Act of Canonical Communion with the Moscow Patriarchate
Encyclopedia
The Act of Canonical Communion of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia with the Russian orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate reunited the two branches of the Russian Orthodox Church
: the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
(ROCOR) and the Moscow Patriarchate. The accord was signed on 17 May 2007, which for the Orthodox Church in that year was the Feast of the Ascension of Christ.
The ceremony which officially reestablished the fullness of communion between the Moscow Patriarchate, headed by Patriarch Alexei II, and ROCOR, headed by Metropolitan Laurus
, took place at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. The two church leaders met on the episcopal cathedra
in the center of the church. The Patriarch then read a prayer, which said in part:
The two hierarchs then proceeded to the Ambo
, where they signed the Act of Canonical Communion. After official statements by both hierarchs, the service continued with the joint celebration of the Divine Liturgy
by clergy of both churches.
Among the dignitaries present was Vladimir Putin
, president of the Russian Federation
, mayor of Moscow
Yuriy Luzhkov
, presidential envoy Georgy Poltavchenko
, and other government officials. Putin has been hailed by Patriarch Alexius II
of the Russian Orthodox Church
as instrumental in healing the 80-year schism between it and the Russian Orthodox Church outside Russia in May 2007.
, designed to dispatch hundreds of priests who will create "new spy nests all over the world, absolutely untouchable, working under the cover of the church."
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
: the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia , also called the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, ROCA, or ROCOR) is a semi-autonomous part of the Russian Orthodox Church....
(ROCOR) and the Moscow Patriarchate. The accord was signed on 17 May 2007, which for the Orthodox Church in that year was the Feast of the Ascension of Christ.
The ceremony which officially reestablished the fullness of communion between the Moscow Patriarchate, headed by Patriarch Alexei II, and ROCOR, headed by Metropolitan Laurus
Metropolitan Laurus
Metropolitan Laurus of New York was First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, the fifth cleric to hold that position...
, took place at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow. The two church leaders met on the episcopal cathedra
Cathedra
A cathedra or bishop's throne is the chair or throne of a bishop. It is a symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, and has in some sense remained such in the Anglican Communion and in Lutheran churches...
in the center of the church. The Patriarch then read a prayer, which said in part:
As Thou liftedst Thy prayers to Thy Heavenly Father for Thy disciples, that they all be as one, gaze now with Thy merciful eyes upon Thy people, who have sinned and disobeyed Thy will, bless now our good intention and the unification of the Church to Thy Glory, create this Thyself, dampen all church temptations and divisions. Having given to us Thy law to love Thee, our God, and our neighbor, deliver us from all insult and disruption, may brotherly love reign among the children of our Church, in the Fatherland and in the diaspora. Grant that we may now enter Thy temple and bring Thy bloodless sacrifice, that we may be unified in one body through communion with Thy Life-creating Body and Thy Honorable Blood and bring praise with all our hearts to Thy ineffable love for mankind.
The two hierarchs then proceeded to the Ambo
Ambon (liturgy)
The Ambon or Ambo is a projection coming out from the soleas in an Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic church. The ambon stands directly in front of the Holy Doors...
, where they signed the Act of Canonical Communion. After official statements by both hierarchs, the service continued with the joint celebration of the Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Armenian Christians, both of the Armenian Apostolic Church and of the Armenian Catholic Church, use the same term...
by clergy of both churches.
Among the dignitaries present was Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
, president of the Russian Federation
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, mayor of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
Yuriy Luzhkov
Yuriy Luzhkov
Yury Mikhaylovich Luzhkov is a Russian politician who was the Mayor of Moscow from 1992 to 2010. He was also vice-chairman and one of the founders of the ruling United Russia party....
, presidential envoy Georgy Poltavchenko
Georgy Poltavchenko
Georgy Sergeyevich Poltavchenko was the Russian Presidential Envoy to the Central Federal District. He was assigned acting governor of Saint Petersburg in August 2011....
, and other government officials. Putin has been hailed by Patriarch Alexius II
Patriarch Alexius II
Patriarch Alexy II was the 15th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church....
of the Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
as instrumental in healing the 80-year schism between it and the Russian Orthodox Church outside Russia in May 2007.
Critics
Some opponents of the Act, who have left ROCOR, claim that the reconciliation of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was the result of an intelligence operation of the Russian FSBFSB (Russia)
The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation is the main domestic security agency of the Russian Federation and the main successor agency of the Soviet Committee of State Security . Its main responsibilities are counter-intelligence, internal and border security, counter-terrorism, and...
, designed to dispatch hundreds of priests who will create "new spy nests all over the world, absolutely untouchable, working under the cover of the church."
External links
- Act of Canonical Communion text—official English translation (ROCOR Website)
- The Act of Canonical Communion is Signed Article and photos (www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws)
- Photo of signing Metropolitan Laurus (left) and Patriarch Alexei (right)
- Metropolitan Laurus and Patriarch Alexei making commemorations together during the Divine Liturgy
