На одном из сайтов Сурожской епархии "dioceseinfo.org" продолжают появляться письма православных христиан из разных стран, высказывающих свою точку зрения о ситуации, сложившийся в связи с конфликтом. Мы приводим оригинал письма и надеемся, что в ближайшее время на сайте появится русский перевод этого частного письма.
From Alexandra Milton, parishioner of the diocese: I write as an Orthodox immigrant to Britain. My parents converted to Orthodoxy before I was born and I was brought up in an Orthodox parish in Paris. The founders of this church were Russian émigrés, yet they decided to translate and celebrate all the services in French, even though some of them did not speak a word of the language.
They believed that they had managed to retain the one thing that was most precious from their home country – their Orthodox faith – and that they should plant it in their new homeland in order that it could flourish there.
I found that the same spirit prevailed when I arrived in London 20 years ago and first went to the cathedral. In many ways, I felt as if I had gone from home to home. But I struggled with the fact that half the services were in Church Slavonic, even though English was clearly the common language for all the parishioners at the time.
Metropolitan Anthony took the time to listen to my difficulties and, thanks to his unique manner, I understood the value of transcending language, while at the same time remaining close to the spiritual roots of Russian Orthodoxy. He foresaw the day when England would face a new influx of Russian immigrants and wished them to be able to worship in an environment that was familiar to them.
But when these immigrants did indeed arrive, I saw that there was a flip side to this. He expected them to accept that they were worshipping in very different circumstances to those from which they had come.
Years later, my husband converted to Orthodoxy and, in time, served two terms on the parish council. Together with other parents (Russian, Serb, French) we started a Sunday school for the children in the cathedral. Newly arrived Russians were initially surprised that the stories were not in Russian, but they very quickly became reconciled to the fact that the contents of the catechism – Truth – should be taught in the only common language shared by all.
In time, my husband and I had the privilege to be involved in the establishment of the Orthodox Eucharistic Community in Clapham and other people took over the Sunday school in the cathedral. I was saddened to hear recently that this is now conducted almost exclusively in Russian. What sort of message is this giving to non-Russian speaking children? Being a foreigner, I can relate completely to the need for parishioners to meet with like-minded people from the same country, as well as with their desire to worship in a church that closely resembles those at home.
In London there are Greek, Serbian and Romanian churches, but there has never been a specifically 'Russian' church in communion with the Moscow Patriarchate. It is most unfortunate – indeed it is tragic – that the group of individuals who have in recent years decided to express their feelings so vociferously did not use their enormous energy in a positive way and create just such a church.
I believe strongly that the cathedral, the mother church of the diocese, should be one place where all Orthodox believers can worship together in peace, irrespective of ethnicity, culture, nationality and sentiment. It is most unfortunate that the Department for External Church Relations has singularly failed to recognise this – indeed they have proved utterly indifferent to the spirit of English pan-Orthodoxy within the Russian tradition. They have failed to support Bishop Basil in his endeavours to encourage this.
They should now direct all their efforts, energy and financial resources into establishing a Russian Orthodox Church in England, and allow everyone else to build upon the enlightened vision of Metropolitan Anthony of blessed memory.
Alexandra Milton.
