Metropolitan Laurus, head of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, left, and Patriarch Alexy II, leader of the main Russian Orthodox Church sign reunion agreement at Moscow''s Christ the Saviour Cathedral Thursday, May 17, 2007. After a choir sang sonorous hymns, Moscow Patriarch Alexy II, leader of the main Russian Orthodox Church, led the ceremony_which included leaders of church and state_with a sermon praising the ending the formal division.
Photo: AP
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Russian Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church Outside Russia Reunite after 80 Years of Division
All-Russia’s Patriarch Alexy II of Russian Orthodox Church and Metropolitan Laurus of Orthodox Church Outside Russia inked May 17 a Canonical Communion Act to reunite the biggest Orthodox Church in the Christian world with the breakaway branch after 80 years of bitter division.
Patriarch Alexy II and Metropolitan Laurus have sealed today a reuniting pact in Russia’s main church, the golden-domed Christ the Savior Cathedral, after the joint welcoming prayer. The ceremony was attended by President Vladimir Putin and by seven (of 13) archbishops of Russian Orthodox Church and roughly 80 clergy of Orthodox Church Outside Russia.
Christ the Savior Cathedral that is the replica of the cathedral pulled down by Joseph Stalin is generally regarded as the symbol of reviving the church role in Russia. Now, it is overcrowded by parishioners both of Moscow Patriarchate and the ones arrived in the country from the United States, Europe and Australia. Overall, roughly 600 came to Russia from overseas to witness the historic reunion.
The Orthodox Church Outside Russia split off in 1920s, three years after the October Revolution, once the communists started chasing believers and plundering churches. But some of the clergy aknowledged the communist rule and stayed in the country as the Russian Orthodox Church.
Today’s reunion of two churches isn’t a merger, Metropolitan Laurus emphasized. The Orthodox Church Outside Russia will remain in charge of parishioners wordwide. It will maintain autonomy and appoint its own hierarchy, though subject to the Moscow confirmation.
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