AS ANTICIPATED, the mutual signing of the “Act of Canonical Communion” by His Holiness Patriarch Aleksii II of Moscow and Metropolitan Lavr was performed amid great splendour in the Cathedral of the Saviour in Moscow on Ascension Day, followed by hierarchs and clergy of both jurisdictions concelebrating the Divine Liturgy together.  Much has been reported on this in newspapers, TV and on the internet.  For a secular commentator, Tony Halpin in “The Times” (18/5/07) made one of the most perspicaous remarks, by beginning his report on the event, with the words, “Under the watchful gaze of President Putin.”

Two ROCOR hierarchs refused to agree to the union, His Grace Bishop Daniel of Erie and His Grace Bishop Agathangel in Odessa.  Both issued statements making their positions clear.  On the day after the ceremony in Moscow, a number of clergy of what they called the “Widowed Eastern American Diocese” of ROCOR - [“widowed” is a technical term, implying that a diocese n longer has a Bishop - ed.] -issued a statement separating themselves from the Synod of Metropolitan Lavr and petitioning the two faithful hierarchs to form a Provisional Supreme Ecclessiastical Authority (PSEA).  It appears at the time of going to press that such a PSEA has not been formed, and there has been a vigorous exchange of letters about whether or not Bishop Daniel is prepared to be party to such an idea, some claiming he is, others stating that he was unduly pressured to sign documents, yet others claiming that he is kept under some kind of house arrest.  Much of this sadly echoes the confusion surrounding the departure of the late Metropolitan Vitaly from the Church Abroad some years ago.  Nonetheless Bishop Aganthangel has accepted approximately fifty clergyman from what we must doubtless now call the “Moscow Patriarchate (Outside Russia)” in North and South America.  A number of clergymen have also placed themselves under the Synod of Archbishop Tikhon (RTOC), and still others have adopted the untenable position of remaining with the MP(OR), commemorating Metropolitan Lavr and the hierarchs with him, but refusing to commemorate Patriarch Aleksii II.  We hear that one clergyman in Britain has taken this course, even though it is in direct contravention to a decree of his ruling hierarch, Archbishop Mark. 

The situation at the present seems, as might be expected, rather fluid, and it is probably wisest not to comment more extensively.  However, in one respect the fears of those who were opposed to this union have been fully realised.  The former ROCOR has now entered into full communion with the ecumenist jurisdictions within the Orthodox Church, with those who have accepted the calendar innovation and with those whose canonical status she formerly considered to be doubtful.  Thus there have already been instances of concelebration with clergy of the Orthodox Church in America.  With the blessing of their Archbishop, Kyrill of San Francisco & Western America, St Nicolas Church in Seattle hosted a concelebration of the Washington Orthodox Clergy Association on Holy Spirit Day.  Fourteen priests and five deacons participated.  The WOCA hitherto comprised clergymen of the Greek Archdiocese, the Antiochian Church and the OCA: now MP(OR) are one with them.   At the Ascension Day celebration in Moscow itself, His Grace, Bishop Athanasius (Patriarchate of Alexandria); His Grace, Bishop Niphon (Patriarchate of Antioch); Archimandrite Ignaty (Patriarchate of Bulgaria); Archpriest Alexei Yuschenko (Church of the Czech Lands & Slovakia); and Archimandrite Zacchaeus (Orthodox Church in America) were present.

A further ecumenical dimension to the rapprochement has been added by Cardinal Walter Casper, the head of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, who has conveyed greetings from Pope Benedict XVI to Patriarch Aleksii II following the restoration of unity.  The Cardinal expressed hope that the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion and the celebration of the event would “give an impetus to deeper relations with other Churches in the common desire for a fuller Christian unity.”   In this he speaks the truth, for the confessing voice of the former ROCOR has now been silenced, what was once called the “Conscience of Orthodoxy” has been dulled by this union, and it will now be much easier for Moscow, or her state controllers, to pursue ecumenical aspirations.