On
our division
Regarding
the division which occurred in our Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, I
would like to provide a brief clarification on the nature of the
transpired event.
The current division occurred solely on matters of faith.
Our
disagreements began several years before the removal of Metropolitan
Vitaly from his office and became irreversible after his
departure. Unfortunately, from then on the violation of the
principle
of catholicity (principle of sobornost) in our community began in
earnest, and with time, increased further.
The Synod began making
decisions, which did not reflect the conciliar opinion of the entire
Church. One of these decisions, for example, was the cessation of
communion (in order to please the Moscow Patriarchate) with the
Old-Calendarist Churches. Since that matter was not even raised at the
Councils, I never considered this a legitimate Synodal decision.
Similarly,
in opposition to the conciliar opinion of the Church, our Synod decided
to join the MP, which continues to uphold the heresies of sergianism
and ecumenism. This was not approved either at the Pastoral Conference
(at which about 150 members of our clergy were gathered), nor at the
All-Diaspora Council, nor at the Bishops’ Council. In addition,
the
numerous protests by clergy and laypeople were also ignored. Our Synod
took such an important decision in opposition to the conciliar opinion
of ROCOR , having beforehand, carefully hidden their intentions from
the flock and making, from time to time, false official
statements.
In
other words, we witnessed a violation of one of the fundamental dogmas
of the Church – its catholicity. That is why I do not see a future for
those who joined the MP, and consider the restoration of the canonical
order of the ecclesiastical body of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
to be a matter of the utmost importance. That is why our path – the
path of those who desire to remain in the Russian Orthodox Church
Abroad - is the path towards the Vth All-Diaspora Council, which would
adopt measures which would defend the dogma of the Church from attempts
to distort it.
+ Bishop Agafangel
Odessa,
16/29.05.2007.
The Third Day of The Feast of The Holy Trinity.