We,
the humble Alexy II, by God's mercy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia,
jointly with the Eminent Members of the Holy Synod of the Russian
Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, having gathered at a meeting
of the Holy Synod (date) in the God-preserved city of Moscow; and the
humble Laurus, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, First
Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, jointly with
the Eminent Bishops, members of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian
Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, having gathered (time, place);
Being
guided by the effort towards reestablishing blessed peace,
Divinely-decreed love, and brotherly unity in the common work in the
harvest-fields of God within the Fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church
and her faithful in the Fatherland and abroad, taking into
consideration the ecclesiastical life of the Russian diaspora outside
the canonical borders of the Moscow Patriarchate, as dictated by
history;
Taking into account that the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia performs its service on the territories of many nations;
By this Act declare:
1.
That the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, conducting its
salvific service in the dioceses, parishes, monasteries, brotherhoods,
and other ecclesiastical bodies that were formed through history,
remains an indissoluble, self-governing part of the Local Russian
Orthodox Church.
2.
That the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is independent in
pastoral, educational, administrative, management, property, and civil
matters, existing at the same time in canonical unity with the Fullness
of the Russian Orthodox Church.
3. The
supreme ecclesiastical, legislative, administrative, judicial and
controlling authority in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
is her Council of Bishops, convened by her Primate (First Hierarch), in
accordance with the Regulations [ Polozheniye ] of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
4. The
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is
elected by her Council of Bishops. This election is confirmed, in
accordance with the norms of Canon Law, by the Patriarch of Moscow and
All Russia and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.
5. The
name of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the name of the
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia are
commemorated during divine services in all churches of the Russian
Orthodox Church Outside of Russia before the name of the ruling bishop
in the prescribed order.
6.
Decisions on the establishment or liquidation of dioceses of the Russian
Orthodox Church Outside of Russia are made by her Council of Bishops in
agreement with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy
Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church.
7. The
bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia are elected by
her Council of Bishops or, in cases foreseen by the Regulations of the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, by the Synod of Bishops. Such
elections are confirmed in accordance with canonical norms by the
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod of the Russian
Orthodox Church.
8. The bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia are members of the Local Council [ Pomestny Sobor ] and Council of Bishops [ Arkhiereiskij Sobor ]
of the Russian Orthodox Church and also participate in the meetings of
the Holy Synod in the prescribed order. Representatives of the clergy
and laity of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia participate
in the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in the established
manner.
9. The
supreme instances of ecclesiastical authority for the Russian Orthodox
Church Outside of Russia are the Local Council and the Council of
Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church.
10.
Decisions of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church extend to the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia with consideration of the
particularities described by the present Act, by the Regulations of the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and by the legislation of the
nations in which she performs her ministry.
11.
Appeals on decisions of the supreme ecclesiastical court of the Russian
Orthodox Church Outside of Russia are directed to the Patriarch of
Moscow and All Russia.
12.
Amendments to the Regulations of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of
Russia by her supreme legislative authority are subject to the
confirmation of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy
Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in such case as these changes bear a
canonical character.
13. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia receives her holy myrrh from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
By this Act, canonical communion within the Local Russian Orthodox Church is hereby restored.
Acts issued previously which preclude the fullness of canonical communion are hereby deemed invalid or obsolete.
The
reestablishment of canonical communion will serve, God willing, towards
the strengthening of the unity of the Church of Christ, of her witness
in the contemporary world, promoting the fulfillment of the will of the
Lord to “gather together in one the children of God that were scattered
abroad” (John 11:52).
Let us
bring thanks to All-Merciful God, Who through His omnipotent hand
directed us to the path of healing the wounds of division and led us to
the desired unity of the Russian Church in the homeland and abroad, to
the glory of His Holy Name and to the good of His Holy Church and Her
faithful flock. Through the prayers of the Holy New Martyrs and
Confessors of Russia, may the Lord grant His blessing to the One Russian
Church and Her flock both in the fatherland and in the diaspora.
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