Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Historic 1996 Proposal for the Convocation of a Council of True Orthodox Bishops Against Ecumenism

Phyle, Attica, Greece

October 2, 1996 (Church Calendar)

Holy Martyrs Cyprian and Justina

 

To His Eminence

The Most Reverend Metropolitan Vitaly

And the Right Reverend Members

of the Synod of Bishops

of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

in the city of New York, USA

 

Your Eminence,

Your Graces,

beloved brethren and concelebrants in Christ!

 

We bow to your godly wisdom with a holy kiss and greet you with love.

We compose this our letter to Your Most Reverend Eminence in the joyful atmosphere of the patronal feast of our holy monastery of Saints Cyprian and Justina, and with a humble prayer for the granting of health of soul and body, and also for the intercession and guidance both for you and from the Most Blessed Theotokos, we address you with the following communication.

At the most recent regular session of our Holy Synod in Resistance (No. 20 / Sept. 29, 1996, church calendar, in Phyle, Attica, Greece), the heresy of Ecumenism was thoroughly discussed and it was resolved:

"To officially propose to the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to convene a Council of Bishops, possibly with the participation of other representatives, of our four Churches—that is, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, and the Greek, Romanian, and Bulgarian Old Calendar Churches—with the aim of holding discussions and issuing resolutions on various matters of common significance for the Orthodox Church today, and especially on the heresy of Ecumenism and its consequences. The agenda, program, and procedure of this Council are to be agreed upon among the four participating Churches through a commission composed of representatives appointed by each Synod. At the same time, to express to the Synod of Bishops of our sister Russian Church our conviction that this matter is urgent, since we have irrefutable evidence that the Constantinople Patriarchate is disturbed by the possibility of this Council and is taking measures to hinder it."

The above-mentioned resolution was presented for discussion to the Holy Synod of the Romanian Old Calendar Church, under the presidency of His Eminence Metropolitan Vlasie, and also to His Grace Bishop Photii of the Bulgarian Old Calendar Church, who fully and unanimously approved it. Therefore, they also sign this letter together with us.

In the hope that you will communicate to us your reply, we kiss you with a brotherly kiss, assuring you of our love in Christ and profound respect.

Your God-wise Eminence’s brethren in Christ,

(signatures on the original)

+Cyprian,
Metropolitan of Oropos and Phyle, Chairman

+Giovanni,
Metropolitan of Sardinia and Italy

+Chrysostomos,
Archbishop of Etna

+Chrysostomos,
Bishop of Sydney and New South Wales

+Michael,
Bishop of Nora

+Chrysostomos,
Bishop of Christianoupolis

+Auxentios,
Bishop of Photiki

+Ambrose,
Bishop of Methone

+Symeon,
Bishop of Lampsakos

+Angelos,
Bishop of Avlona

+Vlasie,
Metropolitan and Archbishop of Romania

+Demosthenes,
Bishop of Neamț

+Gennady,
Bishop of Bacău

+Pachomius,
Bishop of Vrancea

+Photii,
Bishop of Triaditsa

 

Russian source: https://kirillov-v-y.livejournal.com/33636.html

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