NIZHNY NOVGOROD: May 25, 2004

Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany:
"Unification of the Churches is a Matter of Time"

The question of the unification of the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) is practically decided. At this time the delegation of ROCOR is traveling throughout Russia at the invitation of Patriarch Alexy II of All Russia and President Putin. Our brethren in the faith are acquainting the descendants of Russian _migr_s with the holdings of the ROC and are showing them the holy sites that representatives of ROCOR could not visit before. In Nizhny Novgorod, the President of the committee on discussions on the unification of the two churches on the ROCOR side, Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, gave an exclusive interview to Tatyana Vitebskaya, correspondent for Izvestia.

Vladyka Mark, how do you evaluate the negotiations being held by your delegation and Patriarch Alexy II of All Russia?

The Church Abroad lived for 80 years with the knowledge that it is an indissoluble part of the Russian Church, without electing a patriarch for itself. At the same time, we know that the ROC was subjected to persecutions in the USSR, so we could not come into contact with it—it was not free. The Regulations of our church state that as soon as the godless regime disappears, we are obligated to enter into contact with the Church in Russia. This is what we are now doing. We had meetings with His Holiness the Patriarch, the members of the Synod and the committees on the negotiations. The secretary of our committee said that he did not expect how quickly he would gain mutual understanding with the secretary of the other committee.

In what way do your views correspond with those of the ROC, and in which matters do you disagree?

Naturally, we have a great deal more that unites us: one faith, one Lord and one cross. We diverge in secondary, external matters: let us say, the relationship with the state, the relationship of the church with the heterodox. During the godless regime in Russia, the Church had to find a way to survive. And it did it in such a way that we could not accept as correct. For example, it was a bitter experience for us while speaking out in defense of the Pochaev Lavra, which was under threat of closure, while holding demonstrations, that bishops from Russia came and declared that there were no persecutions of the Church. We feel that we must issue a document which would clarify that this path is unacceptable in the future. When the state aims to destroy the faith, we cannot remain silent or be servile.

Has the relationship between the state and the Orthodox Church changed today?

At its core, it has changed. In our day, people of faith or even those who are indifferent are not subject to persecution as it was in the past.

But now we see many political figures who before supported the government which you rejected as unacceptable now standing in church. How does the ROCOR look upon this?

Motivations can be completely different, one cannot peer into the soul of another. We do not wish to judge how earnestly a person attends church, we wish to leave undisturbed that freedom which God has granted. For us this is not important, but what is important is that there is a chance to sow the seeds of faith. This gives hope for the future that the Russian people will regain their foundations. For you can and must speak Russian normally even without believing. For example, voskresenie ["resurrection"— the word used for ТSundayУ — transl.] is a day of the week. If you call this day of the week using this word—you are already a Christian whether you like it or not.

What impressions did you get from your visit to Russia?

We saw many examples of terrible ruination and at the same time of unbelievably speedy building and reconstruction. The representatives of our delegation still need clarification on many points. For example, I was in a monastery. Since I am the abbot of a monastery myself, I asked: how are the monks supported? I was told: they have sponsors. As an abbot, I am dissatisfied with this, because monks must live by the work of their own hands, they must earn their keep. Maybe I am wrong, since I do not know the situation in Russia today. I myself am responsible for the monastic brethren, I stand at the [printing] machines, I produce things and I know that this is feeds our monastery. A priest of mine receives far less from the diocese than from the government in the form of social aid. And our priests truly live poorly. But in Russia, these problems apparently don't exist today.

In Russia there is a great deal of talk about the administrative question of the unification of the two branches of the church. In part, about how the property of the ROC and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia would be administered?

His Holiness the Patriarch more than once stated that we must proceed from the situation as it has developed. If there is one church, then naturally, a church in a given city must be subjected to the local bishop who lives in communion with all Orthodox Christians.

That is, the complete unification of the churches is still possible?

I think that this is only a matter of time.

Tatyana Vitebskaya, Nizhny Novgorod