20 June 2007, 15:12
ROCOR bishop sends his clergy to Russia to strengthen ties with the Moscow Patriarchate
Moscow, June 20, Interfax - Bishop Daniel of Erie, responsible for old-ritualist communities under the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, plans to send to Moscow three clergymen in order to strengthen ties with the old-ritualist parishes within the Russian Orthodox Church.
In his letter of commendation the bishop says that the small delegation includes Archpriest Pimen Simon and two more clergy, who ‘are trusted in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia’ and have his ‘blessing to celebrate liturgy during their stay in Russia.’ Their primary task is ‘to establish connections with Moscow Patriarchate’s old-ritualist parishes near Moscow,’ a spokesman for the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate told Interfax.
Another task is to help preparing a conference on the Russian Orthodox Church in the modern world to be held in Erie, PA, the next June.
‘The letter personally signed by the bishop is a solid testimony that Bishop Daniel has refused to share in the activities of schismatic groups that left the ROCOR. He is intended to increase contacts with the Church in Russia and wants his clergy to maintain friendship and to concelebrate with our Church’s old-ritualist priests,’ the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate secretary for inter-Orthodox relations Archpriest Nikolay Balashov told Interfax on Wednesday.
In a recent video statement published by the ROCOR website Bishop Daniel said that he welcomed ‘better relations between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate’ though he was not ‘a supporter of the reunion’ since he was afraid that church administration in Moscow might destroy the ROCOR’s independence and ‘capture us completely.’
In spite of his uncertainty, Bishop Daniel said he remained in canonical communion with Metropolitan Laurus and his Synod and did not regard them to be ‘heretic or schismatic.’
The bishop denounced any rumor that he planned to support Bishop Agafangel Pashkovsky of Odessa, who schismed from the ROCOR and was suspended, in order to form together with him a new church entity consecrating new line of bishops.
‘I will not initiate a new church entity. I am against that. I will not ordain anyone unless I am authorized to do so by Metropolitan Laurus and his church administration. This is what I believe, and want others to respect that.’
Commenting recently published documents, expressing the idea to establish a new church administration, signed by himself, the old-ritualist bishop said that he was accustomed ‘to trust the clergy and never expected deception.’ According to him, he ‘never suggested that the clergymen might be shameless enough to speak and commit such lie.’
