Epistle of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the Fifth Anniversary of the Signing of the Act of Canonical Communion

[May 17, 2012]

Dear in the Lord Reverend Archpastors, Honorable Presbyters and Deacons, 
God-loving Monks and Nuns, Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, 
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ 
in sincerity.” (Ephesians 6:23-24)

Today the Russian Orthodox Church marks the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion. This document brought to an end many years of division between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. We remember a great and significant event which marked the overcoming of one of the tragic consequences of Russia’s XX century political and spiritual catastrophes.

During the course of the last century our Homeland and Church were subjected to incredible trials. Churches were destroyed, sacred objects were desecrated, God-given human freedom was trampled upon, the raiment of the Church was torn apart by both internal and external enemies. Millions of our co-citizens died in a fratricidal conflict. A great host of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia were brought to death in the name of Christ by the savagery of the godless persecutors.

The Revolution and Civil War that followed became the cause of a massive exodus of our compatriots from Russia. Millions of them found themselves scattered throughout the world. The Orthodox faith united these refugees, and they carefully preserved the flame of faith, handing it down from generation to generation. But the dramatic historic events also evoked divisions within the Russian Orthodox diaspora.

Orthodox Russia, as it was raised upon the cross, continued to believe in its resurrection. The children of the Church – both in the Fatherland and abroad – prayed with great fervor to our Lord and Savior to overcome this sorrowful division. It is in this hope that we dared to appeal to the heavenly intercession of the Holy New Martyrs.

By the mercy of God the situation in our country changed fundamentally and Orthodox Christians felt as if this was a gift from above. The Russian Orthodox Church obtained full freedom, including freedom in the realm of church-state relations.

Division brought pain to the entire Church, it was the sorrow of the whole nation, and this is not an exaggeration. One needs only to remember how closely our society followed the reconciliation process from its inception. The civil authorities were not indifferent to the process either. In the dialog process we tried to avoid bringing any harm or inflicting any new wounds upon each other. There could be no winners or losers in this process. In the end it was the many millions of members of the Russian Church, whose unity was reestablished, who were victorious.

During these jubilee days we prayerfully remember His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus of Eastern America and New York. On the feast of the Ascension of the Lord, May 4/17, 2007, they sealed with their signatures the Act of Canonical Communion on the ambo of Christ the Savior Cathedral and concelebrated the Divine Liturgy together. We also thank all those who labored to make this unity a reality.

Now, when our communion is reestablished and we commune of one Chalice together, let us bring thanks to the All-Merciful God, Who with His almighty hand led us to our desired unity to the glory of His Holy name and the good of His Holy Church.

Today we can with boldness say that we have fulfilled in deed St. Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia’s testament: “It is specifically in unity, agreed action and brotherly love that power lies.” We can joyfully attest to the fact that the gates of hell (Matthew 16:18) have not prevailed over the Russian Church. She now fruitfully fulfills her salvific service both in the Fatherland and outside its borders.

The five-year period following the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion has proven abundant with good examples of cooperation. There is not enough time to recall the daily examples of cooperation taking place on the local level. Our Church has not only declared unity, but in life has shown itself to be united. It is truly remarkable as to how quickly and easily the barriers dividing us fell. This became possible precisely because we were and continue to be the bearers of the very same Russian Orthodox tradition, we have the same spiritual and moral values which we bring to the world.

Let us preserve the great gift of Church unity, the unity of the people of God, with gratitude and care. Let us resist any attempt to introduce strife and division into the life of the Church, any attempt to shatter the foundations of her canonical existence.

Let us diligently pray for those who for various reasons find themselves outside of unity with the Russian Orthodox Church. Again and again we invite them to commune in the love of Christ, which “seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (I Corinthians 13:5-7).

May the Lord look down with His merciful gaze at our prayers and labors and “bless His people with peace” (Psalms 29:11), the peace which He spoke about to the Apostles before His sufferings: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you” (John 14:27).

Amen.

† KIRILL,

Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia

Moscow,
May 17, 2012