The Shepherd, February 2006
NEWS SECTION
BIBLICAL MIRACLE AT THE JORDAN
MOSCOW, 24th January, Interfax reports that: “Some five thousand pilgrims from various countries became witnesses to a sign that appeared on the holy River of Jordan on the Epiphany Day. Immediately after Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem performed the rite of the blessing of water, the Jordan boiled up and began to flow back, just as it happened after the baptism of Christ…. Right after silver crosses were thrown into its calm waters after the prayer, the river boiled up. A maelstrom developed and the current flowed back for several minutes. An ecstatic cry of five thousand people resounded over the Jewish desert. People refused to believe their own eyes, just as they did two thousand years ago when the Jordan turned its current after Jesus Christ entered its waters, the newspaper (“Zhizn”) writes.”
PATRIARCH’S INTERVIEW
THE BBC Russian Service conducted an interview with His Holiness Patriarch Aleksii of Moscow at the end of December. The interview ranged over a number of subjects, and there follows an extract concerning the Moscow Patriarchate-Russian Church Abroad rapprochement process:-
“- What is the state of affairs in the reunification with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia? Many people expected the communication in Eucharist to be restored this year. What about next year?
“- The dialogue with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia is fairly successful. It is premature to tell when the dialogue will end as yet. Five joint sessions of the Committees of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia have been held. Many issues have already been solved, which gives us hope that the remaining problems will also be settled. Our Bishops Council has approved of the position of the Moscow Patriarchate. We are now waiting for the General Council of the ROCOR, which will take place in May 2006, and for its decisions. We have already restored the communication in prayer. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia delegation, led by Metropolitan Laurus, took part in Patriarchal services during their visit. But the eighty years of division have undoubtedly left their scars in people’s souls and minds. This division must be overcome. But the political reasons which led to the establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia are now non-existent.
“- Will the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia remain autonomous if the reunion does take place?
- Yes, we believe that they must enjoy considerable autonomy. But the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church must be prayed for at the services, which will manifest the unity of the Church.
“- The parishes of the Russian Exarchate of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, of which there are many in Europe, have not joined the talks yet, have they?
“- Well no. Some clergymen are in favour of rapprochement, others are against it, we still cannot boast any great success there, but we are always open for dialogue and co-operation. We are still remembering the late Archbishop Sergius, during whose reign the communication in prayer between us was restored. It was a real breakthrough.”
CHURCH DESTROYED IN GREECE
THE RENOWNED Church of Saint Mavra in Zakynthos was totally destroyed by fire on Thursday, 11th December. The beautiful 400 year old Church contained a miracle working Icon (often wrongly called the Black Madonna) of St Mavra. The Icon was heavily decorated with gold and silver gifts including a medallion from a Russian Emperor. The Icon also was destroyed and is irreplaceable. Sadly now thieves are trying to take the Church valuables from the ruins. A correspondent there writes: “I think they caught someone who tried to get away with the golden Chalice. The Church no doubt in time can be rebuilt, but the history, icons and frescoes are gone forever.”
AN ODD DECISION
AN INTERNET POSTING of 29th December, 2005, reported: “The Russian Orthodox Church said on Wednesday that it had frozen relations with the Swedish Lutheran Church over its decision to bless gay unions, declaring that homosexuality was a ‘sin and a vileness.’ ‘The benediction of homosexual relationships endorses the approval of a deformation of the image of God in man, a deformation of his nature,’ the Russian church said in a document published Wednesday on its official website. The Lutheran Church announced in late October it would guarantee same-sex partners the right to religious blessings of their civil unions after an overwhelming vote by the church's assembly. The Russian church hierarchy said it was compelled ‘to announce a freeze in bilateral relations’ and that the Swedish church’s decision marked ‘a discrepancy towards the principal values of Christian morals.’ ‘This initiative undermines the foundations of European civilisation and strikes an irreparable blow to its spiritual influence in the world,’ said the statement adopted by the Orthodox church’s synod on Tuesday. ‘It is obvious this decision goes against biblical doctrine on family and marriage, the Scriptures leave no doubt as to the fact that homosexuality should be considered as a sin and a vileness,’ the statement added. Gay couples enjoy the same rights as married couples under Swedish law but while the public commonly refers to gay unions as ‘marriages’ they are officially called ‘partnerships.’ More than 380 Swedish priests have denounced their church’s decision, saying it runs counter to doctrine defining marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. A government-appointed committee is examining whether Sweden ought to change its 1987 marriage law to make it ‘gender neutral,’ eliminating the last distinction between heterosexual marriages and homosexual unions after gays in February 2003 were granted the right to adopt children.” It is completely understandable that the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) objects to the blessing of homosexual unions and it would be deplorable if they did not. One can even understand their use of rather un-PC language in speaking of the subject, but it does seem rather odd that it is this matter and none other that has caused the Patriarchate to “freeze relations” with the Swedish Lutheran Church. One might have hoped that matters of Faith and Church Tradition would have induced them to make this move long ago. Perhaps this was simply the straw that broke the camel’s back, or perhaps an excuse to back out of a profitless ecumenical endeavour.
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