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I believe many of our clergymen and laymen managed to visit Russia, to meet the clergy and the faithful, to visit shrines and historical places. Literally all those who have visited Russia in the recent years believe it is necessary to continue the already started dialogue with the Church in Russia. Many believe it is necessary to join the process of reviving Russia because in this way we can enrich ourselves both spiritually and intellectually.
This process must involve all the parts of the Russian Church, every Russian person with Orthodox principles. To attain success we need consolidation of spiritual strength of our whole nation. The majority of our clergymen and laymen share the position of the Bishops’ Council and react to the latest events without unnecessary agitation, which is testified by the fact that signature lists handed over to the bishops of the Church Abroad by adversaries of rapprochement have found no support among our clergy and the flock. These signature lists do not represent our flock as a whole, for the signatures were given by an insignificant number of the parishioners in our parishes.
I happened to be in San Francisco in November this year. Archbishop Cyrill conducted much explanatory work there; in the cathedral and during his visits to parishes he informed the flock about his meeting with the Russian President and the Patriarch and shared his impressions. Vladyka Cyrill told me that he returned from Russia a different man. That is why the Western American diocese has a composed and sober attitude to the latest events. I repeat it again: that there is NO agitation about this issue, NO active protests against the dialogue with the Church in Russia. The overwhelming majority of clergymen and laymen trust God and our Bishops’ Council.
Frankly speaking, I become a different man after each trip to Russia. I talked to His Holiness Patriarch, to bishops and priests, and to pious Russian people. I saw living people who feel for the Church, for their homeland. I saw genuine archpastors and pastors. I saw a Russian man who widely opened his heart to me, and I understood he is like me. He understands and aches for the tragedy of the Russian history.
It was enjoyable and touching to see that by labours of hierarchs, priests and the people problems and consequences of the Soviet time are being overcome. I think nobody expected that it would be a triumphal procession. Revival is always accompanied by great difficulties and problems. I believe we should in every way assist and support the healthy forces in Russia. We are obliged to do this being a part of the Russian Church, being Russians who love their historical homeland and their Church, the Church of the new Russian martyrs and confessors, the Church which is adorned by their life, their deeds, their blood and death. Their deeds must touch soul of each of us, and then the dawn will break.
