Canonical measure

The First Hierarch of the ROCOR in Moscow decided not to remember the past

There are only a few days left before the signing of the “Act on Canonical Communion” between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church abroad . Already on Thursday evening, during the celebrations in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II and First Hierarch of the ROCOR, Metropolitan Laurus, will affix their signatures to a document that, according to the plans of the parties, should overcome the 80-year schism and “restore the unity of the Russian Church , destroyed by the revolution, civil war and the atheistic power." The conclusion of the agreement falls on one of the twelve holidays - the Day of the Resurrection of the Lord, and, as representatives of the Patriarchate report, the ceremony promises to be especially solemn. Thus, during the service the royal doors of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior will be open - usually this is practiced only during Easter week.

Yesterday, several representative delegations representing foreign clergy arrived in Moscow. “I think this event is very important for the Russian Church, which has been divided for more than eight decades. “I am very glad to be in Moscow,” Metropolitan Laurus, who arrived from New York, admitted to the delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate headed by Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad who met him at Sheremetyevo-2. In addition to the first hierarch of the ROCOR, who turned 79 this year, the chairman of the commission for negotiations of foreign churches, Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and Great Britain, arrived in the capital. It is reported that a total of seven hierarchs, about 70 clergy and 600 laity of the ROCOR will take part in the celebrations in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

The chief “negotiator” of the ROCOR, Archbishop Mark, admitted that three years ago, at the first stages of the dialogue, “there were many questions between the Church in the homeland and abroad, both practical and theological,” but now the work of the conciliation commissions has been completed. The head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Bishop Kirill, also agreed with Archbishop Mark. “All those historical reasons that gave rise to the division are a thing of the past,” the Metropolitan emphasized, explaining that the godless government has become the property of history, that now it is impossible to talk about the lack of freedom of the church or about any obstacles imposed on the communication of Orthodox Christians in Russia and abroad. abroad. Therefore, the division of the church - the last division inherited from the terrible era of revolution and civil war - must be overcome.

In the afternoon, Patriarch Alexy II received the hierarchs of the ROCOR at his residence - the St. Daniel Monastery. The details of the meeting between the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and Metropolitan Laurus were not reported - the conversation took place behind closed doors. According to DECR Secretary Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, “Patriarch Alexy cordially welcomed the members of the delegation and expressed joy at the approaching complete restoration of church unity.”

Mikhail MOSHKIN