ECUMENICAL PATRIARCHATE

Exarchate of Parishes of Russian
Tradition in Western Europe

Exarchate of Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe
Episcopal Vicariate of Great Britain and Ireland
Annual Conference
The Royal Alexandra and Albert School, Gatton Park, near Reigate, 25-28 May, 2007

A personal view, by Candy Charters.

Click the links on the titles of the talks to get the whole talk.

This was the first residential conference of the Episcopal Vicariate. It was lovely to talk to people I had not really seen for many years and the conference was such a success that it made me realise that all our problems do have a positive dimension.  I was therefore pleased to be asked to write this report for those who were not there.

Everyone successfully negotiated dreadful traffic jams on the M25 to arrive at a beautiful location in the countryside.

The venue was new to us and was a state boarding school with several striking Palladian buildings.  The extensive grounds, designed by Capability Brown, included a lake (featuring mating herons), beautiful trees, including some Californian redwoods and enormous oaks, and lots of animals including horses and sheep.

It was the wettest bank holiday weekend for years and it rained more in Surrey than in the rest of the country. We did get very wet at times, but it didn’t spoil the weekend.  However, we were well aware that the Monday was the coldest day in May for years!

There were about 120 of us, most of whom stayed for the full three days.  We were a mixture of British, Russians, French, Dutch as well as other nationalities, ranging in age from Nicolas at 9 months old to people who had lived through the many changes experienced by the Church in the last century.
One of the first people I met was Kelsey Cheshire, who was looking suitably pleased and relieved that all her hard work had paid off.  Well done, Kelsey (and all the other organisers who worked so hard to make it happen).

Over the next three days we were to experience a wonderful mixture of fun, services, discussions and academic talks of a high standard.  

Most of the formal talks were in the chapel of the school, a large modern building with a rather unusual stained glass window.  This worked well because the talks were at one end and we simply had to move to the altar end, where our icons had been placed, for services.  The full presentations will be published in due course, so all I will do here is highlight some of the main messages from the talks and my responses to them.  I will then try to give a flavour of the other events and how they all merged to create consistent and inspiring themes that kept coming through.  These included: allowing people to be different, the need for people to take responsibility, using our creativity, a priesthood of all, and respect and support for each other.

We were privileged to have Archbishop Gabriel with us for the first half of the conference, although he had to return to Paris to celebrate Pentecost.  He emphasised the importance of the fact that we were now part of a large European community, and urged us to keep in contact between parishes, for example by twinning with a parish in another country.  He pointed out that he had 125 communities so he could not get round them all very quickly.  He asked us to work together and to maintain dignity in dealing with difficult parishes. He also mentioned the importance of looking for suitable candidates for ordination and he thanked the women of the Church for their valuable contribution.

Here are the main themes I observed from each of the formal presentations.  I will describe the parties and the services later.

‘Freedom of spirit in the Church is sacred’ - Father Alexis Struve of Paris

This was a fascinating account of the life and work of Metropolitan Evlogii (who was appointed as the first Exarch in Paris) and of how his work was founded on the principle of separating Church from State and hence a Church governed by a universal conscience, not divided by nationalities.  The talk went on to illustrate the consequent need for Christians to combine freedom of conscience with personal responsibility.  I had known very little about him, but I was struck by a certain similarity in his approach and history to that of Metropolitan Anthony. Both had lived through hardships, were strong characters who could operate at very different levels and who attracted many followers and admirers. His history also bears resemblance to that of our Bishop Basil, in that he was summoned to an Episcopal court in Moscow but, instead of going, appealed to the Ecumenical Patriarch.

A contributor from the floor told how, as a young girl, she was held up by her father so that she could see Metropolitan Evlogii over the crowd of people surrounding him.  Clearly he had a great spiritual presence although, later, Archbishop Gabriel also emphasised his humanity by telling some stories about his exploits as a young man.  
The idea that stuck in my mind, which recurred throughout the conference, was that of a spirit of service rather than a spirit of power. Someone on the floor rightly identified this as an approach of Metropolitan Anthony’s.  Another striking phrase Father Alexis quoted, relating to Metropolitan Evlogii’s exile from Russia, was ‘we found the Christ in our neighbour when we lost our great cathedrals.’

‘The Church of the Holy Spirit – our roots in the World of the Apostles’ – Bishop Basil of Amphipolis
One is always amazed by how Bishop Basil manages to make scholarship look so easy. His fascinating talk included quotations which ranged from Exodus, through Joel, the Gospels, Epistles, all the way to Revelations.  In doing so he showed how God’s original covenant with the Israelites, to make them ‘a kingdom of priests’ (Exodus), was finally achieved through Christ: ‘Jesus Christ has made us Kings and Priests to His God and Father’ (Rev 1:6).

This radical message was supported by his description of the origins of the word ‘Clergy’ (from the Greek Κληρος), which relates to ownership of land and thus having a legacy.  In the early days of the Church all the members were deemed ‘clergy’ because, in forming the body of the Church, they had a legacy to pass on.  He supported this argument with examples drawn both from history and from practice today, as in Ethiopia, where ALL people who attend church wear white, symbolising universal priesthood.  Baptism, which takes place before the liturgy, is our ordination and a contributor from the floor observed that, in Egypt, newly baptised babies wear a little white mitre as well as a white robe.

This interpretation has been lost in many parts of the Church.  However, our Bishop seemed to be asking us to re-appraise it in the context of the emphasis on freedom and personal responsibility presented by Father Alexis in the first talk. What was clear was that Bishop Basil was telling us that each of us must take ourselves seriously in defining our role in the body of the church, accepting that the Church is constantly changing.  We all come and go, even great figures like Metropolitans Evlogii and Anthony but we have to carry on the legacy.  However, this is not just preserving the old, but rather taking the church forward.  “Christ is continually renewing the Church through time; we must rise to the challenge.”
The talk prompted a lively debate, partially at least questioning whether the concepts of Kingship and Priesthood were too male-oriented.

‘Working with the Spirit in a Time of Change’ - Wendy Robinson
‘My first response to the move from Moscow was one of relief and release, and that has not changed’.  I was so glad to hear such a positive affirmation.  Nevertheless, Wendy was able to discuss the pain and grief of the change in very human and personal terms such that, all around the room, people could recognise elements of what she was saying in themselves.  She discussed primitive paranoid defences that inevitably arise from such difficult situations but went on to describe how the Spirit gives us the buoyancy to emerge from the turmoil we are in.
However, we also need the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to the possibility of being partly wrong ourselves.  We also cannot force premature forgiveness.  Resolving the current problems is a long and arduous process and we can only support those involved in the negotiations.  I was amused by the Loyolan principle ‘All official documents must be read in a positive light’, with emphasis on both positive and light.

She described a number of temptations that face us as we deal with the current situation.  These were in general to do with the motives for seeking reconciliation before it is timely and truth has emerged. The one that struck home the most to me personally was the one regarding seeking reconciliation for comfort.

As part of this she pointed out that different people grieve differently.  We should allow each other, as members of the body of the Church, to grieve in their own way.  Our role is to encourage and console each other.  However, she reminded us that the Spirit is the greatest agent for change in our lives.
It’s hard to underestimate the impression Wendy’s talk had on the audience; it is enough to say that the applause was long and genuine.

'Renewal in the Church: In Fidelity to Tradition and the Holy Spirit’ - Metropolitan Georges (Khodre) of Mount Lebanon, presented by Amal Dibo
Metropolitan Georges is the most eminent leader of the renewal movement in Lebanon.  He advocates the use of Arabic, quotes regularly from the Koran and has a weekly broadcast programme on the radio.  All this leads to Muslims feeling Christ even if they don’t profess Him.  His paper emphasised the need to not only practice Christianity in the services, prayer and scripture, but also in the outside world (‘social commitment is a Liturgy on the world’.  The following is Amal’s summary of the main points.
Renewal commands the whole being. Without the incandescent fire of the love of Christ the Word cannot become an active reality.  A renewed language witnesses that a genuine spiritual experience has taken place; a close experience with Christ initiates this new experience.
The Word of truth is given to the whole ecclesiastical body.  This is certainly an adequate way to express our renewed vision.  It demands, on one hand, fidelity to the Holy Spirit, obtained through prayer, which requires serious knowledge of the scripture and constant participation in the Liturgy.  On the other hand it also demands compassion and empathy to feel the needs of today and to perceive their reality.  Thus, while rooted in the Holy Spirit, we also become efficiently alert to the needs of our community and can lead its growth with a renewed experience of a loving faith.
Movements of renewal that are true, strong and full of enthusiasm for the orthodoxy of faith are indeed a prophetic presence, meaning that they are witnesses for the eternal truth amidst the reality of the local Church, be it a parish, a diocese or an autocephalous Church.
We need to lean very strongly on the two pillars that make the church, the Scriptures and the Liturgy.
As for activities within the church, they are always the achievement of a group in which every person is unique and irreplaceable.  We thank the Lord for each particular one in the spirit of unity and that will be the treasure which will bring the renewal.

‘Freedom, Power and Authority’ - Karin Greenhead
Karin described her view of a Christian approach to authority, drawing heavily on biblical references.  God is the ultimate authority but he has given us freedom and sovereignty.  His way of dealing with us is completely different from the hierarchical structures created by Man since the Fall.  He doesn’t dictate from on high like a line manager.

What hierarchy there exists in the Church is aimed at enabling communication and Karin expressed the view that priests are ordinary men, with the exception of their role in the sacraments.  We know how Christ tended to treat those in authority and Metropolitan Anthony said that the hierarchy in the Church is one of service, not of power.

Karin then asked whether the current structures and practices of the Church serve the people.  In a bureaucracy, people can hide from responsibility and blame others or the ‘system’ for its failures.  If we are moving away from an authoritarian bureaucracy does it not follow that we should have less hierarchy (eg do we need ARCHpriests)?  The Christian view is related to answerability, so we have to take responsibility ourselves.  I felt this tied in very closely to the first two talks and she came as close as anyone to summarising the theme of the whole conference.

Karin then described several causes of resistance to change which may get in the way.  These included:-

• Many ally themselves with those in power and so are unwilling to give up their influence
• A person’s true calling can be replaced with fake ambition
• People can like being victims as it removes responsibility from them

However, if we follow the letter of the law, not the spirit, we have lost our way.

Parties and Services
The services were an integral part of the conference, with a service every morning and evening, including two Divine Liturgies and the Pentecost Vespers with the kneeling prayers.  It was a great pleasure to hear such a beautiful choir, particularly for those of us from smaller parishes. 

The Liturgy for Pentecost on Sunday was wonderful and seemed to bring us all closer together.  It seemed so appropriate, given the theme of the conference, to be celebrating Pentecost.  Several services included a commemoration of Metropolitan Evlogii and Metropolitan Anthony.

Finally, it was also good to hear some French in the Liturgy – more next time please!

The family atmosphere also prevailed at the party on Sunday night.  It felt very international as we went on a musical tour of Europe (plus Argentina, Mexico, French Canada and the USA,), with nearly everyone ‘doing a turn’, joining in spontaneously as the evening went on.

Highlights included the many Russian songs and Father David’s rendition of the Hippopotamus Song.  We also enjoyed the piano, violin and drum solos.

There was a memorable performance of  Alouette. It was lovely to see Bishop Basil at the party, relaxing amongst friends after such a difficult and stressful year.

Workshops and Round Tables
The workshops gave people a chance to explore a range of themes in small groups.  In my workshop, which related to the choir, I was impressed by how Anne-Marie de Visser stood in so effectively for Father Michael.  Obviously I cannot report on the other workshops but many people said how interesting they were.
There were two round table sessions, based on audience discussion led by a panel of 4 or 5 people.  Their two topics were:-

1. Where are we and where are we going?
2. What do we need to change in ourselves and our communities?

It is difficult to summarise the round table sessions in isolation since they contained such a wide range of ideas and feelings.  However, they fitted extremely well into the overall flow of the conference such that, as their discussions developed, one really did get a sense of ‘where we are and where we are going’.  For example, the first round table started by discussing various aspects of leaving the Moscow Patriarchate and joining the Patriarchate of Constantinople, ie ‘where we are’.  During the second round table people were talking much more about ‘where we are going’, discussing in detail subjects such as

• nurturing children in the church
• organising services in small communities where priests aren’t always available
• our responsibilities towards those in Russia who look to us as a ‘window’.

At the end, people were agreeing to continue the discussions in small groups in various parts of the dining room after lunch.  This truly felt like people taking responsibility and turning thought into action.

I was so pleased when one of the younger members of the audience said that we must not forget how wonderful things are in St Andrew’s church, Holborn (Parish of the Dormition of the Mother of God).  She now felt more as if she were part of a family, and she said: ‘We are being renewed’.

She got lots of applause and I felt her contribution summed up the positive feeling of the whole conference.  Another person I spoke to said she had found the conference encouraging and comforting.

I should not conclude this report without paying tribute to the tremendous effort put in by so many people, both during the event and behind the scenes.  It is unfair to single out individuals but I can’t help but mention Lisa von Schlippe, who organised us all so effectively, yet never let her smile drop (how did she do it?).  I also have to pass on the conference’s great thanks to Nikolai, who worked tirelessly in delivering the Russian interpretation to those who wanted it (except for the session where we all gave him a round of applause, when, sadly, he was not there to hear it!).

Above all, I would like to thank Bishop Basil, whose quiet courage has enabled us to be positive in facing what is still a difficult, but now more exciting, future.

Candy Charters