Episcopal Press and News
Episcopal Church To Celebrate Russian Orthodoxy's Millenium
Episcopal News Service. August 21, 1986 [86180]
NEW YORK, (DPS, Aug.21) -- 1988 will mark the millenial anniversary of the introduction of Christianity in Russia, and Episcopal Church plans are underway to share in that celebration and opportunity.
Anticipating the historic commemoration, the General Convention asked the Church Center education staff to produce material on the "culture, politics, values, history and religions of the Soviet peoples with special emphasis" on the anniversary. In response, two staff officers have been assigned to the task, two conferences are planned this year and at least one diocese has taken up the call enthusiastically.
Dr. John D. Vogelsang, field officer for education and training, and the Rev. Charles A. Cesaretti, Browning's deputy for Anglican affairs, Canon Charles Perry of the National Cathedral and about ten other Episcopalians will be guests of the Russian Orthodox Church in October to gather material and coordinate plans.
In addition, two three-day conferences are planned to introduce diocesan coordinators to Russian Orthodoxy, the cultures and challenges and to explore regional activities. A four-session study guide and an annotated bibliography will be produced. The west coast conference will be at St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle on Nov. 13-15, and the eastern gathering will be Dec. 4-6 in Washington.
Maine Bishop Edward C. Chalfant, responding to Browning's call, asked retired diplomat Barret Parker to coordinate a diocesan-wide program of education and response and offered to share the fruits of this with the Church Center and other dioceses.
Vogelsang is serving as contact at the Center, and all inquiries should be directed to him at 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017.
In 1988, the Russian Orthodox Church will celebrate 1,000 years of Christianity in the Russia. This is a unique opportunity for the Episcopal Church to Join other churches in helping to strengthen the Church's witness in Russia.
The Episcopal Church first established contacts with the Russian Orthodox Church in the nineteenth century, when our people moved west and met Orthodox people who moved south from Alaska. Our relations have continued to be strong through the secular, ideological and political changes and conflicts of the past century. Competition between East and West will be around for a long time to come, but it will not stand in the way of the unity of the baptized in the Body of Christ. Rather, our unity in Christ will contribute to the renewal of human community through mutual respect, to a slowing of the arms race and to peace and justice in the world.
I hope, as we move toward 1988, that Episcopalians will become more knowledgeable about the Soviet Union and the great contribution of the Christian Church in Russia. Many are already travelling there to learn firsthand about the Soviet people and cultures and about their churches. The 1985 General Convention, looking forward to the Millennial Celebration of the Russian Church, urged the Episcopal Church to engage in a study of Christianity in Russia. Many parishes will organize study groups about the churches and the values and history of the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics. I recommend these efforts to the whole church.
We have never hesitated to criticize what we view as wrong or immoral in the Soviet Union and in other nations, including our own. We should always be ready to learn, understand and support our Christian brothers and sisters in the Soviet Union. Most important of all, we must pray for the Russian Orthodox Church and other churches in the Soviet Union, for in this way each of us will express our unity through our common baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus, which makes us citizens of the same kingdom.