Epistle of the ROCOR Sobor of Bishops

[cons...@arches.uga.edu]

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Date: Sun, 17 May 1998 15:29:05 -0400
From: "Rd. Constantine Wright" <cons...@arches.uga.edu>
Reply-To: Orthodox Christianity <ORTH...@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
To: ORTH...@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
Subject: Epistle of the Sobor of Bishops

Epistle of the Council of Bishops of the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
30 April/13 May 1998

(By order of the President of the council of Bishops
Metropolitan Vitaly, this letter is to be read the Sunday of the Blind
Man,(May 4/17) from the Amvon for all to hear.)

To the Beloved Children of the Church in the Homeland and in the Diaspora:

Christ is Risen!

Having assembled from all the ends of the world at the Synodal Cathedral in
New York, under the protection of the miraculous Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother
of God, the Council of Bishops greet you with this salutation, which is
eternal, yet ever new. Although we are scattered throughout the world, and
oceans and continents separate us, the one faith in the true and saving
teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, which we have received from His holy
apostles and their successors, the holy fathers, unites us.

In these days we are undergoing grievous temptations: in recent times several
of our clergymen have been assaulted, and some even murdered; our cathedral in
Montreal burned down, the cause of the conflagration being unapparent; the
myrrh-streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God disappeared after the murder
of its protector, Brother Joseph, and its location is unknown. The monastery
in Hebron, with its object of holy veneration, the Oak of Mambre, was wrested
from us in the crudest and most violent possible manner, and occupied by the
Moscow Patriarchate. By such a course of action the Moscow Patriarchate has
taken the path of aggression and deepened the rift which separates us. It is
not surprising that these events have troubled many. But it is more lamentable
that they have given rise to the most incredible rumors and false
interpretations, which are harmful to the Church. The Council of Bishops finds
its necessary to make clear that our Church has never held any negotiations
concerning union with the Moscow Patriarchate -- i.e., meaning the
self-abolition of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia--and it is
understood that it does not propose to undertake any such negotiations at this
time.

As in the past, the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of
Russia consider it their duty to minister pastorally to you, their
children, and to stand firm in the Truth of Orthodox doctrine, despite
the fact that many now spurn this. Our refusal to embrace fashionable
doctrines, such as ecumenism and Sergianism, renders us unpopular, and
may even place us in the minority. But this should not disturb us. Amid
all the difficulties we encounter on the path toward the Truth of Christ, let
us remember the words of our divine Teacher: "Fear not, little flock...
[Lk.12: 32] In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I
have overcome the world" [Jn. 16:33], and the words of the Apostle: "This is
the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith" [I Jn. 5:4]. May our
resurrected Lord Jesus Christ make us steadfast in this Faith.

With paternal love in Christ,

The Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

[Signatures:]

Metropolitan Vitaly
Archbishop Anthony
Archbishop Laurus
Archbishop Alypius
Archbishop Mark
Archbishop Lazarus
Archbishop Hilarion
Bishop Benjamin
Bishop Eutychius
Bishop Agathangel
Bishop Barnabas
Bishop. Cyril
Bishop Ambrose
Bishop Gabriel
Bishop Daniel
Bishop Michael

New York City,
Feast of Mid-Pentecost
30 April/13 May 1998

This Text was obtained from Priest Andrew Kencis, via e-mail,
May 2/15.
1998

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