Metropolitan Vitaly: Does the ROCOR have the Right to Judge the Heads of the Local Churches?

December 18, 1996 / January 1, 1997

Your Eminence, Most Reverend Vladyka,

To the inquiry and proposal of the Greek Old Calendarist Metropolitan Cyprian regarding a joint decision with us to condemn the ecumenical delusions of the Ecumenical Patriarchs, I wish to propose to the members of the Hierarchical Synod the following response:

On this 28th/15th day of the month of January, 1997, at the session of the Hierarchical Synod, the aforementioned proposal was discussed and the following decision was rendered:

There is no doubt that the Ecumenical Patriarchs, together with other heads of the local Orthodox Churches, by actively participating in Ecumenism, have placed themselves on the judgment seat. However, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia does not deem itself to possess such authority and right as to pronounce judgment over them, leaving this responsible matter to a possible lawful future Ecumenical Council. Any other attempt at condemnation would be a pitiable spectacle, incompatible with our honorable seventy-five-year-long steadfast canonical stand on the path of the thousand-year history of the Russian Church.

Of blessed memory, Metropolitan Philaret, in his time, sent out his "Sorrowful Epistle" to all the Ecumenical Patriarchs. We can only intensify this epistle by stating that the Ecumenical Patriarchs are now in danger of losing the precious gift of God—freedom—by receiving directives and “advice” from the central administration of Ecumenism in the notorious Geneva itself.

Your sincere well-wisher,

Metropolitan Vitaly

 

Russian source: https://kirillov-v-y.livejournal.com/33147.html