Russian Church abroad backs reunion with Moscow Patriarchate (ROCOR & MP REUNITE)

Interfax ^ | 5/17/06

[x5452]

Russian Church abroad backs reunion with Moscow Patriarchate

San Francisco, May 17, Interfax - A San Francisco session of the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad has approved a resolution proposing a reunion with the Moscow Patriarchate, the Russian Church abroad said on its official website.

The council will also adopt an act on interaction with the Moscow Patriarchate.

Last week's All-Diaspora Convention agreed that "this creative deed must culminate in the restoration of the long-sought unity of the Russian Church," the resolution reads.

[vladimir998]

Wow, this is BIG NEWS! I never thought ROCOR would do it.

[x5452]

I'm surprised and over joyed!

[Theophane]

Very good news indeed, and following on the reconciliation (a couple of years ago) of the St Herman Brotherhood with canonical Orthodoxy through its submission to Patriarch Pavle of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the flourishing of Elder Ephraim's monasteries in the US, a good sign.

[x5452]

ping

[x5452]

Orthodox ping

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SAN FRANCISCO: May 16, 2006

Resolution on the IV All-Diaspora Council

Heard: The report on the IV All-Diaspora Council held in San Francisco on May 7-14, 2006.

Decreed:

1. To raise thanks to God, Who enabled us to successfully hold the IV All-Diaspora Council with the participation of clergy and laity from all dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, that obvious unity of spirit was expressed on the principle question, that the culmination of its constructive work will be the reestablishment of the desired unity of the Local Russian Church, as was expressed in the Epistle of the Council.
2. To approve and confirm the Resolution and Epistle of the IV All-Diaspora Council.
3. To confirm the Minutes of the Meetings of the IV All-Diaspora Council and to enter them into its official Acts.
4. To confirm the Resolutions on lectures and appeals adopted by the Council and in response to greetings received by the Heads of Local Churches and other individuals at the commencement of the Council.
5. To express thanks to the Pre-Council Committee, the San Francisco Organizing Committee, the Rector, clergymen, Warden, Parish Council, Sisterhood, Choir Director and Choir of the Cathedral in San Francisco, the organizers of the trapeza meals and all those who labored for the successful organization and operation of this event, which was of exceeding importance to the Church.
6. To express gratitude to the Press Office of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the colleagues of the official internet sites of the Synod of Bishops and of the Council, who aided in the daily global dissemination of information on the Council along with numerous photographs.
7. To instruct the Synodal Chancery to draw up all Council decrees.
8. To instruct the Secretariat of the Synod to collect all materials subject to publication and present them to the Synod of Bishops for confirmation before publication.

May 3/16 2006

[NYer]

Reunification is always a positive sign. (I wasn't aware there had been a rupture). Good news bump!

[x5452]

You're not aware of ROCOR in general?

(ROCOR is basically the pro-tsar pro-white army church that split with the Russian church after the revolution, as the communist government subverted the Moscow based church. They'd always said they intended to rejoin as soon as the church within Russia is no longer under the communist heal. They've been leary to rejoin (for the last 15 years) out of suspicions that the mark of communists haven't all gone away from the church in Moscow.)

[Bokababe]

This is wonderful news! St John Maximovitch is rejoicing in Heaven I am sure!


BB

[The_Reader_David]

It seemed inevitable once Patriarch Alexy II proclaimed the glorification of the Royal Passion-Bearers Nicholas and Alexandra and their children, but it's wonderful to see the
fulfillment so soon! St. John Maximovich is indeed rejoicing in heaven.

Still, I'm not sure I'd describe ROCOR quite that way: they are the part of the Russian Church which governed themselves in accord with St. Tikhon's ukase calling on Russian hierarchs outside Russia to govern their churches on their own until normal relations could be reestablished with the Patriarchate. Being faithful to one's Patriarch's decree is hardly a 'split'.

[x5452]

You're not aware of ROCOR in general?

(ROCOR is basically the pro-tsar pro-white army church that [ceased relations with what they viewed to be a compromised part of the church, in accordance with the proclaimation of their Patriarch, until such time as that part ceased to be compromised, and normal relagions could be re-established] with the after the revolution, as the communist government subverted the Moscow based church. They'd always said they intended to rejoin as soon as the church within Russia is no longer under the communist heal. They've been leary to rejoin (for the last 15 years) out of suspicions that the mark of communists haven't all gone away from the church in Moscow.)

[Macoraba]

Now all they have to do is unite with Rome!

[The_Reader_David]

Well, when Rome makes the corresponding changes to those undertaken by the Moscow Patriarchate much to the satisfaction of ROCOR, and returns to the original deposit of the faith status quo ante-800 A.D., we'll be quit happy for that reunion to take place, too.

[x5452]

And that's all we've (orthodoxy) been asking for since 1054!

[Kolokotronis]

"...and the flourishing of Elder Ephraim's monasteries in the US...."

The monk Ephraim and his fellow travelers are a dangerous bunch. Its a real shame they haven't been suppressed, though I suppose I should be thankful that since they came under the control of the GOA Synod, they haven't been quite so blatant in heretical preaching and I hear the holy foot bath water drinking has been discouraged.

[Agrarian]

Now *that* (the return of Rome to pre-Schismatic faith and practice) would really make St. John Maximovitch rejoice in heaven!

I've known through my close contacts in the ROCOR (in which I spent many happy years) that reunion was inevitable and would happen by, say, 2015 at the latest, the speed with which this has happened is breath-taking and joyous beyond belief.

Both the MP and the ROCOR will benefit significantly from this.

I would agree with David that the ROCOR had completely valid reasons for existence and for continuing. It was falsely maligned as being "non-canonical" for short-term political reasons. Had they been truly non-canonical, they would not have been invited to join SCOBA when it was first formed (they declined because of their internal requirements to refrain from communion, directly or indirectly, with the MP.)

[Agrarian]

You beat me to it.

[Kolokotronis]

"You beat me to it."

You say it; I say it; makes no difference so long as its said!

[x5452]

From what I've read of both sides on the ROCOR OCA histories I definitly wouldn't call ROCOR non canonical.