Communiqué of the Ecumenical Patriarchate regarding the restoration of unity in the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia

Source: Basilica News Agency

January 15, 2016

The Holy and Sacred Synod further continued its deliberations on January 14, chaired by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

During this session, it was unanimously decided that, for the sake of restoring unity, Metropolitan Rastislav of Presov be recognized as primate of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, on the following conditions accepted both by himself and his supporting group, as well as by those in opposition:

1. His Eminence Metropolitan Rastislav will express his apology publicly for whatever inappropriate and offensive statements he has likewise publicly made against the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Mother Church of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, from which the latter received the faith in Christ, but also against the venerable person of the Ecumenical Patriarch, as well as against Greek-speaking Orthodox Churches.
2. Both opposing groups of the Church in the Czech Lands and Slovakia only recognize as valid the Patriarchal and Synodal Tome issued in 1998 by the Ecumenical Patriarchate pertaining to the proclamation and blessing of the Autocephaly of this Church (Prot No. 1058, of August 27, 1998).
3. A Mixed Committee is created, composing delegations of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia (with the participation of representatives from both hitherto divided groups), whose task is to harmonize the articles of its Constitution with the regulations of the abovementioned Patriarchal and Synodal Tome issued in 1998, being the founding document of the Autocephalous Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, as well as generally to review the Constitution according to what is envisioned by the Holy and Sacred Canons with a view to securing the unity and tranquility of this Church.
4. His Eminence Metropolitan Simeon of Olomouc and Bmo is recognized as an actively valid and canonical Metropolitan of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, freely exercising in his Eparchy and in the Sacred Synod of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia all the rights and obligations deriving from the Holy and Sacred Canons as well as the Constitution of this Church.
5. Despite the manner of their election, the following will be recognized, by dispensation as canonical Hierarchs of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, without establishing canonical precedent:

• Hieromonk Mihail Dardar, as Metropolitan of Prague, and
• Archimandrite Isaiah Slaninka, as auxiliary bishop to the Metropolitan of Olomouc and Brno, with the title of the Bishopric of Sumperk.

Both groups assume the obligation before God and the Mother Church to respect and adhere to the above conditions without deviation, respecting the position and service in the Church of all clergy and monastics belonging to both mentioned groups, without advancing to any action that could further disturb the unity of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia, and restoring the clergy and monastics dismissed from their former positions during the conflict period.