1990-1991 ROCOR Deliberations on Grace in the MP

14. Deliberations of the Bishops of ROCOR (1990-1991) Concerning the Sacraments of the Moscow Patriarchate

 

PROTOCOL No. 2

Sessions of the Episcopal Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, April 26/May 9, 1990 <...>

The Chairman [Metropolitan Vitaly] proposes to the Council to compose a message to the Russian people about the state of the Russian Orthodox Church and the essence of the Moscow Patriarchate. <...>

Bishop Mark believes that it is important to establish the procedure for receiving clergy from the Moscow Patriarchate. It is also necessary to express more clearly our position regarding the sacraments of the Moscow Patriarchate. Until now, there has been no clear official position on this matter, and many, for example, Z.A. Krahmalnikova, believe that the sacraments of the Moscow Patriarchate can be freely received. The basis for our position should be the experience of the New Martyrs, for example, the position on this matter of the Holy Hieromartyr Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan.

Archbishop Anthony of Western America reminds that Metropolitan Kirill wrote that, in the case of extreme necessity, before death, he would have accepted the sacraments of the Sergianists.

Bishop Lazar points out that in all the subsequent decades, the Moscow Patriarchate has gone further in its deviation. <...>

The Chairman emphasizes that this is precisely the position of Metropolitan Kirill, which he derived from life and which is still applicable today. He gives the example of the spiritual rebirth of a young man who sincerely received the sacrament of baptism from a priest of the Patriarchate. On the other hand, the Moscow Patriarchate is sinking deeper and deeper into lawlessness and blasphemy.

Archbishop Pavel asserts that we cannot now resolve the question of the grace of the Moscow Patriarchate. We do not have the information, and we are not authorized to do so.

Archbishop Anthony of Los Angeles objects, stating that if a KGB agent performs a sacrament, then it cannot be grace-filled.

Bishop Lazar says that in Russia, the people easily recognize who is a true priest and who is from the KGB.

Archbishop Pavel believes that there is an analogy here with the Lord's instruction to listen to the Pharisees and scribes, but not to imitate their deeds.

Bishop Mark objects, stating that this is not merely an academic question but a pressing one, and we must provide an answer to those asking from there.

Bishop Lazar conveys the opinion of the Holy Hieromartyr Metropolitan Agathangel of Yaroslavl, which is that if there is no canonical priest and it is necessary in extreme circumstances to receive communion in the official Church, one must choose a priest who is not "red."

Archbishop Laurus agrees that now is not the time to resolve this question. Perhaps in the near future the Patriarchate will be cleansed, and an All-Russian Council will issue its decision.

Archbishop Anthony of Geneva agrees that we do not have the right to resolve this question at the present time.

The Chairman shares the above-mentioned position of Metropolitan Agathangel. <...>

Bishop Daniel adds that, according to church discipline, our parishioners cannot receive communion in the churches of the Moscow Patriarchate.

The Chairman confirms that we warn our flock before their trips to the USSR regarding communion. <...>

 

Protocol No. 6

Sessions of the Episcopal Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, May 2/15, 1990 <...>

Archbishop Anthony of Geneva reads the draft message of the Council of Bishops to the Russian people, composed by the commission headed by Archbishop Anthony of Geneva.

Bishop Lazar believes that the message should mention the participation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the ecumenical movement.

Archbishop Anthony of Los Angeles says that the Moscow Patriarchate has not only no moral right to oppose our presence in Russia, but no right at all.

Bishop Lazar points out that the Moscow hierarchs also have no canonical right to oppose us, as they are subject to deposition according to the 30th Apostolic Canon. <...>

Resolved: To approve the draft message of the Council of Bishops to the Russian people.

From the Message of the Council of Bishops of ROCOR in 1990:

"We believe and confess that in the churches of the Moscow Patriarchate, in those among them where the priest fervently believes and sincerely prays, being not only a servant of the cult but also a good shepherd who loves his sheep, saving grace is imparted in the sacraments to those who approach in faith. These churches are few on the vast expanses of the Russian land."

 

PROTOCOL No. 5

Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, October 8/21, 1991 <...>

Archbishop Lazar reads a report concerning Sergianism and our attitude towards it. He believes that the passage in the 1990 Council of Bishops' message regarding the grace of the sacraments in certain churches of the Moscow Patriarchate is scandalous and proposes to omit the mentioned paragraph.

The Chairman agrees that the mentioned passage in the message is a mistake, and we will correct it. However, determining the grace [of the sacraments] can only be done after a judgment over the Moscow Patriarchate. We acknowledge that they are subject to judgment but not yet condemned. Therefore, we are not in communion with them.

Archbishop Lazar believes that it was unnecessary to mention the grace or gracelessness of the Moscow Patriarchate in the message.

Archbishop Anthony of Los Angeles notes that Father Victor Potapov logically wrote that, based on the Council's message, the faithful can turn to good priests of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Our Church did not speak on this matter for many decades, and in one night, so hastily, an imprudent decision was made.

Archbishop Lazar believes that this passage should be rejected, otherwise many will turn away from us.

Archbishop Anthony of Los Angeles reads St. Basil the Great's response to St. Amphilochius regarding the baptism of heretics. This rule should be followed in relation to the Moscow Patriarchate.

Archbishop Anthony of Western America points out that a mistake cannot be corrected by another mistake, by now speaking of the gracelessness of the Patriarchate. At present, we cannot claim to be above the All-Russian Council. This should be decided by the All-Russian Council.

Archbishop Anthony of Los Angeles says that because of this message, our enemies are laughing at us. He quotes a remark by Priest Michael Ardov on this matter, as well as by Patriarch Alexy II.

The Chairman believes that we should respond that we are not given the authority to judge the Moscow Patriarchate, and we made a mistake in our assertion about the grace of certain priests.

Bishop Daniel says that the unfortunate wording regarding the grace of certain priests may have arisen from the fact that not all priests of the Moscow Patriarchate are traitors and betrayers.

The Chairman agrees with this.

Resolved: 1) To appoint an editorial commission consisting of His Eminence Archbishop Mark and Bishop Gregory, who will propose a resolution on this issue. <...>

 

PROTOCOL No. 7

Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, October 8/21, 1991 <...>

Bishop Gregory proposes the commission's draft for the correction of the 1990 Message.

Resolved: To accept the proposed draft of the commission:

"It was adjudged that, due to a misunderstanding, the paragraph about well-intentioned clergy, remaining in the ranks of the Moscow Patriarchate out of ignorance, was mistakenly included in the text of the 1990 Council of Bishops' message (the eleventh paragraph from the end)."

Resolved: To exclude the above-mentioned paragraph from the message and republish the corrected text of the message [from the compiler's archive].

 

From the compiler: As Metropolitan Vitaly defined regarding the sacraments of the MP:  "Determining grace can only be done after a judgment over the Moscow Patriarchate. We acknowledge that they are subject to judgment, but not yet condemned," and "we are not given the authority to judge the Moscow Patriarchate, and we made a mistake in our assertion about the grace of certain priests." Archbishop Anthony of Western America added, "A mistake cannot be corrected by another mistake, by now speaking of the gracelessness of the Patriarchate. At present, we cannot claim to be above the All-Russian Council. This should be decided by the All-Russian Council." Archbishop Anthony of Los Angeles remarked, "Our Church did not speak on this matter (i.e., the grace or gracelessness of the MP's sacraments – VK) for many decades, and in one night, so hastily, an imprudent decision was made." Metropolitan Vitaly and, in general, the Council of Bishops "agreed that the mentioned passage in the message [of the ROCOR Council of Bishops in 1990 – VK] is a mistake," and thus the decision was made: "To exclude the above-mentioned paragraph from the message."

 

Source: Анафема РПЦЗ экуменизму: факты и значение (Новая редакция) [The Anathema of ROCOR Against Ecumenism: Facts and Significance (New Edition)], by Subdeacon Vladimir Kirillov, 2023, pp. 246-249.