Editor’s Foreword:
I did my best to keep this in the original, colloquial, tone of the interview, comparing the English closely to the Russian original. Vladyki speaks of Metropolitan Laurus, the election of a new ROCOR hierarch, his views on the reconciliation in the Church, and the Kursk Root icon. Therefore, a good read.
All those who wish to say that His Beatitude was a KGB spy are completely off-beam. I am speaking of S., in particular. We in the west did not live “under the gun”, and those who shall not extend forgiveness to those who did are not good examples of Christianity, in my view.
BMD
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Armen Oganesian
As the tradition goes, it’s Easter time, and we greet our dear guest, His Beatitude Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna. Nice to see you, Your Beatitude.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Christ is risen!
Armen Oganesian
Indeed, He is risen! The first question comes from the USA.
Listener’s question
Hello, I’m Jonathan Philips, a professor from Kentucky. I’m a Catholic, and from my perspective the chief religious holiday is Christmas. I’ve heard that in Russia it’s different, for the “holiday of the holidays” is Easter. Am I mistaken here? If I am, shall you explain it? Your Beatitude, do you remember your first Easter? Does this day stay in your memory, and if does, what makes it so memorable? Thank you.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
That’s a great question. Talking about holidays, I wouldn’t say the difference is so great. The matter is that both churches have Theophany and Resurrection. Easter is “the Feast of Feasts” for both. I saw Christmas marked in the USA and Italy with very solemn services. In our case, Easter lasts for 40 days because Christ ascended to Heaven forty days after He appeared before the apostles after His resurrection. So, we have a lot of things in common and mark Christmas and Easter.
But, I think Russian people are more emotional. There are many specific customs in our holiday-making, like baking Easter cakes, blessing red Easter eggs, making paskha (Easter sweet cheese). All people do something special for this day. Anyway, these are holy days for us and they bring us a lot of joy.
Do I remember my first Easter…? I was brought up in a believing family and we celebrated Easter every year. Somehow, it’s an outstanding event to be remembered, and I published my memoirs and shared my impressions. I was a toddler, actually, so it was my Mum who took me by hand and brought me to the service. I come from Yaroslavl. It’s an ancient city adorned with monasteries and churches, but, there was only one functioning somewhere at the outskirts of the city. So, there were too many people at the church… well, me and Mum, we couldn’t make it there.
Armen Oganesian
Your Beatitude, could you, please, tell our listeners when the events took place.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
I was born in 1935. It place when I was about 7 or 8. There was a knoll we stood on and could see light in the windows. The religious procession started, and there was a song about angels singing in the heavens and people on earth praising God with pure hearts. What a crowds of people was around. Then, it was all over, the people started to walk away. We went home.
Armen Oganesian
Do you observe the Lenten fast in your family?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
We did, and very strictly.
Armen Oganesian
Let’s not forget what it was like those years. Thank you, Your Beatitude. Now, here’s another question, from Moscow.
Listener’s question
Easter is the brightest holiday for me, along with Thomas Sunday. Could you, please, say a few words about the holiday?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
It comes from our ancient ancestors. The holiday is devoted to the victory of spring over winter, life over death. The snow melts, the sun starts to shine, but, the field work hasn’t begun yet. Games and other recreations are under way. It’s a good time for marriage. There was an ancient proverb saying that the one who got married this day would never divorce.
Armen Oganesian
How interesting, such details are hard to come by. I hope it was interesting for many people. The next question, please.
Listener’s question
Hello, I’m Militsa, a professor from Belgrade. I read that the Moscow and Constantinople patriarchates held talks. Could you, please, say a few words about what the talks were devoted to? Thank you.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Thank you for the question. It’s our custom to discuss matters of common interest to the churches. The Zürich talks were devoted to issues related to the bilateral relations between our two Orthodox churches, and the relations between the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Christian confessions. We couldn’t take part in talks in Italy because a Constantinople representative held a title of metropolitan that had not been recognised by the Holy Synod Council (the Metropolitan refers to the representative of the so-called Estonian Apostolic Church, a puppet in the hands of the EP and Estonian politicians: editor’s note).
Armen Oganesian
Constantinople and Estonia… so far away from each other.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
It’s a very complex question; it truly needs a long explanation. What happened, in short, was that their representative didn’t leave, so, it was our representative who had to leave. There was a dialogue going on with the Roman Catholic Church, and at the same time there was a split taking place between two Orthodox churches. The issue was discussed. The future agenda was outlined. A part of it concerns the situation in Estonia and the status of religious entities there. We have an agenda, that’s a good start.
Armen Oganesian
But, it’s not only discrepancies and confrontation that we have with the Constantinople Church, I hope. Is there anything positive?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Of course, we’re sister churches, parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church. All Local Churches in the world cooperate. This is like a family dispute.
Listener’s question
Hello, I’m Yulia Litvinova. I know that the wonder-working Kurskaya-Korennaya icon of the Blessed Virgin is to come from the USA. Did you pray over it while you were in the USA? It’s honoured world-wide.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
While I was in the USA, I venerated it for the first time. Our Minister of Culture, who was at Jordanville at the time, said a lot of people dream of having it back in Russia. But, I didn’t hold any talks over the matter, I wasn’t authorised.
Armen Oganesian
Yes. The reason of your US visit was quite different, a sad event.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
It was the funeral of His Beatitude Laurus. I served in New York and the wonder-working icon was there. It was brought to Jordanville for the ceremonies, the religious procession, and so on. So, I did enjoy spiritual contact with the icon. As far as I know, the issue was being negotiated when His Beatitude Laurus was alive and there is a chance to have it here as soon as the monastery where it was originally is restored.
Listener’s question
I am the handmaiden of God Olga from Moscow. The loss was great when Metropolitan Laurus died. You headed the delegation sent to Jordanville to take part in the funeral ceremonies. As you view it, what are the prospects for the churches’ relationship in future? Will the clergymen opposing the unification of the Orthodox churches in Russia and abroad be appeased? Thank you.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
I always awaited the moment of unification. The gap was very wide. Actually, we have similar problems in Russia, Just look; it’s been four centuries we’ve been separated from our brothers, the old believers. Then, all of a sudden, it came! God sent it to us… the unification!
I got to know Vladyki Laurus in 2004; I met him at the airport. He was humble, but, he had a very strong faith. His house at the monastery was modest. I talked with the people who knew him. The Patriarch was impressed when he served in Munich and found that all the rituals were like we do in the Russian Orthodox Church (sic), although it had belonged until recently to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. I saw the same thing in Jordanville and New York. I’m sorry to say that some prefer for the Church to be split, six groups are still separated.
Armen Oganesian
That happens…
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Yes, thank God, they are not numerous.
Armen Oganesian
The majority of the leadership supports the unification, does it not?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Yes, and I hope that people will see for themselves what the ROCOR has become after the unification. Some come to our country and see that there are no grounds for any split. I pray the split is over.
Armen Oganesian
As I understand it, a new head of the RCOOR is to be elected in May.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Yes, on 12 May, and he’ll be installed on the next Sunday after.
Armen Oganesian
Will it take place in the USA?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Yes, in New York.
Armen Oganesian
No doubt, a Russian delegation will go and take part, because the church is one now. Although there are elections ahead, we cannot expedite events.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
May God help us make the right choice.
Armen Oganesian
We’ll keep our fingers crossed to facilitate and strengthen the unification further.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
I see everyone is happy about it.
Armen Oganesian
No doubt about it.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
You see, our internal strife only serves the interest of enemies of the Church.
Armen Oganesian
Could you say a few words about how the election will take place, what’s the procedure?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
There’ll be a joint service in the Synodal cathedral in New York, then, the hierarchs will hold an election. Only the hierarchs will participate in the council, no priests or deacons, no laymen. There are 11 hierarchs at present.
Armen Oganesian
You mean there are 11 in the case of the RCOOR alone, that’s not many, I’d say.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
They’ll choose the First Hierarch.
Armen Oganesian
They’ll come from all over the world, Europe, Australia.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Yes, all done in accordance with the Charter of the ROCOR.
Armen Oganesian
Then, Patriarch Aleksei is to approve the decision?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Yes, in accordance with the Act of Canonical Communion.
Armen Oganesian
So, can I say we’ll have a new head of the ROCOR by the end of May?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
The Council is to open its session on 12 May.
Armen Oganesian
Thank you, Your Beatitude. One more question, please.
Listener’s question
Good Day, Your Beatitude. I’m Tatiana, a journalist from Moscow. I heard that an executive order came into force recently that eliminates deferral from the draft for clergymen. 300 clergymen are affected, that is a serious blow for the church, but, not a big thing for the forces. Does the church intend to do anything about it?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
The Holy Synod considered the issue on the 15th. There was a meeting between the head of our church and President Putin and the issue was part of the agenda. The impression is that the problem will be solved. The very figure… 300, you say… is not important.
Armen Oganesian
I heard that 150 were Orthodox, the rest belong to other confessions.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
The gist of the problem is that our canons forbid clergymen to bear arms. That oath is given on the Cross and the Gospel. So, it becomes a problem of conscience for the conscripts. Thanks be to God, the faith is respected in general and by the state in particular.
Armen Oganesian
I’m sure the issue will be resolved. That the clergy can’t bear arms… that’s a common thing for all Christian church branches, am I right?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Absolutely. The matter is that traditionally clergymen have been with the forces, but, they never bore arms, but, rather, inspired the defenders of Motherland.
Armen Oganesian
A lot of them lost their lives on the battlefield.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
They did. Not in Soviet times, but I’m talking about old Russian traditions. Now, dioceses have corresponding agreements that envisage the presence of clergymen in the forces. Some cities and towns have parishes for the military and their families, and clergymen come and serve the liturgy for them. Maybe, in the foreseeable future, the law-makers will get to the issue and the presence of the clergy in the Armed forces will have a legal basis.
Armen Oganesian
Like it had been before 1917?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Like it’s done in some other Orthodox churches, in Poland, for instance.
Armen Oganesian
We have some questions coming in via the Internet. John Lukensen, from the USA, asks why Easter is marked by the Orthodox Church on a different date in comparison with others. Why the difference in case of Christmas is two weeks, but, it’s not two weeks in case of Easter? By the way, last year, the date of Easter coincided. How do you explain that?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
The Russian Orthodox Church abides by the Julian calendar and the Roman Catholics stick to the Gregorian one. The Resurrection is not a fixed date. So, coincidence is possible. The two weeks difference may take place in case of Orthodox churches abiding by the old style. If it’s on the new style, Christmas is marked on the same date with the Catholics.
Armen Oganesian
So, we observe the old Julian calendar. A question coming from Poland. Can an Orthodox believer go to Catholic churches and pray there?
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
There is an Autocephalous church in Poland, so, there are no problems for the Orthodox.
Armen Oganesian
Yes, once the Russian Orthodox Church has united, or to be more exact, the ROCOR is back to where it belongs, the range of opportunities for an Orthodox Christian has grown. Especially in Europe. Although that goes for all parts of the world as well. So, it’s not such a burning issue anymore as it used to be.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Wherever there are no Orthodox churches, the Holy Synod and His Beatitude the Patriarch put it on the agenda; we establish congregations and send clergymen there.
Armen Oganesian
Thank you, Your Beatitude. I and all the staff of the Voice of Russia send you greetings on the occasion of Easter, the Feast of the Resurrection, and we all wish you success in all your endeavours. I look forward to the next time we go on air together.
Metropolitan Yuvenaly
Thank you for your patience and interesting questions. My greetings to you on Easter. I wish that God-given inspiration would stay with you forever. And that the Easter spirit won’t leave you for the 40 days of Easter. Christ is risen!
Armen Oganesian
He is risen, indeed!
1 May 2008
Voice of Russia World Service
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=26234&cid=71&p=01.05.2008
http://vizavi.ruvr.ru/archive/75
