Decree of the Council of Bishops of the Diaspora District of ROCA on the Rules for the Reception into our Church of Those Who Come from the Moscow Patriarchate or Other Churches of World Orthodoxy.
In the Creed we confess “one baptism for the remission of sins.” The sacrament of baptism cannot be repeated. But, according to the teaching of the Holy Fathers, the valid and salvific sacraments are performed only in the Church. In heretical and schismatic groups there can be no valid sacraments.
Nevertheless, the Church from ancient times allowed the reception of certain heretics and schismatics without a new baptism for the sake of oikonomia, i.e., out of pastoral leniency, if this could facilitate their conversion from error to the true Church.
At the same time, the pastors of the Church paid attention to the manner of performing baptism in this heretical group. The sacraments of the Church have both a visible side and a spiritual, grace-filled side, which can be perceived only with the eyes of faith. Although baptism performed outside the Church lacks the spiritual side of the sacrament, if outwardly the baptism was performed correctly, according to the rules of the Church, then the Holy Fathers allowed the baptized in this way to be received without another baptism.
Depending on the circumstances, the Church may change the rules for reception of those who have fallen away from her, if this can serve for spiritual benefit. In previous decades, ROCA received parishioners of the MP through confession and communion. However, times are changing. The MP increasingly deviates from the true Church and moves towards complete apostasy. Also, at the same time, the attitude towards the MP among our clergy and laity is changing. There is a need to introduce stricter rules for reception.
In view of these circumstances, the Bishops of the Diaspora District of ROCA have made the following decision on the rules for receiving into our Church those who have been baptised in the Moscow Patriarchate or other churches of World Orthodoxy:
If the baptism was performed in three immersions, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we must perform only chrismation, according to the Book of Needs (“The rite of anointing with myrrh…”)
If the baptism was performed by affusion or sprinkling, then full baptism and chrismation must be performed.
It goes without saying that this applies only to those who will join our Church in the future, not to those who are already members of our Church.
Only in special cases, with the permission of the bishop, in the spirit of oikonomia, is it acceptable to receive parishioners of the MP into our Church, as before, through confession and communion.
1/14 Dec. 2024 / Commemoration of St. Philaret of New York
+Archbishop Andronik
+Bishop Andrei
