An Epistle of the Ruling Archbishop of the Western American Diocese

[May 15, 2012]

EPISTLE on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion

Reverend Fathers, Pious Monastics, Faithful Sons and Daughters of the Church,

CHRIST IS RISEN!

As we continue to celebrate the joyous Feast of Holy Pascha, in which we marvel that our Risen Lord has called the whole world to Himself and brought the dead to life, we are given, by the grace of this same Lord our God, another cause for rejoicing. On the Feast of the Holy Ascension of our Lord, 17 May 2007, the Act of Canonical Communion was signed and the first joint celebration of the Divine Liturgy performed by two hierarchs, now of blessed memory: His Holiness Patriarch Alexeii II of Moscow and All Russia, and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. We have now come to the fifth anniversary of this blessed event, by which the unity of the Church was restored and the healing of the wounds of generations brought to its next divinely-guided step.

Following the signing of the Act on that day, five years ago, our beloved Metropolitan Laurus spoke the following words from the amvon of Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow:

"The first word that Christ said to His followers after He rose from the dead was ‘Rejoice.' The second word that the Lord said to His disciples after the Resurrection was ‘peace be unto you.' And so, on this holiday, we hear these greetings from the Ascended Lord, who granted us the joy of unity and blessed us with His peace. I congratulate all of you with this great joy!"

This was a joy that had been burning in our hearts since the Fourth All-Diaspora Council had been held here in our Diocese almost precisely one year earlier: and how it has been fulfilled by the mercy and love of Christ!

Brethren and faithful of the Western American Diocese: on this significant anniversary, let us ensure that we make real our gratitude to God through the offering of prayers and thanksgivings for the healing of the wounds that human sin had tried to impose upon the Body of Christ. Let us rejoice in the unity of faith and prayer of our Church. And let us remember also that the work of unity is never complete, so long as fracture, pain and the rebellion of despair persist - and so on this day let us recommit ourselves to the ministry of love that is the very heart of our Orthodox life and vocation. Let us love one another, that "with one heart and with one mind" we may make our confession; and let us do as the hymns of Pascha command, that we "call 'brother' even those who hate us" - for the One Whom we adore, Who has risen from the dead on the third day, is He who has the power to overcome all division, schism and pain and draw the world into the love of His Father.

I congratulate all of you, as five years ago Metropolitan Laurus also did, "with this great joy."

† KYRILL, Archbishop of San Francisco and Western America

May 2012