Translator's note: What is most noteworthy regarding this meeting between Metropolitan Kallistos (a hierarch of very strict Old Calendarist confession) and the ROCOR Synod was that the Russian Church Abroad had previously and officially declared that they did not judge New Calendarists as heretics or actual schismatics, or lacking grace in their Mysteries. Yet, Metropolitan Kallistos still considered the Russian Church Abroad as Orthodox and deeply desired communion with it.
Minutes of
Protocol #5, July 26 / August 8, 1983
8. At the session arrives the
Greek Archbishop [Metropolitan] Kallistos [of Corinth]. He expresses joy at
being at the Synod, seeing Metropolitan [St.] Philaret, and asking for the
blessing of the Synod. Then he recalls how he, together with other bishops of
Archbishop Matthew [Karpathakis of Athens], was received into communion with
the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, which was received in Greece with great
joy, as was expressed in the printed organ of their Church. However, the union
with the Church of Archbishop Auxentios [of Athens], which the Synod Abroad
desired, did not take place. Neither one group nor the other truly desired
reconciliation and union. After this, Vladyka Kallistos arrived in Boston,
where he met with Archbishop Vitaly [of Montreal]. Vladyka Vitaly told him not
to worry, for he would remain in union with the Russian Church.
The Matthewites opposed it, and
then Vladyka Kallistos joined Archbishop Auxentios. But he also [i.e.,
Auxentios], forgetting his communion with the Russian Synod, later refused to
sign a letter to Metropolitan Philaret testifying to this, and began to act
against him. He received the [ROCOR Portuguese] priest Gabriel [da Rocha] without
a letter of release [in 1978]. When they came to Archbishop Auxentios and asked
him to consecrate such bishops who would be loyal to the Russian Synod, he
crossed out their names and named others. Then Bishops Kallistos and Anthony [of
Megara] consecrated eight hierarchs for Auxentios [in 1979], but he refused to
accept these bishops and consecrated others. After this, the Romanian Old
Calendarists came to Greece. They were advised to become acquainted with all
the groups, although they immediately favored the group of Kallistos, as one
being in communion with the Russian Church Abroad. [Vicar] Bishop Silvestru
also came from Romania, who had been consecrated by one bishop, and Kallistos
corrected his consecration. Then from Italy appeared a certain [heterodox]
"bishop" Giovanni [Bascio]. After investigation, he was baptized and consecrated
for Italy. He has ten members of his clergy. Residing in a women's monastery
near Athens, Metropolitan Kallistos endured many sorrows for his desire to be
in communion with the Russian Synod and for the benefit of that communion and
unity. He has seven bishops. They are applying every effort for their Church to
develop, but they need the support of the Russian Synod. In America, they have
four priests.
Bishop Mark [of Berlin] poses a
question regarding the uncanonical reception by a bishop from Metropolitan
Kallistos' group of our subdeacon Peter, who was re-baptized and ordained a
priest.
Metropolitan Kallistos replies
that he knows nothing about this case. He will return to Greece and conduct an
investigation. If this error is not corrected, he will leave his group and
remain alone. This was his confession. It is for the Synod to decide how to
proceed. He asks to be informed of the decision.
After this, Metropolitan
Kallistos takes his leave. Sympathy is expressed to him and he is warned that
the decision will not follow immediately.
A 15-minute break is announced,
after which the session continues at 6:20 in the evening.
<...>
10. They return to the discussion
of the response to the address of Metropolitan Kallistos.
Various proposals are expressed,
mainly concerning the reception into liturgical communion of Metropolitan
Kallistos alone.
Bishop Gregory [of Washington and
Florida] considers that the matter with [Subdeacon] Peter gives reason not to
pass judgment until all the circumstances are clarified. As for receiving
Metropolitan Kallistos alone, Archimandrite Panteleimon [Metropoulos] should be
asked what effect this will have in Greece.
The Council accepts this
proposal.
Russian source:
http://sinod.ruschurchabroad.org/Arh%20Sobor%201983%20Prot.htm
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