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August 3, 2011
New York, NY: An
Organizing Committee was created for the “Reconciliation” Project
On
Tuesday, August 2, a meeting was held in the Synodal residence of
the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad between His Eminence
Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, and Russian
activist and chairman of Russia’s National Awards Committee (NAC)
Valery S. Balakirev. Also taking part in the meeting was diocesan
secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov.
The Metropolitan warmly greeted Mr. Balakirev on the occasion of his
return to the U.S. as an official guest of the Eastern American
Diocese.
Discussed during the meeting was the issue of organizing a team for
the realization of "Reconciliation," a project dedicated to the
reconciliation of the Russian and Diasporan parts of the Russian
Orthodox Church. The Metropolitan highly praised the work of the
National Awards Committee, underscoring: "The work of the NAC is of
the utmost importance not only for our compatriots in Russia, but
for all Russian people, fated to be dispersed throughout the whole
world by the terrible events of the 20th century.
The most important event was not so much the political exile of
these people from Russia, but their unification in the bosom of the
Church. Over the course of many years, the Awards Committee has
struck a benevolent position, helping establish peace and unity
between the two parts of the one Local Russian Church."
In accordance with the resolution of the First Hierarch, V.S.
Balakirev was assigned head of the team, while Eastern American
Diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov was assigned supervisor
of the team for the American side. A directive (ukase) to this
effect was issued.
The Metropolitan shared his thoughts on the issue of building
Orthodox churches in America, the construction of a memorial to
Patriarch Alexey II and Metropolitan Laurus, the organization of
festal diocesan celebrations in honor of the 5th anniversary of the
signing of the Act of Canonical Communion and preparations for
celebrations in honor of the 400th anniversary of the Romanov Royal
House.
His Eminence tasked the members of the "Reconciliation" team with
seeking the realization of these projects.
At
the end of the meeting, which lasted over an hour, Metropolitan
Hilarion presented Mr. Balakirev with a book published by the
Eastern American Diocese on the history of the Kursk Root Icon of
the Mother of God – how the Icon visited Russia for the first time
in 90 years, and how it traveled the East Coast of the United
States, visiting about 130 Orthodox churches and monasteries of all
of the various canonical jurisdictions. His Eminence recommended
that the WAC consider presenting several members of the Diaspora
with national awards for their zealous love for the Triumph of
Orthodoxy in the Russian world.
In turn, Mr. Balakirev thanked His Eminence for his invitation to
visit the U.S. as an official guest of the Eastern American Diocese,
and for the opportunity to work alongside the diocesan
administration in continuing the work of the "Reconciliation"
project. He recommended creating a Fund for Assistance for the
Realization of the "Reconciliation" project, on which His Eminence
would hold a position of prominence. The First Hierarch of ROCOR
signed a corresponding Act enjoining himself to the project.
Republication of materials must include a reference to:
"Eastern American Diocese www.eadiocese.org."
Media
Office of the Eastern American Diocese
