OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE SOCIETY
We consider it our bounden duty to bring to the knowledge of the respected members of our Society and readers the following communication."On the internet communications and epistles have begun to appear in the name of the Society of his Beatitude Metropolitan Anthony, which have been spread without the agreement of the President, the Secretary, and the other members of the Administration and Representatives of the Society. In particular, and, unfortunately, in the name of the Society E.L. Magerovsky and P.N. Koltypin have, without the agreement of the president and members of the administration, distributed an Epistle, composed and written, not by members of the Society, but by certain clergy of ROCOR (L), in which agreement to union with the MP is expressed if certain conditions are fulfilled. Moreover, the clergy-writers have affirmed that this Epistle will first be signed by 30 to 60 priests. The Epistle was published on the internet without a single signature by the clerical pseudo-writers of the Epistle and without a single signature of the 30 to 60 priests. The Epistle was signed: "The Administration of the Society". Earlier, the composers of the Epistle informed the President of the Society that only members of ROCOR (L) can sign this Epistle and that the signatures will probably be checked.
The question of the suggested merging with the MP concerns all the Orthodox believers of Russia Abroad, independently of what jurisdiction they belong to, insofar as this will inevitably affect all ecclesiastical, social, charitable and youth organisations abroad. First, the splitting of the ROCOR, and then Her disbanding, are in the interests only of the MP and those who sympathise with her, but not at all of those who do not agree with her, and who are striving to preserve the purity of the Orthodox Faith and the pious testaments of the Holy Fathers, Hierarchs, Confessors and Martyrs for the Faith of Christ.
The Society of his Beatitude Metropolitan Anthony was founded, in particular, to warn the ROCOR and Her clergy against the destructive influence of the neo-communist Moscow Patriarchate and, still more, against merging with the MP. In the future the Society will continue its activity, striving to unite all the parts of the former ROCOR that was united not long ago. The Society does not occupy a position supporting any of the separated parts, following the example given by his Beatitude the Metropolitan for the unification of the Church.
Indicating the fact that the MP is imbued with sergianism, and that to the present day the MP cooperates with government organs, we ourselves do not dare to address the government organs or officials of institutions in the USA, as E. Magerovsky and P. Koltypin have done. Both the President and the other members of the administration of the Society cannot approve such an action undertaken by the named persons, on their own initiative, in turning to Washington for negotiations.
It is completely incomprehensible on what basis these members of the Society have begun to make official declarations as if Metropolitan Lavr and the other hierarchs will go against the union with the MP and are condemning her for ecumenism, sergianism and all kinds of innovations, when this has nowhere been said by the hierarchs themselves, who at the same time have not only received the president of the Russian Federation. V.Putin, into the Synod building, but are also actively preparing to commemorate Patriarch Alexis there soon. In this case, where and how has their 'disagreement with the MP' been expressed?
The President, members of the Administration, representatives and numerous members of the Society are convinced that an unceasing and intensive campaign of disinformation is being conducted. In view of this, it would be more than lightminded to trust the rumours that have been circulated to the effect that the episcopate and administration of the ROCOR (L) are against complete union with the MP in eucharistic communion with her. The recent (9 December, 2005) epistle of Metropolitan Lavr to the congress in Australia, in which he speaks of 'one cup' with the MP, no longer leaves room for any doubt in the minds of those who understand the essence of the Church.
Taking all this into consideration, and observing the interests and aims of the Society of the Zealots of the Memory of his Beatitude Metropolitan Anthony, with genuine sorrow the President, the members of the Administration and Representatives of the Society have been forced to take the decision to exclude from the Society those members who, apparently, have decided to enter into agreement with the representatives of the ROCOR (L) on negotiations with the MP and who have independently, in the name of the Society, begun negotiations wtih clergy of the ROCOR (L) and government organs of the USA: E.L. Magerovsky and P.N. Kolytpin. The Society wishes them all the best in the future, and ardently thanks them for their help in the past.
14 January, 2006.
President of the Society: G.M. Soldatov
Member of the Administration: N.L. Kazantsev
Secretary of the Society: V.W. Scheglovsky
