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The clergymen of the Eastern Canadian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia declare pro unity with the Moscow Patriarchate ( 11.04.2006 )

Metropolitan Laurus

On 30-31 March 2006, during the preparations for the Fourth All-Diaspora Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the clergymen and laity of the Eastern Canadian Diocese of ROCOR gathered for their annual Great Lenten Pastoral Retreat and Conference, and to participate in the meeting of the Diocesan Council. At the meeting, headed by the First Hierarch of the ECD, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, and the Administrator of ECD, His Grace Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan, exhaustively was examined the issue about restoration of the unity with the Moscow Patriarchate. The participants of the meeting positively assessed the moving in the direction of unity of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church in the Fatherland. The resolution of the meeting states: “There is not and cannot be among our Diocese's clergymen anyone who would resist Church unity. All disagreements in this regard, when they arise, are connected with searching for the right path to such unity, the means of attaining it in the Spirit and Truth of Christ. Only in this is there a sign which shall be spoken against (Luke 2:34). Such speaking against, we hope, will lead not to division, but to the opposite—to conciliar wisdom, which is granted by the Lord in response to the persistent prayerful appeal of a heart seeking the Truth. We believe that the Spirit of conciliarity [catholicity], that is, true wisdom, through our common earnest prayers will be sent down into the hearts of our good archpastors, so that any decision connected with the desired unity of the Russian Church would be adopted in Christ's Truth, without which true Church unity cannot exist.”

Source: The Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate