and the other said " Yes, this must happen. " And a very complicated, painstaking effort began. Vladyka Laurus understood perfectly that there were more than a few proponents of unification. But when this process began, there may actually have been more opponents . RG: Who opposed it, and why? Archimandrite Tikhon: A large percentage of people simply did not believe in the changes in Russia as a matter of principle. Some were perfectly satisfied with the " isolation " of the Russian Church Abroad. Some simply disdained today’s Russia. And Vladyka understood that at his age, and with his very bad health—for he had serious illnesses, he underwent complicated brain surgery—the task of reuniting the Churches would cause him great and persistent stress. He knew that he would not only endure criticism but would be denigrated. He knew that he was fulfilling the will of God and his historic duty as the Primate of the Church Abroad. He made this the most important goal of his life, he drew to a conclusion one period in the life of the emigre Church, he fulfilled the legacy of her founders on the reunification with the Russian Orthodox Church in the Fatherland after the government that promoted ideological godlessness and militant atheism would disappear into nothingness. For decades they believed that this would happen. And Vladyka Laurus turned out to be the one who completed this stage in the life of the Russian world. |
| Accept The site uses cookies to help show you the most up-to-date information. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of your Metadata and cookies. Cookie policy Delegation of abbots and abbesses of the Coptic Church visits holy sites of Niznhy Novgorod metropolia On 16 th – 19 th September 2019, while in Russia on a pilgrimage, a delegation of abbots, abbesses and nuns from the monasteries and convents of the Coptic Church visited a number of churches, monasteries and historical sites in the territory of the Niznhy Novgorod metropolia. On 16 th September, the delegation arrived in the Convent of the Holy Trinity and St. Seraphim in Diveyevo and venerated its shrines: the wonderworking “Eleousa” Icon of the Mother of God and the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov and of the venerable and blessed women of Diveyevo. The guests from Egypt also walked in a prayerful procession along the Holy Canal of the Theotokos and visited St. Seraphim’s spring not far from the convent. In the evening they met with Hegumenness Sergiya (Konkova), abbess of the Diveyeo abode, and the sisters. On 17 th September, while in the Diveyevo convent, the delegation members attended the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. After the service and repast, Hegumenness Sergiya told the guests about the present-day life of the abode and the obediences of the Diveyevo nuns. That same day the delegation members visited the convent’s Skete of the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus. On 18 th September the representatives of the Coptic Church arrived in the city of Arzamas. There they visited the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection and the Convent of St. Nicholas, where they were warmly greeted by its abbess, Hegumenness Filareta (Shevchenko). That same day the delegation arrived in Nizhny Novgorod, where they visited the ancient kremlin and the Church of Archangel Michael – the oldest church in the city, as well as the Ascension Monastery of the Caves. The pilgrims also visited the Cathedral of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky and the residence of Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, where they met with the head of the Nizhny Novgorod metropolia. The archpastor asked the guests to convey his greetings and warm wishes to the Primate of the Coptic Church and expressed his hope for further successful and fruitful development of the bilateral relations between the two Churches, and between representatives of the Russian and Coptic monasticism in particular. |
| Act of Canonical Communion We, the humble Alexy II, by God’s mercy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, jointly with the Eminent Members of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, having gathered at a meeting of the Holy Synod (date) in the God-preserved city of Moscow; and the humble Laurus, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, jointly with the Eminent Bishops, members of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, having gathered (time, place); Being guided by the effort towards reestablishing blessed peace, Divinely-decreed love, and brotherly unity in the common work in the harvest-fields of God within the Fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church and her faithful in the Fatherland and abroad, taking into consideration the ecclesiastical life of the Russian diaspora outside the canonical borders of the Moscow Patriarchate, as dictated by history; Taking into account that the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia performs its service on the territories of many nations; By this Act declare: 1. That the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, conducting its salvific service in the dioceses, parishes, monasteries, brotherhoods, and other ecclesiastical bodies that were formed through history, remains an indissoluble part of the Local Russian Orthodox Church. 2. That the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is independent in pastoral, educational, administrative, management, property, and civil matters, existing at the same time in canonical unity with the Fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church. 3. The supreme ecclesiastical, legislative, administrative, judicial and controlling authority in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is her Council of Bishops, convened by her Primate (First Hierarch), in accordance with the Regulations [Polozheniye] of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. 4. The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is elected by her Council of Bishops. This election is confirmed, in accordance with the norms of Canon Law, by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church. |
| Archive Delegation of abbots and abbesses of the Coptic Church visits holy sites of Niznhy Novgorod metropolia 20 September 2019 year 20:29 On 16 th – 19 th September 2019, while in Russia on a pilgrimage, a delegation of abbots, abbesses and nuns from the monasteries and convents of the Coptic Church visited a number of churches, monasteries and historical sites in the territory of the Niznhy Novgorod metropolia. On 16 th September, the delegation arrived in the Convent of the Holy Trinity and St. Seraphim in Diveyevo and venerated its shrines: the wonderworking “Eleousa” Icon of the Mother of God and the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov and of the venerable and blessed women of Diveyevo. The guests from Egypt also walked in a prayerful procession along the Holy Canal of the Theotokos and visited St. Seraphim’s spring not far from the convent. In the evening they met with Hegumenness Sergiya (Konkova), abbess of the Diveyeo abode, and the sisters. On 17 th September, while in the Diveyevo convent, the delegation members attended the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Cathedral. After the service and repast, Hegumenness Sergiya told the guests about the present-day life of the abode and the obediences of the Diveyevo nuns. That same day the delegation members visited the convent’s Skete of the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus. On 18 th September the representatives of the Coptic Church arrived in the city of Arzamas. There they visited the Cathedral of the Holy Resurrection and the Convent of St. Nicholas, where they were warmly greeted by its abbess, Hegumenness Filareta (Shevchenko). That same day the delegation arrived in Nizhny Novgorod, where they visited the ancient kremlin and the Church of Archangel Michael – the oldest church in the city, as well as the Ascension Monastery of the Caves. The pilgrims also visited the Cathedral of the Holy Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky and the residence of Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, where they met with the head of the Nizhny Novgorod metropolia. The archpastor asked the guests to convey his greetings and warm wishes to the Primate of the Coptic Church and expressed his hope for further successful and fruitful development of the bilateral relations between the two Churches, and between representatives of the Russian and Coptic monasticism in particular. |
| Metropolitan Laurus: Both Parts of the Russian Church are Prepared for Frank and Constructive Dialog: Interfax May 12, 2004 Interview with His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus Metropolitan Laurus Metropolitan Laurus On the eve of his first official visit to Russia, scheduled to begin on May 14, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Laurus, granted an exclusive interview to Interfax: Interfax: What are you expecting from your forthcoming trip to Russia? Metropolitan Laurus: The aim of my visit is to meet with the President of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, and with members of the Holy Synod, and to personally acquaint myself with the state of affairs in the church life of Russia. If God grants, I will be accompanied by clergymen of our Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, who nourish Russian Orthodox people scattered throughout the world. Besides official meetings, we intend to make a pilgrimage to the place of martyrdom of the Royal Family in Ekaterinburg, and also other holy sites in the fatherland. Interfax: How do you see the paths of rapprochement between the two parts of the Russian Church? Metropolitan Laurus: These meetings are intended to determine the future joint work of the two committees, whose assignment is to work out possible solutions to the problems that have accumulated, and the opinions of the committees in turn will form the foundation of future practical steps. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia strives to achieve mutual recognition of the parts of the one Russian Orthodox Church rent into two by tragic events and to overcome all differences in the spirit of repentance, conciliarity and brotherly love. Judging from everything, both parts of the Russian Church are prepared for honest and constructive dialog. Still, the work of the two committees, in my opinion, will not be easy and the healing of all wounds brought upon the Body of the Russian Church may prove to be a lengthy process. But if it happens in a churchly spirit, then, in the words of the holy prophet King David, " Mercy and truth have met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. " |
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