March 18, 2009
Resolution
of the Eastern-American Diocese Annual Meeting
Representatives
of the parish clergy and laity of the Eastern American Diocese, having
gathered on March 16-18, 2009 for the 
Regular Diocesan Meeting, under
the holy aegis of the relics of the Lord’s Life-Creating Cross, His
Raiment, and His Life-Creating Tomb, under the sacred canopy of St.
Vladimir Memorial Church, dedicated to the Millennial Celebration of
the Baptism of Russia, and under the presidency of His Eminence Hilarion,
Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, raised up their prayers to
the Lord of Hosts for the repose of the souls of His Holiness, Patriarch
Alexey, and His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus, the latter having passed
away on March 16th of last year, on the Sunday of the Triumph of
Orthodoxy, and of those builders of this majestic church here buried:
Archbishops Vitaliy (Maximenko; + 1960) and Nikon (Rklitsky; + 1976).
Our meeting opened with the serving of a panihida for these departed
hierarchs, led by our First Hierarch and concelebrated by Bishop
Mercurius, Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the United
States, Bishop George of Mayfield, and Bishop Jerome of Manhattan.
We
rejoice in the Lord over the election of His Holiness, Patriarch Kyrill
of Moscow and All-Russia, who in his sermons, has called us to repent
“in newness of life” (Romans 6:4), and to an apostolic mission among
the people and in society, in spreading the good news of Christ’s
Light, which “enlighteneth all.” To this we are called also by His
Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, who said the following in his opening
address: “We must have pastoral
care for those who have always lived and remain within the Church,
nurture them, show attention to them, take part in their life, travel
with them on the path to God. There are also children of the Diocese who
have come from the lands of the former Soviet Union in more recent
times, and who, yearning for the Homeland, find it in our churches. For
their churching and enlightenment we must not only take thought, but
intercede in prayer before the throne of God. We must actively provide
them with the good news of Christ, the Gospel, and the Church… We must
extend a helping hand to those who live next door to us; that is, we
must engage in missionary work. We have the possibility to share with
local Americans the rich legacy of the Russian Orthodox Church, its
traditions and spirit, the ideals of Holy Russia.”
In his
presentation, Bishop George of Mayfield continued those thoughts on
missionary service expressed by His Eminence, while Bishop Jerome of
Manhattan shared his memories of the renowned archpastoral efforts and
legacy of Archbishop Nikon, who selflessly served the fortification and
growth of our parishes in North America, and who fostered in our midst a
truly Orthodox worldview. Over the course of our discussions, which
passed in a spirit of brotherly love, the question of Ecumenism arose, a
teaching which continues to disrupt the peace of members of the whole
Russian Orthodox Church. Here, His Eminence, Vladyka Hilarion, reminded
the participants of the Meeting of the decisions of the Councils of the
Moscow Patriarchate, condemning both the “Branch Theory” and joint
prayer with heretics, and of the declaration of Patriarch Kyrill, who
emphasized at a Local Council, that deciding the issue of Ecumenism is
absolutely necessary to help quell misunderstandings that lead to
fighting within the Church, brought on by supporters of one view
accusing their ideological opponents of betrayal and apostasy.
Participants at the meeting echoed their support for these statements,
and continue to grieve for those who have fallen away from us through
misunderstanding. We pray for them, awaiting their return, that we may
“in oneness of mind and ceaseless love” once more praise the name of
God “with one voice and one heart.”
With
heartfelt gratitude we thank our merciful father and hierarch, His
Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, and the Bishop’s council of the
Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, who provided our Diocese with Bishops
George and Jerome, for fatherly care of us.
We
raise up prayers of thanksgiving to God, who allowed us to meet at His
holy altar, to pray together, and to commune from a single Chalice the
Holy Mysteries of Christ, in these days of our “spiritual spring.”
Media
Office of the Eastern American Diocese
