Dialogue

Published by the ROEA and the ROAAC, June 2005

Joint Dialogue Commission
The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America - The Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America & Canada

The members of the Joint Dialogue Commission of The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America and The Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada gathered on June 23, 2005 at the St. George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Southfield, Michigan to continue reflecting on the situation of our two Eparchies and the ways in which we might more fully heal the division that our Romanian Orthodox community has suffered for over fifty years. Present for our discussion were our respective Hierarchs: His Eminence Archbishop NATHANIEL, His Eminence Archbishop NICOLAE, and His Grace Auxiliary Bishop IRINEU. Meeting during this celebration of the Feast of Pentecost when our Heavenly Father sent His Holy Spirit upon His Church, we too felt His presence among us and guiding us in this Holy task.

It has been over ten years since we chose to begin exploring the possibility of the reintegration of the original Diocese, led by Bishop POLICARP, of thrice-blessed memory. It brings us great joy to be able to say that we have reached a broad consensus on the principles necessary for healing our brokenness and division and reuniting the Romanian Orthodox community on this continent while also advancing the larger vision of Orthodox Christian unity here in the United States and Canada.

The historical facts that brought about our separation for over four decades cannot be ignored. Memories on all sides are painful. We should all recognize that the Church was combating the demonic force of Communism that was bent on its destruction. The effect of that struggle was felt not only in Eastern Europe, and specifically Romania, but here as well. How each person responded to this threat differed. That there was disagreement as to the proper approach to combat it, cannot be disputed. People of faith and goodwill can sometime disagree and even disagree violently. We pray and assume that each acted according to their conscience for the good of the Church and the preservation of the faith. It is beyond our power to judge them and their motives. They acted according to the demands of the historical situation presented them.

We cannot turn back half a century of pain and injustice, or ignore the facts that brought us to our present disunity. We thank God for those, on all sides, who, like Bishop POLICARP, led and suffered in the past. What gives us courage to move forward today is the promise of the common witness and mission that a single Romanian Orthodox ecclesiastical entity can provide toward the inevitable establishment of a united Orthodox Church here. We are building upon the vision of the first great missionaries in America, among these St. Tikhon, Archbishop in North America and Confessor of the faith and St. Raphael of Brooklyn, as well as others who experienced and understood the complexity of the Church’s life here even in the earliest decades of the last century.

We have committed ourselves to resolving certain remaining issues. In the next months we hope to present specific proposals for consideration by our community. We ask all of you to pray that the Holy Spirit continue to work in and through us, so that together, we may serve and glorify the one Body of our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Fr. Nicholas Apostola
Fr. Ioan Ioniţă
Fr. Ion Gherman
Fr. George Chişcă
Fr. George Săndulescu

Fr. Laurence Lazar
Fr. Romey Rosco
Fr. Remus Grama
Fr. Cătălin Mitescu
Fr. Ian Pac-Urar



Volume 7 Number 34 - Tuesday, August 23rd, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY