Department for External Church Relations
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His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada: pan-Orthodox dialogue is the only way to achieve resolution in any of the complex issues that face us today
On 30 January 2019, after the meeting with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada answered questions from media reporters.
– Your Beatitude, you have arrived in Moscow on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of enthronement of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. What is your view on the role that the Orthodox Church is playing in the international arena today?
– It is, certainly, a blessing to be here. The invitation from His Holiness was welcomed by our Church, and I am grateful to be here, representing the Orthodox Church in America. It is a great blessing that His Holiness, as he did in the past, has gathered many of the Patriarchs and Primates of the Local Churches to honor this enthronement and to give witness to the unity of the Orthodox Church in the world. It is always a blessing when brothers can serve together the Divine Liturgy and bear witness to the unity of the Orthodox faith.
– Does the Orthodoxy play a great role in America and throughout the world? What can it give to the modern society?
– As the Orthodox Church in America, which was given autocephaly by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1970, we have a particularly important role to play not only within our own Church, but also in relations with all the other Churches that are present in North America. And although there are sometimes global difficulties that impact the North American context, we have a wonderful opportunity in North America to enable Orthodox Christians of various backgrounds to serve together, to work together on common goals, as missionaries to outreach and care for the poor and youth.
– Your Beatitude, what is your assessment of the situation in Ukraine? Do you think the world Orthodoxy is going to support the newly established religious structure?
– The Orthodox Church in America has recently issued a pastoral letter in reference to the situation in Ukraine. That letter speaks for itself. The main point is that as the Orthodox Church in America we fully support the process that would lead to a canonical solution to very difficult and complex issues that are currently facing us.
– What are the ways to resolve the crisis in the world Orthodoxy and to improve the reputation of the world Orthodoxy in the eyes of secular people?
– There are many ways to accomplish this. I would say that, first of all, it requires prayer. Prayer is the source of strength for us as Orthodox Christians. And prayer requires both humility and a clear mind. With prayer and humility, we can enter more robustly into a synodal and pan-Orthodox dialogue which is really the only way to achieve resolution in any of the complex issues that face us today.
Patriarch
Sermons
24.01.2021
06.11.2020