ÿþ<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="doctitle" --> <title>The Voice Of Orthodoxy</title> <style type="text/css"> <!-- body { background-color: #ecedf2; } .style81 {color: #0C5ADC; font-weight: bold; } .style82 {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; } --> </style></head> <BODY LEFTMARGIN=0 TOPMARGIN=0 MARGINWIDTH=0 MARGINHEIGHT=0> <table width="784" height="111" border="0" align="center" bordercolor="#E9E9E9" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr> <td height="45" bgcolor="#9999FF"> <p align="center"><font size="+6" COLOR = #990000> THE VOICE OF ORTHODOXY</p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="45" bgcolor="#9999FF" valign="top" > <p align="center"><b><font size="+2"> <i>A Bimonthly Conservative Journal To Defend The Apostolic Faith, Morals And Canons Of The Ancient Orthodox Church.</b></i> <strong> <table width="784" border="0" align="center"> <tr> <td align = "left">Volume : XIV</td> <td align = "center">MAY - JUNE 2010</td> <td align = "right">Issue : 3</td> </tr> </table> </strong> <marquee scrollamount="2" direction="left"><i>ORTHODOXY: THE TRUTH BEARER; FOR REQUESTS CALL: 773-480-7273</i></marquee> </p> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="784" height="758" border="0" align="center" bordercolor="#E9E9E9" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr> <td width="164" height="182" rowspan="2" valign="top" bgcolor="#9999FF"><br /> <table width="96%" height="75" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#9999FF"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="153" valign="top"> <table> <tr> <p><img src="../../images/st.mary.jpg" width="153" height="209" /></p> </tr> </table> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eef5f9"> <td bgcolor="#ecedf2" height="14"><table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="98%" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="15%" height="16"><div align="right"> <div align="justify"><font color="#333333" size="2"><width="8" height="9" /></font></div> </div></td> <td align="justify" width="85%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#333333" size="2"><a href="../../default.html">Home</a></font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eef5f9"> <td bgcolor="#ecedf2" height="14"><table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="98%" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="15%" height="16"><div align="right"> <div align="justify"><font color="#333333" size="2"><width="8" height="9" /></font></div> </div></td> <td align="justify" width="85%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#333333" size="2"><a href="../../current.html">Current Issue</a></font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#eef5f9"> <td bgcolor="#ecedf2" height="21"><table width="99%" height="18" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="15%"><div align="right"> <div align="justify"><font color="#333333" size="2"><width="8" height="9" /></font></div> </div></td> <td align="justify" width="85%"><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="#333333" size="2"><a href="../../archives.html">Archives</a></font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </br> <font size="2" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Sponsors &gt;&gt;</strong></font><br /> <table width="98%" height="159" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#ecedf2"> <tbody> <tr bgcolor="#eef5f9"> <td width="149" bgcolor="#ecedf2" height="23"><table cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" width="100%" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td><div align="justify"></div> <font color="#333333" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" class="style45"><b>Coming Soon..</b></font></td> </tr> </tbody> </table></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="EditRegion13" --> <table width="620" border="0" align="center"> <tr> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><b><i>A conversation with the First Hierarch of ROCOR, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York.</i></b></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><b><i> Your Eminence, when did you first visit Latin America? </i></b></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> I first became acquainted with the Latin American region in 1987. The South American Diocese was ruled at the time by Bishop Innokenty (Petrov, 1902-1987). He led an interesting life. Vladyka Innokenty fought in the Russian Civil War and participated in the seizure of Ekaterinburg in July 1918. He was inside the infamous Ipatiev House soon after the execution of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. In 1948, Ivan Petrov (his lay name), made his way to Argentina. In 1957, he became a priest, Fr John. Following the death of Archbishop Afanassy (Martos, 1904-1983) of Buenos Aires, Argentina and Paraguay, he was tonsured a monk and was given control of the orphaned diocese. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L">Bishop Innokenty spent most of his time in Asuncion, Paraguay, which was why the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Vitaly (Oustinov, 1910-2006) sent me to Argentina. I remember that trip fondly. The greatest impression was made by the ceremony of renaming one of the streets of the Argentinian capital in honor of Holy Prince Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L">I traveled to the Misiones Province together with the Rector of Holy Trinity Church in Buenos Aires, Protopriest Valentin Iwasjewicz, where the Russian Church Abroad has two parishes. Visiting with an elderly Ukranian man known as Don Juan, who grew <i>mate</i> tea, which we tried passing around the calabash gourd with a metal pipe called a <i>bombilla</i>. At a luncheon in the town of Tres-Capones, women sang Ukrainian folk songs, which reminded me of my youth, which I spent among Ukrainian emigres. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L">In addition to Argentina, I made visits to Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. In Santiago I was escorted by the Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity and the Mother of God of Kazan, Archimandrite Veniamin (Vozniuk). He showed me the house of Archbishop Leonty (Filippovich, 1904-1971), the Ruling Bishop of Chile and Peru from 1953-1969, and gave me his vestments, sewn of Japanese silk and embroidered with flowers. In Asuncion, I concelebrated with Vladyka Innokenty at Protection Church, and in Montevido, I celebrated Divine Liturgy in Resurrection Church, the only Russian Church in Uruguay. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><b> In your opinion, when did the South American Diocese reach its historic peak?</b> </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> The blossoming of this diocese lasted a fairly long time. In the 1920&#39;s, when a wave of immigrants fleeing the Bolsheviks in Russia reached the New World, a flurry of construction of Orthodox churches began. In the 1960&#39;s, there were four episcopal cathedras: Argentina and Paraguay, Brazil, Chile and Peru and Venezuela. It is interesting that Metropolitan Vitaly, Primate of ROCOR between 1985-2001, was the Bishop of Montevideo and Vicar of the Sao-Paolo and Brazil Diocese in the early 1950&#39;s. He established a monastery in Sao Paolo dedicated to St Job of Pochaev, established an orphanage for boys and set up a publishing concern. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><b> What is the current state of affairs in the diocese, in your view?</b> </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> The South American Diocese is undergoing a profound crisis. There are reasons for this: the lack of clergymen, the infrequent divine services, the dearth of necessary ecclesiastical knowledge, especially in the provinces. All this has had troubling consequences. For instance, in Paraguay, dozens of Russians have married Catholics and now attend Catholic churches. Fortunately, they have not forgotten their roots yet, and when they have the opportunity, they attend Orthodox services. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L">The problem of not having enough clergymen is an onerous one. The Seminary at Holy Trinity Monastery has had dozens of graduates from Latin America, yet a large number of them settled in the USA. Of course, the Church Abroad has people who wish to serve in the South American Diocese, but some do not speak Spanish or Portuguese, others don&#39;t speak Russian, or, in fact, even know Church Slavonic. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L">In January 2010, we suffered a serious loss: a young priest, Fr Rodion Aragon, died, who was recently ordained to the priesthood and appointed Rector of the Mother of God of Vladimir Church in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. Before then, we had no resident priests of the Russian Orthodox Church in Costa Rica. Now the parishioners there are left without a pastor once again. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><b> Maybe the crisis of this diocese is a reflection of the difficulties endured by the Russian diaspora in general?</b> </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> Without a doubt, the two are related. In 1987, I visited that Russian colony in what was a difficult period. Its membership had fallen significantly. Hundreds of Russians, due to material difficulties, left for other places, mostly to the US. Russian organizations faded. The publication of Russian-language newspapers and magazines has almost ceased. Books are no longer being published. Since then, little has changed. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L">But no matter what, Russian people have not lost their firm faith. The new generations are reason for a great deal of hope. During my first visit to Buenos Aires, I met with Russian youth and saw that they are striving to immerse themselves in the Russian spiritual tradition and learn more about the Russian Orthodox Church. Young people are well aware that the only place around which they can come together is the Orthodox parish. I shared my thoughts on this with them. Several years went by, and Sao Paolo then held the first youth conference of the South American Diocese. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><b> The South American cathedra had remained empty for three years since the death of Bishop Alexander (Mileant, 1938-2005). In June, 2008, Vladyka John (Berzins) was appointed to it with the title Bishop of Caracas, and later Bishop of South America. What changes have taken place in the Diocese during his rule?</b> </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> The very presence of a bishop is extremely important. As a result of the age and illness of Mitred Protopriest Vladimir Skalon, the only priest of Resurrection Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Bishop John regularly conducts services at that church. The prayers of the Vladyka bolster the spiritual strength of his parishioners. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L">In September, 2009, the news came that the Argentinian authorities came down in favor of the community of Resurrection Cathedral over the property quarrel with a group of people who went into schism following the reestablishment of canonical communion within the Russian Church in 2007. The schismatics tried to change the Regulations of the Russian Orthodox Association in Argentina, presenting themselves as the juridical person of the Russian Church Abroad with the aim of seizing its property. They removed the President of the Association, Protopriest Vladimir Skalon and introduced new members. Fr Vladimir and Protopriest Igor Bulatov, Rector of Protection and St Germogen Churches in the outskirts of Buenos Aires lodged a complaint against the schismatics with the Ministry of Justice of Argentina. After two years of litigation, the Inspector General restored Fr Vladimir to his post and declared the decisions of the association meetings of 2007-2008 invalid. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><b> What in the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion with the Moscow Patriarchate evoked the dissatisfaction of most of the parishes of the Russian Church Abroad in Latin America?</b> </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> Many clergymen and laity of the South American Diocese have been isolated from the Church. They are little interested in what is happening in their historic homeland and live with outdated conceptions of the Moscow Patriarchate. Therein lies the reason for the fact that more than half of the South American parishes rejected obedience to the hierarchy and joined the so-called  Temporary Supreme Central Administration of the Russian Church Abroad headed by  Bishop Agafangel (Pashkovsky), who was suspended by our Synod of Bishops and defrocked. The parishioners of Sao Paolo have found themselves in a quandary: they are forced to seek spiritual ministry from schismatics, since there are simply no canonical parishes in the city. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><b> What means do you see in healing this ecclesiastical division?</b> </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> The chief way is to pray for those who separated from fullness of the Church. Schismatics must learn to follow decisions adopted by the one Church inspired by the Holy Spirit. In my opinion, in the near future our erring brethren will recognize that being in schism is a spiritual dead end. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><b> How has the appearance of a  South American Diocese with its own  bishop, Gregory (Petrenko) exacerbated the schism?</b> </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> I think that essentially nothing has changed.  Bishop Gregory of Sao Paolo and South America bears no animosity towards the Russian Church Abroad. He is taking a wait-and-see approach, and I pray that the Lord shows him the right path. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><b> How important were the </b><i>Days of Russia</i><b> celebrated in Latin America in October-November 2008?</b> </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> This was a very important event for the participants. The bishops and priests from Russia got to know the life of the parishes of the Church Abroad. The Russian-speaking diaspora were able to pray at divine service celebrated by clergymen of both branches of the Russian Church for the first time. Thousands of Latin Americans, through the exhibition  Orthodox Russia, concerts given by Sretensky Monastery Male Choir and contact with Russian priests, came to behold the riches of Russian Orthodoxy. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><b> How is the relationship between the Russian Church Abroad and the Christian churches of the region developing?</b> </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> In Latin America, we have good, neighborly relations with the heterodox Churches. These are mostly Roman Catholics, and we cannot ignore the Catholic Church. But the Church Abroad rejects any ecumenical initiatives or joint prayers. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><b> Do you maintain contact with government organs in Latin America?</b> </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> Yes, the Russian Orthodox Church has contact with government offices as needed. During the Days of Russia in Latin America, the ecclesiastical delegation was received by the political leaders of a number of countries. But mainly, we work with embassies and consulates of Russia, which always help us. </font></p> <p><a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/authors/838.htm" target="_blank"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><u>Miguel Palacio</u></font></a><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><i> interviewed His Eminence </i></font><a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/authors/1020.htm" target="_blank"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><u>Metropolitan Hilarion</u></font></a><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> <br> <i>Translated into English by</i> </font><a href="http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/engdocuments/enart_latinamerica.html" target="_blank"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><u>ROCOR</u></font></a><font size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"> </font> <br></p> <p><font size="2" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><i>24 / 04 / 2010</i></font> <br> </p> <p><font size="2" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><i>Source:</i></font></p> <p><a href="http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/34983.htm" target="_blank"><font color="#000080" size="3" face="Nimbus Roman No9 L"><u>http://www.pravoslavie.ru/<WBR>english/34983.htm</u></font></a> <br> </p> </table> </body> <!-- InstanceEnd --></html>