St. Philaret of New York: Faithfulness to the Truth

 

I would like to say a few words to you concerning the temptation which is spreading everywhere like a wide flooding river. This is the temptation of the so-called ecumenism, which urges all people to unite, regardless of whatever faith they may profess; uniting everyone, in order to create what they call the true church of Christ. I wish to briefly draw your attention to the following: those who urge us to participate in this ecumenism say: every church, every denomination possesses a certain portion of Christianity, of the truth of Christ, therefore every denomination is obligated to contribute its portion of the truth into this common spiritual treasury and in this manner one church will be created. In other words, it is proposed to every denomination that they acknowledge that their faith is not completely true, but only in some part, while the rest, being falsehood and in error, must be rejected upon entering into this artificial union. But one must be completely aware of what is being required of us through this appeal to join ecumenism. Here is what we are required to do: we must declare that we only possess a portion of the truth, as they said; this means that our Faith is not completely true, not all Orthodox teachings are Truth, but merely some part, the rest being in error.

Which Orthodox person would agree to recognize that in his holy Orthodox faith something is amiss, that it is only partly just and true? Never will any firm Orthodox Christian conscience accept this. Nowadays people's consciences have become too flexible when they agree to many things such as this, which a Christian conscience must not accept. Who among us would agree to accept that in our Faith something is incorrect? In that case, what would holy St. Seraphim of Sarov and the holy righteous batushka Father John of Kronstadt, who lived according to this Faith, who glorified it and rejoiced in it then say to us? And then, what would they say to us if we started to say that not all is correct in this Faith? They would repudiate with indignation not only our words but us as well.

So let us remember, that already for this reason alone it is impossible for us to enter into this ecumenism. Our Orthodox Church knows that She stands in the Truth. She offers this Truth to everyone; She reveals it to all; She does not conceal it within Herself hidden away, unknown to others, but invites all to recognize this Truth. But She can never deny this Truth, nor will She ever deny it, nor will She ever recognize Her Truth to be falsehood and agree to this madness.

Therefore, for us there can be no place where there is talk of ecumenism, because its attractive exterior side nonetheless covers up that falsehood about which I just told you. Remember well, beloved ones: our Orthodox Church possesses the entire fullness of Truth, and not some mere portion of it.

The Orthodox Church maintains the Christian Faith the same as the holy apostles passed it down to us.

Even the Catholics agree that it is primarily in the Orthodox Faith that everything is preserved just as it was during the holy apostles' time. They merely defend their innovations, and in not recognizing these we carefully persevere in preserving that which the holy apostles and holy fathers have given us as our most precious inheritance. And we must never agree to enter into such company where we would be told: you have only a portion of the truth and all the rest is in error.

Let them go their own way, if they do not wish to recognize that we possess the complete, pure Truth -that is their business, and we cannot go along with them. The Orthodox Church carries Her sacred contents, Her Faith, and will thus carry it through until the end of the existence of the human race here on earth. Therefore, let us thank God even more and appreciate that we are the children of the Russian Church Abroad, the Church which has made it its goal to preserve inviolate our holy faith, our primordial Russian, Orthodox piety, and to preserve it in that form in which our pious ancestors preserved it, and to carry this pure glad tiding until the day for which we all hope. That blessed day will come when the Lord will have mercy on the Russian land and Russian people, and piety will be enthroned there, as it once had been in Holy Rus'. But while we live this lot in exile, while we belong to this Russian Church Abroad, I repeat again, let us thank the Lord for this and try to be true to Her in every way.

These days, frequently a person falls away because of worldly reasons, because of earthly benefits, seeking earthly well-being. But which Orthodox person does not remember that no matter what a person may seek or strive for, death will put an end to it all, and beyond death lies having to answer before the Divine Truth, answering the foremost question - were you faithful to the Lord Savior, the Divine Establisher of the Church, and to His Holy Church and Her Truth? And if we preserve this faithfulness, then our lot in eternity will be blessed, and if not, we will face inescapable grief and sorrow.

Let us also remember how inconsistent a human is in pursuing good, and therefore let us pray to the Lord, that by His omnipotent power, Hе make us steadfast in preserving the purity of the Truth and steadfast in goodness, so that we may not succumb to any contemporary enticements. How full of all sorts of things is our current life! All types of vain activity, all filth and shamelessness! How much malice, falsehood, how many lies and deception there are!

Life has now become difficult; life has become perverted and filthy as never before; and it is difficult for a Christian to pave his narrow path amongst all this vain commotion and filth of which life is now full. And since we are unstable, for we easily succumb to temptation, since we are not firm in goodness, we must beseech the Lord that the Lord strengthen us, so that we are not merely called, but that we be genuine Orthodox Christians. Amen.

 

Russian source: Sermons and Teachings of His Eminence Metropolitan Philaret, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, vol. I, published by the Russian Orthodox Youth Committee in honor of his 50th anniversary of ordination (1931-1981), pp 18-21. It is noteworthy that this is the first sermon printed in the book, rather as if it were a basic position statement.

English source: Living Orthodoxy, Vol. XXX, No. 3; May-June 2010, #177, pp. 17-18.