Moderator: Mark Templet
Russian Orthodox Church Abroad to pay its first visit to Russia
RBC, 06.11.2003, Moscow 14:02:20.On November 17, a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad will visit Russia for the first time in its history, secretary of the department for external church relations of the Moscow patriarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church Nikolay Balashov reported. The delegation includes the Archbishop of Berlin and Germany, the Archbishop of Australia and the Archbishop of San-Francisco.
A Delegation of the ROCOR will be in Moscow Nov. 17-25
A delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, consisting of Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, Archbishop Hilarion of Australia, Bishop Kirill of San Francisco and the Western United States, Proto-priest Nikolai Artemov and Proto-priest Peter Holodny, will be received as guests by the Moscow Patriarchate November 17-25. They were invited by the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II, the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate reports.
Although there had also been individual bishops and clergy of ROCOR in Russia previously, this visit for the first time bears an official character. During their stay in Moscow, the delegation will be able to examine the life of the Moscow Patriarchate. The program for the visit also includes meetings with the hierarchy of the Moscow Patriarchate, during which will be discussed the question of "overcoming the already obsolete division" between the Moscow Patriarchate and the ROCOR.
Delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Arrives in Moscow
An official visit of a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to Russia began on 18 November. The delegation, headed by Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and Great Britain, includes Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand, Bishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America, as well as Protopriests Nikolai Artemoff and Peter Holodny.
Early in the morning, the members of the delegation visited the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow, where they prayed at the relics of Holy Martyr Hilarion, and stayed for divine liturgy.
At noon, the delegation arrived in Donskoy Monastery, where they venerated the relics of Saint Patriarch Tikhon and visited his cell, where he was living under house arrest. The delegation viewed the small cathedral of Donskoy Monastery and prayed at the grave of Martyr Iakov Polozov and Protopresbyter Alexander Kiselev
At 1 pm, the first meeting between His Holiness Patriarch Alexy with Archbishops Mark and Hilarion and Bishop Kyrill was held at his residence. At the beginning of the meeting, the bishops from abroad presented the Patriarch with an icon of the greatpodvizhnik[laborer-in-the-Lord] of the 20th century, Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Miracle-worker. The icon contains a portion of the relics of St. John. During the three-hour conversation, the paths of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 20th century--so tragic for Russia--and the possibilities for spiritual unity of the Russian Orthodox Church were discussed.
Subsequently, the members of the delegation headed for Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, where they were greeted by the superior, Bishop Feognost. The hierarchs and priests of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia prayed at the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh, St. Philaret of Moscow and many other relics(see photo above). The delegation then met with Archimandrite Matfei (Mormyl) at Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra.
An official communique will be issued on the meeting between Patriarch Alexy and the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in the coming days. Those who wish to see photographs of the delegation's visit can see them at Sretensky Monastery.
It should be pointed out that there have been many published items, commentaries and opinions, including blatant conjecture, on the visit of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to Russia. For trustworthy and official information on the event, please visit the of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
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