The Witness of the ROCA

The Anti-Ecumenical Stance of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

The History of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCA): by St. John Maximovitch of Shanghai and San Francisco. Also see the many excellent links on web site for the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Washington, D.C.

The Meaning of the Russian Diaspora, by St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco. "To the Russians abroad it has been granted to shine in the whole world with the light of Orthodoxy.... But if it does not perform this purpose, and even abases Orthodoxy by its life, the Diaspora will have before itself two paths...."

Ecumenism, by Metropolitan Vitaly.

The ROCA and Ecumenism: a lengthy excerpt from Orthodoxy and the Ecumenical Movement, by Archimandrite Cyprian.

Elder Ephraim on the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

Epistles of Metropolitan Philaret

"We observe, however, that nobody in a higher position than our own is raising his voice; and this fact constrains us to speak out, lest at the Last Judgment we should be reproached for having seen the danger of Ecumenism threaten the Church, and yet not having warned her Bishops."

—Metropolitan Philaret, A Sorrowful Epistle

A Clear Voice for Orthodoxy in the Twentieth Century

The Epistle of Metropolitan Philaret to Orthodox Bishops and All Who Hold Dear the Fate of the Russian Church (1965).

Metropolitan Philaret of New York: a brief article introducing this modern confessor of the faith and clear voice of Orthodoxy.

An Open Letter to Archbishop Iakovos (1969), on the occasion of the latter's participation at St. Patrick's Cathedral in the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity," and the "Ecumenical Doxology" in the Greek Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

Ecumenical Doxology with Archbishop Iakovos, Sunday, January 26, 1969. This was sent to me by a friend of the Orthodox Christian Information Center. For those who have always wondered what went on at these infamous events, this will be an eye-opener.

A Protest to Patriarch Athenagoras: On the Occasion of the Lifting of the Anathemas of 1054.

A Sorrowful Epistle: (1969), the first of three. This is especially helpful for tracing the historical development of the Ecumenical movement. [On this also see Fr. John Reeves' essay "The Price of Ecumenism"].

Fr. Alexander Schmemann Replies to the Sorrowful Epistle, with Fr. Michael Azkoul's "Rejoinder."

A Second Sorrowful Epistle: written two years after "A Sorrowful Epistle." Expands upon the first epistle to include critiques of modernism, ecumenism as a syncretistic heresy involving world religions, and the monophysites.

"The Thyateira Confession": or, Third Sorrowful Epistle (1975).

Various Positions of the ROCA

In the opinion of the Church Abroad, suspending relations between the two Churches did not at all mean that the two were divided. The Church Abroad continues to maintain that all the Russian Churches, the Patriarchal Church, the Church Abroad, and the Catacomb Church, are part of one Russian Church. The question of what part of the Russian Church followed the correct, canonical path, preserving the traditions and heritage of the old Russian Church, is one which, in the opinion of the Church Abroad, can be determined only by a freely-elected All-Russian Local Council of the Russian Church, in which would participate representatives of the Patriarchal Church, the Church Abroad and of the Catacomb Church.

—Hernot Zeide, The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad: Jubilee Collection, Jordanville, 1988, p. 344

The Response to Elder Tavrion, including the "Declaration" of the ROCA Synod reiterating their official ecclesiology in the face of extremist views.

In Defense of Fr. Dimitry Dudko, by Blessed Father Seraphim of Platina.

1983 Council of Bishops Resolution on Ecumenism: discusses the 1983 Anathema; include comments by Fr. Alexander Lebedeff.

Epistle to the Russian Church Flock (1987), concerning the restoration of communion with the Moscow Patriarchate.

Epistle to the Russian Church Flock (1990), concerning the Church Abroad, its history and current relations.

Epistle to the Russian Church Flock (1994), concerning their stance in exile and their relations with the Moscow Patriarchate.

To the Russian Orthodox People (2000): A Statement of the ROCOR Bishops Concerning the Moscow Patriarchate.

Voices of Reason: Responses in Support of the Synod of Bishops of the ROCA Answering Those Who Are Creating a Schism In the Wake of the October 2000 Sobor.

Book Review: of A History of the Orthodox Church in America 1917-1934 by Bishop Gregory (Afonsky). Reviewed by Michael Woerl.