18/31
December, 1969
To
His Beatitude Auxentius,
Archbishop of the Church of the
True Orthodox Christians of Greece
Your
Beatitude,
Your
Beatitude’s fraternal letter of 25 November 1969,
was read by us at a meeting of our Synod today.
The
many trials which the Orthodox Church has endured from
the beginning of its history are especially great in
our evil times, and, consequently, this especially
requires unity among those who are truly devoted to
the Faith of the Fathers. With these sentiments, we
wish to inform you that the Synod of Bishops of the
Russian Orthodox Church Abroad recognizes the validity
of the episcopal ordinations of your predecessor of
blessed memory, the reposed Archbishop Akakios, and
the consequent ordinations of your Holy Church. Hence,
taking into account also various other circumstances,
our hierarchical Synod esteems your hierarchy as brothers
in Christ in full communion with us.
May
the blessing of God rest upon all the clergy and faithful
of your Church, especially during the coming days of
the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ.
The
President of the Synod of Bishops
+Metropolitan Philaret
The
Members:
+Nikon, Archbishop of Washington and Florida,
+Seraphim, Archbishop of Chicago and Detroit
+Vitaly, Archbishop of Montreal and Canada
+Anthony, Archbishop of Los Angeles and Texas
+Averky, Archbishop of Syracuse and Trinity
+Anthony, Archbishop of Western America and San Francisco
+Sabbas, Bishop of Edmonton
+Nectary, Bishop of Seattle
+Andrew, Bishop of Rockland
+Laurus, Bishop of Manhattan