The following translated article was published on Mt. Athos in "Saint
Agathangelos the Esphigmenite" issue of Nov- Dec. 2004.
THE RUSSIANS OF THE DIASPORA
WHO IN 1917 RENOUNCED GODLESS COMMUNISM,
TODAY FALL IN THE BOSOM OF GODLESS ECUMENISM
+
The Russians of the Diaspora are that portion of the Russian Church
which in 1917 did not compromise itself with the godless Communist
government, but followed the most holy Patriarch of Moscow Tikhon.
They came out of Russia and dispersed throughout Europe, Asia,
Australia and America. Patriarch Tikhon remained near his flock
suffering cruelties. With pain of heart, Patriarch Tikhon lived those
frightful and inhumane days of martyrdom and slaughter of the Tsar's
family, of the clergy and of the faithful by the Jewish communist.
With the blessing of Patriarch Tikhon, the Russians of the Diaspora,
as they were called, developed Ecclesiastical Communities headed by
Bishops, clergy etc… in the places where they settled. They instituted
a Synod of Bishops, which was recognized by the Patriarchate of
Constantinople and was in communion with all the Orthodox Churches,
except the Moscow Patriarchate. The following were the 1st Hierarchs:
Metropolitan Anthony (+1936), Metropolitan Anastasios (1965+),
Metropolitan Philaret (+1985), Metropolitan Vitaly (until 2001), and
today Metropolitan Laurus (Oct. 2001, current). They followed the
Patristic Feastday Calendar. There always existed in this Synod the
austere maintenance of the Sacred Traditions. But there also existed
some bishops who did not approve of the zealot tenets of the majority,
but remained obedient to it. This Synod of Russian Bishops of the
Diaspora, ordained bishops for the Church in Greece for those who
follow the Patristic Feastday Calendar, after the falling asleep in
the LORD of Archbishop Chrysostom Kavourides, formerly Metropolitan of
Florina.
When the ever memorable Metropolitan Philaret became 1st Hierarch,
succeeding Anastasios in 1965, he did not remain indifferent to the
ecumenist betrayal of Patriarch Athenagoras and Archbishop Iakovos
Coucouzis of America. He began by sending Epistles of Sorrow to to the
above, for their return to Orthodoxy. When he understood that their
cacodoxies were boundless, he rebuked them austerely. His epistles and
articles were published in the "Orthodoxos Typos," in our periodical
and elsewhere. Excerpts from these most Orthodox Epistles and articles
of Metropolitan Philaret have been included in our book "Kisses of Judas."
The Sacred Synod of the Patristic Feastday Calendar, followed the
Orthodox stance in the Faith, of the 1st Hierarch Metropolitan
Philaret with admiration, because he had severed relations with all of
them and had come and united with us, to strengthen our mutual
Churches, involved in the sacred struggle on behalf of Orthodoxy.
Metropolitan Philaret, upon being informed of the relentless
persecutions of the Orthodox who follow the Patristic Calendar, by
those following the new calendar (in Greece), and their keeping of the
Faith, accepted to be united with them.
He examined the ordinations which had taken place by bishops of the
Russian Diaspora. He found them to be Canonical, and in 1969 he sent a
letter to the Synod headed then, by Archbishop Auxentios, a Synodical
Letter, recognizing the authority of their Bishop Ordinations, and
accepts the Synod as a sister Church and declared full communion with it.
We are placing on the opposite page (translator's note, letter is
placed below) the decision of the Sacred Synod of the Russian Church
of the Diaspora, of 18/31 December 1969, which recognizes the
ordinations of the bishops of the Patristic Feastday Calendar,
ordinations which were done by bishops who were members of the above
Sacred Synod.
Upon coming to Greece, the then Secretary of the Synod, Bishop Lauros
(today's 1st Hierarch) co-liturgized with the Hierarchs of the
Orthodox of the Feastday Calendar, Archbishop Auxentios, Akakios (the
younger), Gerontios etc…
Also, the Synod of Philaret regularized, synodically in 1971 the
bishop ordinations of the ever memorable Bishop Vresthenis, Matthew
Karpathakis, after they petitioned and recognized the authority of
their ordinations and did heirothesia to them.
Metropolitan Philaret Synodically acted against the panheresy of
Ecumenism. In order though protect his flock from this heresy he
proceeded with a Synodical condemnation and anathematized it.
Metropolitan Vitaly who rescinded his retirement as Metropolitan of
the Russian Diaspora, said the following in an article regarding the
ANATHEMA against Ecumenism: In this way, by the declaring the ANATHEMA
we protected our flock from this apocalyptic temptation and we
knowingly concurrently placed, a serious question in the conscious of
all the local Churches, to which they are obligated to, sooner or
later, whether they want to or not, give and answer. Their spiritual
future in the world wide Orthodox Church will depend upon their answer
to this question.
According to the Ecclesiastical Rule, the Anathema which was announced
by us is purely local in character that is for the Russian Orthodox
Church in the Diaspora but de facto, it is of enormous historical
importance, world wide, historically, and ecclesiastically exactly
because ecumenism, itself, is a heresy of world wide dimensions.
This here position of the Orthodox Church in the Diaspora is very
clear in the conscience of all the Orthodox. For us it is a very big
Cross to bear, which the Lord has placed upon us. But we could no
longer keep silent, because silence would be equivalent to betrayal of
the Truth, from which betrayal may the Lord protect all of us."
(Orthodox Life" 1984 No 4. "Orthodox Witness" September 1984).
THE FIRST HIERARCHY OF METROPOLITAN VITALY
After the falling asleep of the worthy and Orthodox leader of the
Sacred Synod of Bishops of the Diaspora, the ever memorable and saint
Philaret, there was elected as Metropolitan the worthy successor
hailing from Canada, Metropolitan Vitaly.
He maintained the course of his predecessor. After the fall of the
communist regime in the Soviet Union, he accepted the shepherding of
his fellow nationals who were within Russia, who had severed communion
with the Russian Patriarchate of Moscow because of the pan-heresy of
ecumenism which it follows. In vain did the Patriarch of Moscow
through petitions to the Synod in the Diaspora called upon them not to
establish ecclesiastical communities within Russian, on Russian soil.
The petitions of the Patriarchate were not being accepted, because it
was not a case of pursuing followers, but it was to save them from the
danger of eternal damnation of their eternal souls from the panheresy
of syncretism which unfortunately is followed by the Patriarchate of
Moscow.
THE BETRAYAL OF THE FAITH
A portion of the luke warm bishops of the Russian Diaspora imitated
the traitor Judas. Who knows what promises they received for this
betrayal.
The first Hierarch of the Synod, Metropolitan Vitaly was of advance
age. The traitors persuaded him to resign, so another, younger one,
could take over and "continue" the Orthodox struggle. Metropolitan
Vitaly was convinced, even though he had suspicion that something evil
was in the making. In the Synod, during his resignation, he told the
Synodical bishops, not to give in to the heresy of Ecumenism and not
to give in to the propaganda and petitions of the Patriarchate of
Moscow for union. And the imitators of Judas promised him (falsely of
course) that they would not unite unless the Patriarchate follows
Orthodoxy.
With the election and enthronement of the current metropolitan Lauros
the intentions of the rejecters of the Faith became manifest. They
began the deliberate dealings and love dance towards union with it.
Metropolitan Vitaly knowing that the Moscow Patriarchate, not only
communes with the contemporary Ecumenists, but it is also first to
compete with Bartholomew in the betrayal of the Faith. It communes at
the first opportunity with heretics and all religions.
Following the Sacred Apostolic Canon "he who communes with the
incommunicable becomes incommunicable" he rescinded his resignation
and is the canonical and lawful 1st Hierarch of the Russian Diaspora.
Today, Metropolitan Vitaly is found with very few clergy, Bishops,
priests, and also ecclesiastical communities; continues the line of
the ever memorable Metropolitan Philaret. Accordingly, regarding the
small flock of Metropolitan Vitaly, the answer comes from Saint
Nikiforos, the Confessor, Patriarch of Constantinople who says: "If
only very few remain in Orthodoxy and piety, they are the CHURCH and
the authority and protection of the Ecclesiastical Traditions are with
them."
The Ecumenist, tools of the Zionists, traveling in full apostasy have
to have with them all of the local Orthodox Churches for the way to be
open for the coming of the final antichrist. As we are told by the
Apostle Paul "…let no one deceive you…for that day will not come until
apostasy comes first, then the man of sin is revealed, the son of
perdition," (2nd Thessal. 2:3). This is the reason they desire the
snuffing out of every Orthodox hearth. They have already captivated
all the Patriarchates and Orthodox Churches. Lastly, also the
Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
For this reason they turned their attention towards the subjugation of
the Sacred Synod of the Russians in the Diaspora which had
ANATHEMATIZED Godless Ecumenism. The dark powers for the success of
their lawless objective, used the political leadership of Russia, its
President Mr. Vladimir Putin. The periodical "St. Cyprian" writes in
its Sept.-Oct. 2004 issue, some of the most important steps on the way
to union:
1) The September 2003 meeting in New York, USA of the Hierarchical
representatives of the Diaspora with the President of Russian Mr.
Vladimir Putin.
2) The November 2003 meeting in Moscow of Hierarchical representatives
with Patriarch Alexios and members of the Synod of the Moscow
Patriarchate.
3) The May 2004 visit to Moscow of his Eminence Metropolitan Laurus,
during which, in an atmosphere of prayer communion, there took place a
dialogue of union and there was decided to form Dialogue Committees
and the topics to be discussed.
4) The June 2004 beginning of work by the Committees in Moscow and the
first announcements of common agreements, which were also made known
to both Hierarchs for evaluation.>
Keeping in mind that the whole Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate
convenes at the beginning of this coming October and that the Russian
Diaspora Synod will meet in the beginning of 2005, it can be concluded
that the relative decisions will be swift and dramatic. From both
sides, from Moscow and from the Diaspora, it is verified from official
sources the union has de facto been decided, its implementation is now
a matter of time, because the things uniting, as they are
characteristically called, are stronger than those which divide, in
which things, is included the subject of Ecumenism, which appears to
be of secondary importance. (Periodical "St. Cyprian" Sept-Oct 2004).
From all indications, the betrayal is almost certain.
Let us hope that there remains a remnant of the Orthodox Diaspora
under the Synod of Metropolitan Vitaly, and with the help of our All
Powerful God, remains firm in its Orthodox Confession. We have been
told, that ecclesiastical communities which were under Mr. Laurus
inside Russia have rejected him and are now commemorating Metropolitan
Vitaly as the Canonical and Orthodox Bishop. The same command for
"dialogue" has been received by the Ecumenist Archbishop of Athens
Christodoulos, to attempt to convince the Orthodox of the Patristic
Calendar to abandon their struggle for the Faith. For this reason he
is seeking "dialogue" in order psychologically, find out how to best
over come them. That which is an obstacle to their plans (as they are
prepared to offer them anything and everything in order to have them
abandon their struggle) is the fact that there is more than one Synod.
Therefore, if one Synod is overcome, God forbid, the people and most
of the clergy will not follow but will join one of the other Synods.
The Ecumenists do not retreat and unfortunately, do not repent because
they have been deceived. The "dialogue" will be the same as has been
taking place so many years with the heretics. If they return to the
state the Church was at the end of the 19th century, then the problem
is automatically solved. The betrayal is sad for those who reject
Orthodoxy and place themselves with the pan heresy of Ecumenism. The
Church prays for the return and repentance.
The Orthodox do not falter because of the betrayals of some,
conversely, they are made stronger in the Faith and this makes them
approach, our Lord Jesus Christ even more, and ask for His help to
remain faithful and immovable in our sweet Orthodoxy.
Let us hope that our Lord strengthens us in His Orthodox Faith, while
we continue, in humility and repentance, doing His Most Holy Will, so
that we can be deemed worthy of His divine Mercy. Amen.