Patriarchal Memories

by Fr. John Dresko

During the week of 8-15 November 1991, I had the honor and privilege of attending the following functions with His Holiness, Patriarch ALEKSY II of Moscow: a reception at Gracie Mansion in New York City, where Mayor David Dinkins presented His Holiness with the key to the city; the Academic Convocation at St. Vladimir's Seminary, where the seminary presented His Holiness with the Doctor of Divinity, honorus causa; a luncheon hosted by the Lieutenant Governor of New York at the Windows of the World restaurant in the World Trade Center in New York; and an Open Forum with the Patriarch for clergy hosted by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New York.

As dazzling as those events were, as thrilled as I was to be included in such a celebration, the most remarkable memories I will have of those days are two: first, the presence of the Patriarch. Just to be in his presence and to hear his words were a great honor and blessing. This was an experience that I can equate with only one other man I have met in my life, and that is the saintly Fr. Alexander Schmemann. The Patriarch was so obviously a holy man, so obviously a courageous man, so obviously the man who HAD to be in his place at this time, that I could not help but marvel at the Divine Providence working in our midst.

The second striking memory I have is of the Patriarch's words. Despite the incongruity of it all, with all of us seated at a fancy restaurant, with wine glasses being filled by waiters just dying to fill them, and food that would normally be out of my price range; despite the fact that all of that had to make the Patriarch uncomfortable as his own countrymen suffered from lack of food, his words were constantly harkening back to his people. As a priest-friend of mine made so clear to me, there were three themes that stood out in his comments, themes that were obvious, but so judgmental on those of us here in America. I would like to share those three themes with you.

OUTREACH: His Holiness constantly reminded us of how, for the past seventy years, the Church of Russia was persecuted. Priests were not allowed to do anything other than serve the liturgy. Not even Church School. Even preaching a sermon was a risky behavior and practiced only by the bravest and most fearless of the priests. Even the bishops, and the Patriarch included himself in the earlier days of his episcopacy, had to compromise with the authorities, simply to allow the Church to survive. The Patriarch summed it up best at the Greek Cathedral, when he said "In Russia, our priests were locked inside of the church, not to be effective anywhere else ­ they HAD NO CHOICE."

But I couldn't help but contrast that with our situation here in America, where for the same seventy years, our Church has been free. But during those same seventy years, in so many places, by so many people, the Church chose to LOCK HERSELF UP inside the building, not reaching out to anyone. Liturgy became an end in itself and not our joyful participation in the Kingdom, filled with such joy that we would take it outside the four walls of our building. The People of God became "nashi liudi" "our people" and no one else was welcome. The people of the Soviet Union had no choice in the matter, but we did, and we do.

MISSION: His Holiness gave us some startling figures, a sample of which would astonish anyone. In 1988, for the celebration of the Millenium of Christianity in 'Rus, the authorities began the easing of restrictions on the Church there were 46 active parishes in Moscow. Today, after three more years of glasnost and perestroika, there are 152 active parishes in Moscow alone! In 1988, there were 19 active monasteries, today there are 121 active monasteries! Again, I couldn't help but think of our situation here. Moscow is larger than New York, but not six times larger. Yet, in New York, after 215 years of freedom in the United States, and 198 years of Orthodox presence in this land, there may be 20-25 parishes in New York. How many generations have been lost or wasted in this country?

In mission, His Holiness stressed the resurgence of Christian Education in his country. It is so vitally important that they have not waited to receive materials. Clergy are expected to begin teaching their flocks even by word of mouth alone. At the Greek Cathedral, His Holiness even got applause, laughter and many knowing nods when he said, "And the priests that are not starting programs have been told that if they do not begin shortly, they will be transferred!" His Holiness stressed that the education could not, should not and will not replace the liturgy and prayer of the Church, but will be a supplemental program to enhance the knowledge of the believers. In this country, with years of education, and countless textbooks, how many Orthodox even understand the basic tenets of the Faith?

CHARITY: With the new freedom of religion in his country, the Patriarch said that there is an explosion of charitable efforts of the Church. They have begun (or really, resumed after seventy years) hospital chaplaincies, orphanages, nursing homes, asylums for the mentally ill, etc. There are not enough priests to go around to all the different places that need them. Parishioners have begun visitations to all those places. Laypeople minister to the needs of the people, with the priests bringing the sacraments when possible. They refuse to leave these people alone.

And yet again, I was brought back to our own situation. In this country, it is not possible to think of Orthodox hospital chaplains, Orthodox orphanages, Orthodox nursing homes in each city, etc. That is almost understandable because we are such a minority in this country. What is not understandable is how the basic Christian charity of visiting the sick, the imprisoned, the orphaned, etc. has become the "job" of the priest. Normal, everyday Orthodox Christians do not concern themselves with that part of society or the Church. If it is a "family member," perhaps we visit, but if not...

Perhaps with the visit of His Holiness, Patriarch ALEKSY, a visit I will remember all my life, there was one more memory which stands out. It is a memory that is the most brilliant of all the more I think about it. That memory is: despite their material poverty, despite the years of non-education they must make up, despite the efforts of the government to destroy their Church, in many ways the People of God who comprise the Holy Church of Russia, along with their Head, are so far ahead of us that we may almost despair of ever catching up! May God give us the vision and courage of the Russian People and their leader!