Why Did Elder Ephraim of Arizona leave the Russian Church Abroad in 1991?

Why Did Elder Ephraim of Arizona leave the Russian Church Abroad in 1991?

 

The chairman [Metropolitan Vitaly of New York] reports that Archimandrite Ephraim, a Greek spiritual father who recently joined our Church, has left our authority and returned to the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch. This was done under strong pressure from the Patriarch, who threatened excommunication and expulsion from the Church for him, all his followers, and the abbots of five monasteries on the Holy Mountain.

- Protocol #1 of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, 26 June / 9 July 1991.

Russian source: https://sinod.ruschurchabroad.org/Arh%20Sobor%201991%20Prot.htm

 

Letter of Elder Ephraim of Philotheou to the ROCOR Synod of Bishops

Most Reverend Hierarch, Holy Synod, most Holy Bishops of God:

It is with the most deepest respect and infinite filial love that I, the humble and unworthy one, prostrate before Your holy feet begging for your forgiveness for the sorrow and worry that I caused you.

My most Holy Fathers: the general revolt against me was something quite unprecedented.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Church of Greece, the Greek Archdiocese of America, the Holy Mountain and the Greek government, all seemed to violently attack me. Seeing that schism and divisions would have resulted, not only on the Holy Mountain but amongst our Christian brethren, I decided to return.

I knew that for the sake of peace within the Church I had to withdraw. It is something that I am sure You also under similar circumstances would have done.

This is why I believe that because of Your great love which distinguishes You, and for the sake of the Holy Church and the Savior’s fold, You will grant me Your forgiveness and will not cease to pray for me and remember me in your Hierarchal prayers to our Lord Jesus Christ.

I promise that I will definitely never forget You. Even though unworthy, I will never cease praying for you and remembering You when celebrating the Divine Liturgy.

My respect and devoutness to You, O Holy Fathers, will never diminish. I ardently ask of You to pay no attention to the slanderous rumors that I renounced your Church. I could never do such a thing. Please pay no attention to these or other similar rumors that You might hear.

When asked specifically at the Ecumenical Patriarchate for my opinion concerning Your Church, I boldly stated that your Church being Orthodox from every aspect is undoubtedly canonical as far as Apostolic succession is concerned. One point, though, which created some thought within me, was that of ecclesiastical communion with other Orthodox Churches, which unfortunately creates ecclesiological problems.

Truly it is very difficult for You, Most Holy Bishops, to imagine the complications that arose, and what would have been the results if the Ecumenical Patriarchate was to proceed with its decision to depose me.

Therefore, to avoid unnecessary tension within the Church’s fold, I humbly retreated, allowing for the Will of God to be done for all of us. I believe steadfastly that everything will be taken care of in the most blessed way.

Nevertheless, You and Your fold will always be for me the Holy Orthodox Church, which I will always love, respect and esteem deeply for the Orthodox spirit and conduct and Holy life that it leads.

I again ask for Your prayers and blessings to aid me in my salvation. With much filial love and infinite respect toward the Most Reverend presiding Hierarch and all the members of the Holy Synod.

Holy Monastery of Philotheou

1/14th of July 1991

The least of Hieromonks,

Archimandrite Ephraim

 

Source: Living Orthodoxy, #75, Vol. XIII, No. 3, May-June 1991 (actual release March 1992), pp. 13-14.