www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News ROCOR/MP Act of Ecclesiastical Communion Approved!!

A few moments ago, three new items were posted at the ROCOR Synodal website:

1) The official decision of the Synod of Bishops, approving the "Act of Ecclesiastical
Communion".

The Act will come into effect when it is signed by the Patriarch and by Metropolitan Laurus.

This is to be accompanied by a public church service, the date and details of which are to
be set by the two commissions, and then returned to the ROCOR Synod for approval at the
December Synod session.

2) An Epistle to the God-loving Flock, concerning these matters.

3) A greeting to Bishop Evtikhy on the occasion of his nameday.

Alexandr

I just got home when Alexandr posted this thread. The links are:

The Act [synod.com]

Encyclical [synod.com]

Let us pray that this chapter of church history is finished and that a restoration tha is long in coming happens. We are in the last legs of the race.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

I have just been on the phone with a priest friend in Moscow, who has told me that word is passing in the streets. The Patriarchate has not made an official statement yet, but the bells of the Danskoi and Novospassky Monasteries started to peal about a 1/2 hour ago. This is truly a Blessed event. The ramifications are there not only for the Russian Church, but at last there is groundwork for fixing the mess that is Orthodoxy in the diaspora and New World. Maybe now that 85% of all Orthodox Christians are now unified, all hierarchs can sit down and fix the irregularities that exist.

Alexandr

I think that what I am most excited about is that this Act frees ROCOR from the responsibility as guardian and protector of the Russian Church and Russian heritage, and allows her to devote more energy to missionary and evangelistic work, of which her immense printing capabilities are sure to be employed. I quess that my enthusiasm is showing, but I have waited for this for a long time!

Alexandr

Alexandr,

Relax! Offer prayers of thanksgiving, and maybe have a shot of vodka to calm the nerves a little . All that have been following this for the past couple years are very happy and thankful that it has come to this point. Glory to God!

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

This is wonderful news! I am so happy to see Alexandr, our beloved ROCOR poster, so happy too!

In Christ,
Alice

P.S. to Alexandr: How about one of those delicious Greek desserts you mentioned in that other thread along with some Stoli to celebrate?

Prayers of gratitude for this blessing on my Russian brothers and sisters.

Praise God for this wonderful act of reconciliation between churches! Ut unum sint!

Gordo

Unity between christians is always a wonderful thing! Congratulations to all who are directly affected by this event.

Some questions:
We know that the among the Orthodox Communion, Moscow has tended to be more suspicious of Rome and of ecumenical moves between Orthodox and Catholics in the recent past.
Is ROCOR traditionally the same?

What I mean is, will this union be beneficial to unification talks between Rome and the Orthodox world, or detrimental in the short run?

And what about the relationship between Moscow and Constantinople?

I don't mean to throw a wet towel on this wonderful event, just considering the predictable implications.
Filipe

Filipe,

Both groups hold the similar stances. It will not probably help That ROCOR holds a more anti-ecumenical stance than Moscow. In fact ROCOR's encyclical makes some reference to this if you read through it.

Let's take this reunion one step at time and then see how things develop. We rejoice for the time being that a seperation is being healed. This will take precedent before looking outside of the Russian Church can be considered.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Does this mean the members of SCOBA can receive communion in ROCOR churches?

I don't know of any incidents of refusal either way. If anyone knows of a case where a member of a SCOBA church was actually refused communion on that basis alone I would like to see a post on it. Likewise for ROCOR Orthodox being refused in a SCOBA affiliated temple, I have never heard of a refusal actually happening (I could be wrong, but no one has ever mentioned it in my hearing). Perhaps there are some clergy here who have more insight about this than I.

The lack of communion generally affected clergy more than anything. They have not been able to concelebrate, and while cordially attending each others functions the visiting hierarchs would not vest. That should be able to change soon.

Michael

This reunion is the result of the intercession of the Holy Royal Martyrs of Russia, Sts. Nicholas, Alexandra, Alexius et al.

May they continue to intercede for Orthodox Russia!

Alex

I hate to see division within a Church, but...

<personal opinion>

... this is too soon.

</persoanl opinion>

You may disagree. That is your prerogative, as it is mine.

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It will be beneficial in the sense that I think it will be engaged from the appropriate perspective.

Andrew