GREETING OF THE SPECIAL CONVOCATION OF THE PATRIARCHAL PARISHES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO HIS ALL-HOLINESS, MOST HOLY PATRIARCH KIRILL

(printable version available at end of page)

Your All-Holiness, Most Holy Master and Father!

In the days of the Radiant Paschal Feast, when “springtime is fragrant and the new creation rejoices” (exapostilarion of Antipascha) in the Resurrected Savior, we, the delegates of the Special Convocation of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, greet you, Your All-Holiness, with filial devotion and the joyous exclamation:

CHRIST IS RISEN!

 Sharing the joy of Christ’s Resurrection with the entire plenitude of the Russian Orthodox Church, the clergy and laity of the Patriarchal Parishes have gathered at the Church of the First-Ranked Apostles Peter and Paul in Passaic, New Jersey, to prayerfully celebrate the triumph of Life over death, as well as to consider issues that have remained unresolved for many years, for diverse reasons.

For several decades, the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA have endeavored to build up the life of their church communities in accord with the canons of the Universal Church and the decisions of the Hierarchy of our Church, while taking into account the legal norms that prevail in the United States. Over time, modifications had occurred in the fundamental norms which regulate Church – State relationships, thus time and effort were required to find an acceptable alternative that would not contradict either the Statute of the Patriarchal Parishes, or local legislation.

 Today, at a Special Convocation chaired by His Eminence, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, with the participation of delegates from the majority of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States of America, we have been successful in concluding the task of structuring the Corporation of the Patriarchal Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in full conformance with applicable norms of American legislation.

 With love in the Resurrected Christ, and with filial devotion, we ask for the blessings of Your All-Holiness, as well as prayers for the flock entrusted to Your care in the United States of America.

 25-26 April 2014

 Passaic, New Jersey (USA)