May 16, 2012 Moscow: Epistle of
Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia on the Fifth Anniversary
of the Signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the MP and
ROCOR
On
the eve of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the
Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of
Russia, His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia,
issued an epistle to the archpastors, pastors, deacons, monastics,
and faithful flock of the Russian Orthodox Church:
Dear in the Lord Reverend Archpastors,
Reverend Presbyters and Deacons, God-beloved Monks and Nuns, dear
Brothers and Sisters!
"Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from
God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity" (Ephesians 6:23-24).
Today
the Russian Orthodox Church marks the fifth anniversary of the
signing of the Act of Canonical Communion. This document brought to
an end many years of division between the Moscow Patriarchate and
the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. We remember these
events of great historical significance, representing the victory
over one of the tragic consequences of the political and spiritual
catastrophe endured by Russia in the 20th century.
In the last century, our Homeland and
Church were subjected to the most burdensome tribulations. Churches
were destroyed, sacred objects were desecrated, God-given human
freedom was trampled, the raiment of the Church was rent by internal
and external enemies. A fratricidal conflict doomed millions of our
compatriots, and the brutality of the godless persecutors brought a
great host of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia to death in the
name of Christ.
The Revolution and consequent Civil War
became the cause of a massive exodus of our compatriots from Russia.
Millions of them found themselves scattered throughout the whole
world. The Orthodox faith united these refugees, and they carefully
preserved the flame of faith, handing it down from generation to
generation. But the dramatic historic circumstances also evoked
divisions within the Russian Orthodox diaspora.
Even as it was lifted upon its cross,
Orthodox Russia believed in its resurrection. With special
earnestness did the children of the Church ‒ both in the Fatherland
and abroad ‒ raise their prayers to our Lord and Savior to eliminate
this sorrowful division. We dared to appeal to the heavenly
intercession of the Holy New Martyrs with our pleas.
By Divine Mercy, the situation in our
country changed fundamentally. Orthodox Christians took this as a
gift from above. The Russian Orthodox Church obtained full freedom,
including in the area of church-state relations.
Division was painful for the entire Church,
a sorrow for the whole people. This is no exaggeration; one needs
only remember the attention paid by society as our reconciliation
began. The government authorities were not indifferent either. In
the process of dialog, we tried to avoid bringing any harm or new
wounds to each other. There could be no conquerors nor vanquished in
this process. In the end, victory was achieved by the many millions
of members of the Russian Church, whose unity was reestablished.
During these days, we prayerfully recall
His Holiness Patriarch Alexey II of Moscow and All Russia and His
Eminence Metropolitan Laurus of Eastern America and New York. On the
feast of the Ascension of the Lord, May 4/17, 2007, they sealed with
their signatures the Act of Canonical Communion on the ambo of
Christ the Savior Cathedral and concelebrated Divine Liturgy
together. We also thank all those who labored and drew this unity
near.
Now, when our communion is reestablished
and we commune of one Chalice together, let us bring thanks to the
All-Merciful God, Who with His almighty hand led us to our desired
unity to the glory of His Holy name and the good of His Holy Church.
Today we can boldly state that we have
manifested in deed the testament of St Tikhon, Patriarch of All
Russia: "It is specifically in unity, cooperative action and
brotherly love that power lies." We can joyfully attest to the fact
that the gates of hell (Matthew 16:18) have not prevailed over the
Russian Church. She now fruitfully fulfills her salvific service
both in the Fatherland and outside its borders.
The five-year period that has passed since
the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion has proven abundant
with good examples of cooperation. There is not enough time to
recall the daily examples of cooperation happening on the local
level: our Church is not only declared united in word, but it is so
in our deeds. It is even remarkable how quickly and easily the
barriers fell. This has become possible precisely because we were
and continue to be the bearers of the very same Russian Orthodox
tradition, we have common spiritual and moral values which we bring
to the world.
Let us thankfully and carefully preserve
the great gift of Church unity, the unity of the people of God. Let
us resist any attempt to introduce strife and division in the life
of the Church, to shake the foundations of her canonical existence.
Let us pray in earnest for those who for
various reasons find themselves outside of unity with the Russian
Orthodox Church. Again and again we invite them to commune in the
love of Christ, which "seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked,
thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the
truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things" (1 Corinthians 13:5-7).
May the Lord behold with His merciful gaze
our prayers and efforts and "bless His people with peace" (Psalms
29:11), of which He told the Apostles before His sufferings: "Peace
I leave with you, my peace I give unto you" (John 14:27).
Amen.
+KYRILL Patriarch of Moscow and
All Russia Moscow, May 17, 2012
