On 2nd December 2017, His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, from the Russian capital, as part of the festivities which the Russian Orthodox Church is organizing for the centennial of the re-establishment of the Patriarchate of Moscow and, responding to the kind invitation of Kirill, Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, addressed the Holy Synod of the Hierarchy of the Russian Church.
Addressing the Russian Hierarchy, the Alexandrian Primate pointed out that he had come “together with the Primates of the other Orthodox Churches and their entourages, so that on the occasion of this festive ceremony, with one mouth and one heart, to praise and glorify the Triune God for the stability and the progress in faith of our sister Church of Russia…”. He added, “I came to celebrate this triumph of the Church of Russia with you, together with the Primates of the other Orthodox Churches together with their entourages. I also came to kneel and to pray for its late Patriarchs, Ss. Tykhon and Sergius, who piloting the shaky vessel of the Russian Church, they led it to a safe harbor and cemented the Patriarchal honour and worth. Their work was continued by their successors Alexios I, Pimen and Alexios II and is worthily continued by you, my beloved Brother and Concelebrant Most Holy Patriarch Kirill, together with the Holy Synod of our Sister Church of Russia”.
Thereafter, His Beatitude said inter alia that: “the Church of Russia was crowned with many martyrs, headed by the martyred Patriarch St Tykhon. It never cut ties with the people, but stood by them and endured together with them through the endless trials… I also came to kneel and to pray for its late Patriarchs, Ss. Tykhon and Sergius, who piloting the shaky vessel of the Russian Church, led it to a safe harbor and cemented the Patriarchal honour and worth”.
In conclusion he wished the following: “I pray that through the intercessions of the Saint Apostle and Evangelist Mark, the founder of the Church of Alexandria which I represent, that our sister Church of Russia may celebrate many more historic jubilees, strengthening and evangelizing the holy and faithful Russian people of God, for their salvation and perpetual praise of the name of the Triune God”.
After his speech, His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros mentioned that he had brought with him an historical heirloom, which he will give as a gift to the Russian Church”. “Your Most Holiness, I would like to give to you, with great emotion, the omophorion of the great ecclesiastical figure of the 16th century, Patriarch St Meletios Pegas of Alexandria. In this omophorion, Patriarch Meletios signed the Patriarchal Tome in 1586, for the reconstitution of the Patriarchate and today, I put it into your hands”, he said addressing His Beatitude Kirill the Primate of the Russian Church.
Patriarch Kirill then replied that he feels great joy for this historic heirloom, expressing his gratitude. “This significant gift, will be placed from tomorrow in the museum of the Cathedral of the Saviour, to remind us always of this day and the past”, he said characteristically, receiving the omophorion.
The entire address of the Alexandrian Primate Theodoros to the Russian Hierarchy, follows
ADDRESS BY HIS BEATITUDE THEODOROS POPE AND PATRIARCH OF ALEXANDRIA
AT THE CEREMONY FOR THE ONE CENTENNIAL OF THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PATRIARCHATE OF MOSCOW
‘I feel an indescribable joy, because I came here, as Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, invited by the old sister Orthodox Church of Russia, to the festive jubilee celebration for the centennial of the re-establishment of the Patriarchate of Moscow, all Russia and Northernmost Territories.
I came, Most Holy and Sacred Brothers, at your invitation, together with the Primate of the other Orthodox Churches and their entourages, so that on the occasion of this festive ceremony, with one mouth and one heart, to praise and glorify the Triune God for the stability and the progress in faith of our sister Church of Russia. This Synaxis sends out the message of the unity of the one catholic and Apostolic Church and reaffirms that the joy of the one Church is also the joy of the other.
This ceremony clearly shows that the Orthodox Church of Russia, tested by so many tribulations, has come through it all undamaged and unscathed, as gold in a crucible, so as to be celebrating festively today the important event of the re-establishment of its Patriarchate during the 20th century. Retrospection into the historical events, shows the truth.
The Russian Church’s struggle for the re-establishment of the Patriarchal institution and the unification under the Patriarch of the divided Russian people, began in the first days of the Bolshevik Revolution. The Patriarchal office was restored at the last moment, just before the take-over of Moscow by the Bolsheviks. On 15 August 1917 the Great Pan-Russian Synod was convened presided over by Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev.
This Pan-Russian Synod, the first since 1721, under the sounds of the canons of the conflicts, elected Metropolitan Tykhon of Moscow as Patriarch, and he was enthroned when the revolutionaries had already taken over Moscow.
However, the new regime, seeking to abolish the traditional power of the Church and its spiritual influence on the people, has taken tough decisions against it.
The re-establishment of the Patriarchate of Moscow is considered to be the most important event after its establishment in 1593. The Church of Russia has said that the re-establishment of the Patriarchal office within the new regime would be a safe guarantee of the regeneration of the Russian people and the preservation of their faith. In the midst of many sorrows and injuries it did not yield, but stood strong and shone with new athlete of faith and piety.
The sorrow of the Church of Russia was lessened through the re-establishemnt of its Patriarchate. The Russian Church was crowned with many martyrs the head of which was the martyred Patriarch St Tykhon. It never cut ties with the people, but stood by them and endured together with them through the endless trials. It played a major role in the struggle for all during the Second World War. The people obeyed their Patriarch and the Church and held with heroic and sacrificial conviction the titanic struggle against the Nazi beast which invaded the Russian homeland.
It is this triumph of the Church of Russia that I have come to concelebrate with you, as have all the Primates of the other Orthodox Churches together with their entourages. I also came to kneel and to pray for its late Patriarchs, Ss. Tykhon and Sergius, who piloting the shaky vessel of the Russian Church, they led it to a safe harbor and cemented the Patriarchal honour and worth. Their work was continued by their successors Alexios I, Pimen and Alexios II and is worthily continued by you, my beloved Brother and Concelebrant Most Holy Patriarch Kirill, together with the Holy Synod of our Sister Church of Russia.
But my joy is doubled, because with my participation in these festive ceremonies the excellent cooperation between the ancient Apostolic Throne of the Saint Apostle and Evangelist Mark and the Patriarchate of Moscow is secured.
I recall clearly the tradition of my predecessors, who always, at every invitation of the Church of Russia and the Russian State, made haste to support in circumstances, to secure the Russian Church and to bless the Russian people of God. Continuing the tradition, the Church of Alexandria and the Church of Russia cooperate in accord in dealing with the various problems facing contemporary mankind.
As examples of our excellent cooperation I mention my predecessor Patriarch Paisios, who came and lived in Russia for a lengthy period to deal with the issue of that great, but unfortunate Patriarch Nikon. I mention also my predecessor Patriarch Christoforos II, who in the middle of war and in winter, by road and by air, came to Russia to attend the election and enthronement of Alexios I, Patriarch of Moscow and hero of the homeland, and to strengthen the Church through his presence. During his stay in Russia he urged Stalin to relieve the pressure on the Church and to protect it, showing that its children, in response to its call, are sacrificed for the Fatherland. For this contribution, Patriarch Christoforos II, received exceptional honours from the Russian Hierarchy and the Russian people.
Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow, Your Beatitudes, Most Holy Brother Hierarchs, concluding my address, I pray through the intercessions of the Saint Apostle and Evangelist Mark, the founder of the Church of Alexandria which I represent, that our sister Church of Russia may celebrate many more historic jubilees, strengthening and evangelizing the holy and faithful Russian people of God, for their salvation and perpetual praise of the name of the Triune God”. And in conclusion, I ask that you pray Most Holy Patriarch of Moscow, Your Beatitudes, Most Holy Brother Hierarchs, for us and for our Church during the Eucharistic gathering and in your personal prayers’ .
