The Act of Canonical Communion is Signed and the First Joint Celebration of Divine Liturgy by Patriarch Alexy and Metropolitan Laurus Takes Place in Christ the Saviour Cathedral

On May 17, 2007, the day of the Ascension of the Lord, the Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate was signed. The ceremony of the reestablishment of the fullness of communion within one Local Russian Orthodox Church was attended by President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation, along with other government officials.

From early morning, a multitude of Orthodox Christians of Moscow and pilgrims of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia began streaming to the church.

During the proskomedia, the First Hierarch of the Church Abroad arrived. His Eminence was greeted by the Secretary of the Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on talks with the Moscow Patriarchate, Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff, and the Secretary of the Commission of the Moscow Patriarchate on talks with the Church Abroad, Protopriest Nikolai Balashov. Clergymen of the Moscow Patriarchate emerged from one of the side altar doors to greet His Eminence, and an equal number of clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia from the other side. Venerating the altar-table cross, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus blessed the clerics and worshipers with it, and then entered the altar.

Greeting His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia were the archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and members of the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate, plus Archbishop Innokenty of Korsun and Archbishop Evgeny of Verey, members of the Moscow Patriarchate's Commission, who all emerged together through the Royal Doors wearing white vestments.

As the bells of Christ the Savior Cathedral pealed overhead, His Holiness was greeted by the Dean of the Central Deanery of Moscow, Protopriest Vladimir Divakov, and Senior Priest of Christ the Savior Cathedral, Protopriest Mikhail Ryazantsev.

Donning the mantle, His Holiness blessed the bishops and clergymen with the cross, after which he ascended the cathedra in the middle of the church. As His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II entered the church, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus of Eastern America and New York proceeded to the cathedra. Standing on the north and south sides were the bishops and clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate.

After the troparions, sung in turn by the unified choir of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and by Holy Trinity-St Sergius Lavra Choir, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia read a special prayer which included the words: “As Thee lifted 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 Your 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.”

Then, the Secretaries of both Church Commissions, Mitred Protopriest Alexander Lebedeff and Protopriest Nikolai Balashov read the texts of the decrees of the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate and of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on the confirmation of the Act of Canonical Communion. The text of the Act itself was read from the ambo by Protodeacon Vladimir Nazarkin.

The Act was then signed on the ambo of Christ the Savior Cathedral. His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus of Eastern America and New York put their signatures under this historic document. Then, with the words “Christ is among us! Now and forever,” they kissed each other three times.

Archdeacon Andrei Mazur intoned Many Years to Patriarch Alexy and the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate, to His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and its Synod of Bishops.

Another Many Years was intoned by Archdeacon Eugene Burbelo of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia: “To the God-preserved nation of Russia and her children in the Fatherland and in the diaspora, and to all Orthodox Christians—Many Years!”

Then Patriarch Alexy and Metropolitan Laurus exchanged greetings:

“Joy fills our hearts,” said His Holiness, “An historic event has taken place, which we have awaited for many years. The unity of the Church is restored. This ceremony is precious for the Church, as she gathers her children together, it is precious for our entire people. Church division is being overcome, overcome also is the conflict within society inherited from the days of the revolution. The Church is being strengthened—our Fatherland, too, is being reborn.”

Then His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus spoke, saying in part:

“Your Holiness! Your Excellency! Eminent archpastors, beloved in the Lord fathers and children of the Russian Orthodox Church!

“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!

“First of all, I bring thanks to the great Chief Pastor, our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave us the strength to perform this great deed. On behalf of my fellow-travelers and on my own behalf, I personally express to Your Holiness and Your Excellency the profound gratitude that fills our hearts and souls for the loving invitation to visit you, for your brotherly benevolence and hospitality, and I raise my prayers to the Altar of the All-Highest, that He send His Omnipotent help and heavenly blessing to your zealous labors for the glory of the Holy Church of Christ and our Russian people.

“On this blessed day and in this blessed hour of our spiritual communion, I want to express the hope that the brotherly bonds between both parts of the Russian Orthodox Church would constructively develop and deepen our unity and joint service to God and the Russian people, in the Fatherland and in the diaspora. Amen.”

His Holiness then addressed the Chief of State of the Russian Federation, noting his participation in the work of reestablishing unity within the Local Russian Orthodox Church. His Holiness reminded everyone that a few years ago, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, during a visit to New York, met with His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus and the members of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. “In you they saw a person dedicated to Russia, an Orthodox Christian who serves his people,” said the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church.

In memory of this event, His Holiness gave the President a triptych representing the Life-Giving Trinity, the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the Icon of the Host of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.

The Russian President then addressed those present. He said that the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion is an epochal event not only in the history of the Church but in the life of society in general. This event places an end to the division of the Church in the Fatherland and abroad.

After the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion, a solemn Divine Liturgy began, at the end of which His Holiness and His Eminence exchanged greetings.

After Liturgy followed the opening of an exhibition on the recent history of the Russian Orthodox Church, the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia and the discussions on reconciliation that led to the restoration of brotherly communion and the unity of the Local Russian Orthodox Church.

On May 19, 2007, the birth date of Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus and his fellow-travellers participated in the great consecration of a new church of the Resurrection of Christ and the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in Butovo, on the outskirts of Moscow. Singing during Divine Liturgy, in addition to the Sretensky Monastery men's choir, was the unified choir of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia under the direction of Peter Fekula. At the end of divine services, His Eminence turned to His Holiness Patriarch Alexy and all those in attendance with the following greeting:

“Your Holiness! Beloved-in-the-Lord archpastors, pastors and children of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia!

“Today is both a sorrowful and joyful day. Sorrowful because this place was a place of the suffering and death of a multitude of faithful children of the Church, yet joyful, because the Holy Church now makes eternal their memory by this memorial temple of God. Their podvigi now bind us with stronger spiritual ties.

“As you know, upon the consecration of every church, a relic of a martyr is placed into the altar table. Here, the earth was thoroughly soaked with the blood of the martyrs and sown with their bones, and it shall be as an altar table to Christ our God. Long ago, a prophet said of the persecutors of the Church of Christ and of God's People: ‘I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.'

“May their memory be cleared from the hearts of men, and the Church of Christ established on the Russian land for ages and ages! Amen.

“In memory of today's joint praising of the memory of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, we ask that you accept from us for this newly-consecrated church a gift: an icon of St John of Shanghai with a portion of his holy relics. Vladyka John held sacred the memory of the New Martyrs, and by his efforts, the Memorial Church in Brussels was built dedicated to the Righteous Royal Passion-bearers and all the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.”

Source: Official Site of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

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