Bishop Hilarion |
I found, on “The American Catholic” Blog, a copy
of the letter of congratulations that Bishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk,
the Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the
Patriarchate of Moscow, wrote to the Right Reverend Justin Welby, the
nominated Archbishop of Canterbury of the Church of England.
I found this extract
from the letter particularly noteworthy: “The
introduction of female priesthood and now episcopate, the blessing of same-sex
‘unions’ and ‘marriages’, the ordination of homosexuals as pastors and bishops
– all these innovations are seen by the Orthodox as deviations from the
tradition of the Early Church”.
I think this
letter is an excellent example of the saying to “call a spade a spade”. The full letter is included below.
Dear Brother and Lord Bishop,
I would like to extend to you
wholehearted congratulations on your election as Head of one of the oldest
episcopal chairs founded by St. Augustine of Canterbury in the 7th century.
You have been entrusted with the
spiritual guidance of the entire Anglican Communion, a unique union of
like-minded people, which, however diverse the forms of its existence in the
world may be, needs one ‘steward of God’ (Tit. 1:7) the guardian of the faith and
witness to the Truth (cf. Jn. 18:37).
The Russian Orthodox Church and the
Churches of the Anglican Communion are bonded by age-old friendly relations
initiated in the 15th century. For
centuries, our Churches would preserve good and truly brotherly relations
encouraged both by frequent mutual visits and established theological dialogue
and certainly by a spirit of respect and love which used to accompany the
meetings of our hierarchs, clergy and ordinary believers.
Regrettably, the late 20th century and
the beginning of the third millennium have brought tangible difficulties in
relations between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Churches of the Anglican
Communion. The introduction of female
priesthood and now episcopate, the blessing of same-sex ‘unions’ and
‘marriages’, the ordination of homosexuals as pastors and bishops – all these
innovations are seen by the Orthodox as deviations from the tradition of the
Early Church, which increasingly estrange Anglicanism from the Orthodox Church
and contribute to a further division of Christendom as a whole.
We hope that the voice of the Orthodox
Church will be heard by the Church of England and Churches of the Anglican
Communion, and good fraternal relationships between us will revive.
I wish you God’s help in your important
work.
“May the God of love and peace be with
you” (2 Cor. 13:11).
+Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk
"contribute to a further division of Christendom as a whole" - So true!
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