Posted on 05/17/2007 8:34:10 AM PDT by kawaii
17 May 2007, 10:33
Act of Canonical Communion signed in Moscow (updated)
Moscow, May 17, Interfax - The Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia and abroad was signed at Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral on Thursday morning.
The historic document was signed by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and by First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Metropolitan Laurus.
The ceremony is being attended by President Vladimir Putin, several thousands Orthodox believers, including believers who have arrived from abroad, and about 500 journalists.
The Christ the Savior Cathedral is decorated with white flowers - a traditional adornment used on the Ascension holiday to symbolize renewal.
The signing of the Act of Canonical Communion symbolizes the return of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia into the fold of the Moscow Patriarchate and of the whole of the Orthodox world, which until recently did not recognize the Russian Church abroad. From now onwards, being part of the Mother Church, parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad will have the right to take communion at all of the world's Orthodox churches, while its clergy gains the right to serve jointly with the hierarchs and clergy of all 15 local Orthodox Churches.
The name of the Russian patriarch will now be mentioned in all services of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad before the name of the first hierarch.
According to the Act of Canonical Communion, the Moscow Patriarchate recognizes the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia as "an indissoluble part of the local Russian Orthodox Church, but independent in pastoral, educational, administrative, managerial, property and civil matters," and remaining "in canonical unity with the Fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church."
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia will as previously be run by its own Council of Bishops - "its supreme ecclesiastical, legislative, administrative, judiciary and controlling authority" convened by her First Hierarch in accordance with the Regulations. "This election is confirmed in accordance with the norms of the canonical law by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church."
Decisions on the establishment or liquidation of dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia will be made in agreement with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, elected by her Council of Bishops, will be confirmed in accordance with canonical norms by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.
on the otherhand stuff like this would make me wonder whether in practice these rules have been ignore or forgotten
http://www.oca.org/news.asp?ID=1167&SID=19
I spoke with my sister this afternoon and she told me that to be there was incredible. The most amazing thing for her was going to the new exhibit in the museum (which is in the lower part of the cathedral building) and seeing our maeternal grandmother's photo and our paternal grandfathers photo along with the major contributions they both made to ROCOR. She said she stood there shaking because she never expected to see that!
I so wish I could have been there...but alas I'm babysitting my sister's childrenso she could go!
Glory to God indeed.
one of the thinks i remarked to my wife, who is preganant, is that our children (it’s our first) will never have to know a world of multiple Russian churches now. they won’t have to go to one church here and one there and think wow these are so identical but they’re really different organizations. the Russian Orthodox church is now one
We just wanna know who to negotiate with ;^D
We just wanna know who to negotiate with ;^D
... and yes, I’m only kidding. As a Roman Catholic, I’m still leery of Moscow having too much influence, but if y’all are happy about this, I’ll presume that y’all are happy with the goings-on of Moscow lately, which I’ll take as the real good news. Putin still scares me, but I guess his presence there means nothing more than if Bush were to attend the installation of Washington’s new cardinal.
If the two Orthodox Churches are in canonical communion with a thrid Church then they can intercommune and serve Divine Liturgy together. Period.
I can't see any reason why a Catholic person needs to worry about that. The two Orthodox Churches which once were one, are now in canonical communion. Moreover, the both are Russian churches. There are no differences in their teachings, in such situation a split is a sin. "I believe in one Church..."
if Bush were to attend the installation of Washington’s new cardinal.
I heard news that Putin took part in the negotiations. Anyway, ROCOR retains its legal status, property, etc, so no there is need to worry for anyone.
putin did not take part in negotiations.
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