Presiding Bishop Returns from Trip to Russia
Diocesan Press Service. June 21, 1972 [72083]
NEW YORK, N. Y. (DPS) -- The Rt. Rev. John E. Hines, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church has just returned from a nine-day trip to Russia which he describes as "rewarding" and as "opening up new relationships."
Bishop Hines believes that the Russian Orthodox Church and the Episcopal Church "can play an important part in promoting world peace and development," consistent with the recent steps taken mutually by the Governments of the United States and Russia in other areas.
The Presiding Bishop was accompanied by Dr. Peter Day, Ecumenical Officer of the Episcopal Church, and Dr. Day's daughter, Mrs. Vojislav Tubic, and by Dr. Paul B. Anderson, Consultant on Orthodox Relations, and Mrs. Anderson.
The group participated in the anniversary liturgy of His Holiness Pimen, Patriarch of Moscow and of All Russia, whose enthronement took place last year. During the service, for which the Patriarch's Cathedral was packed with worshippers, the male members of the party were invited to enter the inner sanctuary behind the Iconostasis.
Bishop Hines had a "very cordial" personal meeting with the Patriarch just before a luncheon which was attended by six of the eight Metropolitans of the Russian Orthodox Church. His Holiness extended a special greeting to his guest and Bishop Hines responded.
During his stay in Russia, the Presiding Bishop had discussions with both Metropolitan Juvenali, Head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Church, and Archbishop Pitirim, who is concerned with Russian Church publications.
Bishop Hines presented to his hosts copies of the Book of Common Prayer, the 1960 Pastoral Letter of the House of Bishops (on the Creed), Documents on Anglican/Roman Catholic Relations, and Services for Trial Use.
The Archbishop said that he planned to have Services for Trial Use -- the so-called "Green Book" -- translated into Russian for study.
Both Dr. Day and Dr. Anderson were asked to contribute articles to the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate,which is translated into English and several other languages.
There were also preliminary discussions of exchange visits which might be made by theologians of both churches, perhaps through visitations at key seminaries in Russia and the United States.
Bishop Hines also preached to the congregation of American Protestants in Moscow which is now served by the Rev. Raymond Oppenheim, the first Episcopal priest to serve as chaplain to Americans in Moscow, and visited Leningrad, where a ministry to the English-speaking community has been begun through the active interest of Consul-designate Gleysteen, an Episcopal layman.
The most tangible result of the visit, however, was the establishment of a direct and personal relationship between Bishop Hines and the principal leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Presiding Bishop values the kind of dialogue which this person-to-person and church-to-church relationship opens up.