Paris, April 18, 2022
Photo: radiofrance.fr
In Orthodoxy, the ecclesiological reference point is the local hierarch, and thus those who say they want to leave the Moscow Patriarchate would, in fact, be leaving their own diocese and hierarch, write the hierarchs of the Paris-based Archdiocese of Orthodox Churches of Russian Tradition in Western Europe.
“In these painful and difficult times we understand that some of you are asking legitimate questions about the position to adopt in the face of the attitude and certain words of our Patriarch,” His Eminence Metropolitan John of Dubna and his vicar bishops write in a statement issued on Friday, April 15.
But, “Guided by the prayers of all and the grace of the Holy Spirit, I encourage you to live in fidelity to your diocese under the leadership of its archpastor, to support him, and certainly not to abandon him. Those who say that they want to leave the Moscow Patriarchate are mistaken: In reality, in this case they would be leaving our diocese and its Archbishop,” the hierarchs encourage.
Recall that the Archdiocese itself decided to return to the Moscow Patriarchate just three years ago, after its status as an exarchate was unceremoniously removed by the Patriarchate of Constantinople to which it formerly belonged, and after Met. John was later unceremoniously released from Constantinople, with the majority of the clergy and parishes expressing a desire to maintain unity and loyalty to their hierarch.
Met. John issued a circular last month blessing his priests to not commemorate Patriarch Kirill in the Divine services if that would better preserve parish unity, while he himself continues to commemorate the Patriarch, although he strongly disagrees with the primate’s stance regarding the fratricidal war in Ukraine, as expressed in an open letter published on March 9.
We must “be aware and vigilant in our reflections on the dramatic war situation in Ukraine,” the hierarchs write.
Read their full statement:
Dear Fathers, brothers, and sisters,
In these painful and difficult times, we understand that some of you are asking legitimate questions about the position to adopt in the face of the attitude and certain words of our Patriarch. It’s worth remembering that our ecclesiology is of great help to us in keeping a just and serene mind. Let us remember that the One Who is at the head of the Church is Christ! Moreover, St. Ignatius of Antioch tells us with great clarity: “Where the bishop is, there is the Church!” This is the basis of our ecclesiology. Your bishop is your servant Archbishop John, Metropolitan of Dubna, whom you have elected by the tradition of Apostolic Succession. It is with me and with my vicar bishops that we live our Christianity, all together: bishops, priests, deacons and faithful, seeking to follow the commandments of the Lord to the best of our ability.
Certainly, we belong to a Patriarchate and are under its protection according to what the Apostles and their successors set up. But with all due respect, our Patriarch is above all, a bishop among the bishops; he is the bishop of the land of Moscow and particularly responsible for convening in Synod all his brother bishops of the churches of the Russian land and its external dependencies in order to discuss the various issues that arise at a specific time. Then he must report to all (bishops, clergy and faithful) on the answers given at this Synod or Council. This is his main function.
It's very clear in this ecclesiology that our reference is the Archbishop. Many of you are grateful that I have tried to be courageous in my positions in the face of the monstrous war in Ukraine. Guided by the prayers of all and the grace of the Holy Spirit, I encourage you to live in fidelity to your diocese under the leadership of its archpastor, to support him, and certainly not to abandon him. Those who say that they want to leave the Moscow Patriarchate are mistaken: In reality, in this case, they would be leaving our diocese and its Archbishop.
We must therefore be aware and vigilant in our reflections on the dramatic war situation in Ukraine.
May the Lord enlighten us, guide us, and above all, listen to our supplications so that peace might return as soon as possible to this martyric country. Beyond our legitimate sufferings, may Christ our true God be the help, joy, and comfort of our hearts and souls.
A blessed Holy Week to all and a beautiful feast of hope that is the Resurrection of Christ!
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