The Heat of the Moment, and Historical Perspective

 

Reports have been circulating through the internet about a meeting held at Lakewood, that was by “invitation only” on March 29th.  The reports indicate that some sort of document addressed to the Metropolitan was produced, which made demands that an antonymous diocese be formed along the lines of the “Old Believer” Diocese, and that this diocese be headed by Bishop Gabriel, Bishop Agafangel, or Bishop Daniel, so that those who are opposed to reconciliation with the MP will have one more layer between themselves and the MP.  Some reports also indicate that there were some “or else” threats included in the document.

 

Now, I realize, not having seen this document, that the reports may have exaggerated some parts of it – however, that is one of the occupational hazards of conducting secret meetings.

 

I would like to encourage those who may have been part of this meeting to consider taking a step back from the emotion of the moment, and to ponder how their statements and actions may appear in 50 years.  Historical perspective has a way of changing how we view things – even though when we are close to a situation, we may have very strong feelings, and be absolutely convinced of how right we are.

 

As an example of how this is true, I reference the following letter (English translation, followed by a transcription of the original Russian text. A scanned copy of the original document in pdf format can be seen by clicking here):

 

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To: His Eminence Metropolitan Anastassy             (Document undated, but marked by metropolitan

                                                                                  Anastassy’s hand as received on 6/19 July 1948)           

From : Russian emigrants:

D.V. Kochnev , M.P.Pastuhov, A.T.Nikulenkov, C.M.Lukianov,

 B.M.Norlander , V.S.Lukianov, V.S.Usanov 

 

                                                                      Declaration                                                                              

 

Your Eminence

Most Eminent Vladyko

 

We, former combatants of the Russian Imperial Army, having many times shed our blood for our Faith, our Czar and our Fatherland have the honor to bring to Your attention an extraordinary event in the history of the Orthodox Church.

 

The warden of the Holy Resurrection Church on the Wayside in the city of Shanghai has usurped the apartment that was entrusted to him by the parishioners for rental from the homeowners association. All of the above is substantiated by our report and the attached documents submitted to Your Eminence. 

 

We deem it our duty to humbly bring to Your attention a series of events of grievous significance for the Russian Church in China, pertaining to the role of the ruling Archbishop John of Shanghai, who has received Chinese citizenship,  in the destruction of the Orthodox parish of the aforementioned church on the Wayside.

 

As Your Eminence will see from the copies of the reports to Archbishop John of Shanghai, for nine months, he, for reasons known only to him, in our opinion deliberately, permitted the destruction of the Wayside parish.

 

Would Your Eminence not agree, that having received Chinese citizenship, and having transferred the leadership of the Shanghai Diocese from Russian to Chinese administration (even the official letterhead was changed as You can see from the attached original),  Archbishop John of Shanghai betrayed our Russian emigrant interests, the interests of people who built and maintained the Orthodox churches in Shanghai.  

 

We, humble laymen, are deeply shocked by this rejection of Russian national honor and feel ourselves to be deprived of proper leadership, since today Archbishop John of Shanghai is under the control of Chinese priests. We dare to approach You, most eminent Vladyko, with the most respectful request to appoint for us a vicar bishop who is steadfast in his national sentiments and who can strengthen our declining faith in the sacred strength of the Russian Orthodox Church.

 

Asking forgiveness and Your hierarchal prayers before the throne of the Almighty we remain: 

 

               Colonel D.V. Kochnev                Captain M.P.Pastuhov    

               Lieutenant S.M.Lukianov            Horunjiy(Cossack lieutenant) A.T.Nikulenkov

               Jr.sergeant B.M. Norlander          Private B.S Usanov

               V.S. Lukianov /student/                                          

   

 

 

Его Высокопреосвященству Высокопреосвященнейшему 

Митрополиту Анастасию

 

  (документ без даты, помечен рукой митрополита Анастасия, дата получения 6/19 июля 1948)                                                                                          

 

                                                                                            Русских эмигрантов:

                                                                                             Д.В.Кочнева, М.П.Пастухова, А.Т.

                                                                                             Никуленкова, С.М.Лукьянова, Б.М.

                                                                                             Норландера, В.С.Лукьянова, В.С.

                                                                                             Усанова

                                        Заявление

                                                              Ваше Высокопреосвященство

                                                        Высокопреосвященнейший Владыко 

             Мы бывшие военнослужащие Российской Императорской Армии, неоднократно проливавшие свою кровь за Веру, Царя и Отечество, имеем честь довести до Вашего сведения один из ряда вон выходящих случаев в истории Правосланой Церкви.

           Староста Св.Воскресенскаго Храма, что на Вейсайде в г. Шанхай в Китае, завладел квартирой, доверенной ему прихожанами для снятия у домовладельческой компании. Все вышеизложенное Вы Ваше Высокопреосвященство увидите из нашего доклада и прилагаемых документов.

               Считаем своим долгом смиренно довести до Вашего сведения ряд печальных для Российской Православной Церкви в Китае фактов об отношении Правящаго Архиепископа Иоанна Шанхайскаго, принявшаго Китайское подданство, к разрушению Православнаго прихода вышеупомянутаго Храма на Вейсайде.

             Как Вы Ваше Высокопреосвященство усмотрите из копий докладов Архиепископу Иоанну Шанхайскому  в течение девяти месяцев, он по ведомым только ему причинам, по нашему мнению сознательно, допускал разрушение Вейсайдского прихода.

        Не кажется ли Вам Ваше Высокопреосвященство, что перейдя в китайское гражданство и переведя управление Шанхайской Епархии из Российскаго возглавления в китайское, при чем даже был изменен бланк, как Вы усмотрите из прилагаемаго оригинала, Архиепископ Иоанн Шанхайский предал наши интересы Российских эмигрантов, строивших и поддерживавших Православные Храмы в Шанхае.

          Мы, смиренные миряне, глубоко потрясены этим отказом от Российской Национальной чести и чувствуем себя лишенными правильнаго руководства, так как отныне Архиепископ Иоанн Шанхайский находится в руках китайских иереев.

Мы дерзаем обратиться к Вам Высокопреосвященнейший Владыко, с почтительнейшей просьбой назначить к нам викарнаго Епископа твердаго в Национальных чувствах и могущаго укрепить нашу падающую веру в священную силу Российской Православной Церкви.

         Прося прощения и Ваших святительских молитв перед Престолом Всевышняго остаемся:

                  Полковник Д.В.Кочнев                       Капитан М.П.Пастухов 

                  Поручик С.М. Лукьянов                     Хорунжий А.Т. Никуленков

                  Мл. Унтер Оф. Б.М. Норландер         Рядовой Б.С. Усанов

                  В.С. Лукьянов /студент/      

 

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I am sure that Fr. Valery Lukianov felt he was absolutely right in signing this letter, and I am equally sure that he and his father came to regret having done so.  He recently wrote about some of the circumstances referenced above in the following article:

 

http://elmager.livejournal.com/42099.html

 

In that article, he provides some of the reasons for St. John’s actions that he was unaware of at the time he signed this letter.  For example (quoting a certain Iona Ma):

 

Later, I advised Archbishop John to apply for Chinese citizenship; finally he agreed. After processing all of the necessary documents for the Archbishop, I personally delivered to Archbishop John the government approval. Only after the Archbishop acquired Chinese citizenship did the Soviets abandon their plans to capture Archbishop John and take over the Sobor in Shanghai. Our beloved Archbishop John and the Sobor were saved.”

 

His love and respect for St. John are well known now.  I fondly remember hearing him speak for the first time at St. John’s glorification (which I still think was one of the most impressive sermons I have ever heard delivered in two languages by the same person). What a difference historical perspective can make.

 

I think the wiser course for us to follow, given that we can’t see now what we will be able to clearly see in a decade or so, is to be obedient to conciliar voice of our Church, and to our bishops.  There will be plenty of time to “wall yourself off” if the MP falls into heresy.  Schism is never an option.  Only bare-headed heresy justifies our not being obedient to our bishops.

 

-Fr. John Whiteford

April 12, 2007

 

 

RESPONSE TO THE INTERNET ARTICLE:

“THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT, AND HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE”

 

The surfacing of the letter written in Shanghai, China in 1948 by a group of combatants of the Russian Imperial Army to His Eminence Metropolitan Anastassy, which appeared on the internet for the benefit of the ROCOR clergy, took me by surprise, when I found my name (a student born in China) listed with the military veteran signees. I cannot deny the possibility of having signed such a letter, but I truly have no recollection of that.  The letter, obviously ill-advised and misguided, shows lack of spiritual obedience, but seems to have been motivated by a false fear for the Russian émigrés of China to be turned over to the control of the Chinese administration of Shanghai, when it became known that the ruling Archbishop John has been granted Chinese citizenship. This dispatch must have been prompted by a deep anti-communist sentiment at the time, when the Chinese Red army was on the outskirts of the city and the fate of the Russian community was in great doubt and danger. It is also probable that the patriotic signers were at that time unaware that Vladyka’s life had to be protected in order to thwart off the Soviet plan of having him murdered or kidnapped and taken to the Soviet Union, which was not an uncommon practice in those days, this undercover information being revealed only later. Be that as it may, what is disturbing is to see obvious manipulation of facts in the English translation of this document. In the original Russian text of this letter, the request is for the appointment of a vicar bishop, not a replacement of the ruling archbishop, as the English translation would falsely have you believe.

I must unequivocally confirm my total loyalty and reverence for the holy hierarch Vladyka John. How could I do otherwise, in the face of countless blessings bestowed by him upon me, ---  succoring me from critical sickness with his prayers, confession and Holy communion; guiding me with letters of care and kindness; visiting our family; ordaining me to the diaconate and even editing one of my accounts on the church services?! In response, I have devoted my resources to serve Vladyka in gratitude and reverence through teaching, preaching and writing about his ascetic life of labor and prayer, steadfastness and love. During his lifetime and after his demise he never left our family without care and response to our needs. We have felt his grace and his blessings on innumerable occasions. He never failed us, as in personal attentiveness, so in our church life.  If I had, at the spur of a moment, erred against Vladyka, I beg his forgiveness and I regret that through my weakness I may have offended my brothers. But, in my heart, I know that St. John would always cover these weaknesses with his love and forgiveness, and without reproach. Unfortunately, this spirit of Christian magnanimity is rapidly being abandoned in our times.

 

-Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov

 

Rejoinder to Fr. Valery’s Response

 

            First, it must be conceded that Fr. Valery is correct in pointing out that there was an error in the original translation, which left out the word “vicar”.  This was not an intentional distortion of the text, however.  It would be rather foolish to leave the original Russian text as it was, and attempt to falsify the English translation when the audience of this post was a largely Russian speaking one.  I am also sure that all that Fr. Valery says about his love for St. John is true. However, I would point out that the addition of the word “vicar” doesn’t really change anything of substance, since Fr. Valery agrees that the letter was “obviously ill-advised and misguided, shows lack of spiritual obedience” and that it was motivated by fear, emotion, and ignorance of the big picture.  And clearly, they were not writing Metropolitan Anastassy just to get some new assistant for St. John, but wanted a bishop who would make things “right” one way or another – and they obviously did not believe that St. John could or would do that without their intervention.  In short they were caught up in the heat of the moment, but came to regret it later.  As I said, I am sure that the signers of this letter all believed that they were absolutely right.  The point is, however, that they were not right, despite their certainty and intense feelings on the matter, and that they were appealing to Metropolitan Anastassy to do take actions that clearly would have undercut the authority of St. John to one extent or another. 

 

            I would also point out that the spirit of Christian magnanimity is precisely what is called for now as our bishops call on us to reconcile with the Moscow Patriarchate.  We all find ourselves in need of forgiveness, and our Savior tell us that we will be forgiven precisely to the same extent that we are willing to forgive, and that we will be shown mercy in the same measure that we show mercy ourselves.  We also need to show spiritual obedience to our bishops now, when there are souls in the balance, and people who have either already gone into schism or are teetering on the brink.

 

           

-Fr. John Whiteford

May 12, 2007