In recent years, and especially since the onset of perestroika, changes have begun to take place in the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCA or ROCOR). At first, they were perceptible only to those who followed events closely, but then with the appearance of the October 2000 Epistle of the Council of Bishops, it became evident to anyone willing to read, that a new direction has been designed to create a path for communication and dialogue with the official Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) otherwise known as the Moscow Patriarchate (MP). The Epistle, although heavily cloaked in admonishing its flock to remain busy with their own salvation and personal piety rather than meddle in church affairs, also recognized the Moscow Patriarchate as a legitimate church and cancelled the infamous Declaration of 1927 by Metropolitan Sergii (Starogorodsky), later to become known as the first "patriarch" of the official Soviet Orthodox Church (ROC)- a church that worked hand-in-hand with the communist regime in the destruction of thousands of churches and monasteries as well as the brutal torture and murder of millions of faithful, in other words- the annihilation of Orthodoxy. It is only natural that the October 2000 Epistle was followed by a multitute of protests, only for them to be silenced and the clergy forbidden to serve- simply because they came to the defense of the Church Abroad and gave very plausible reasons why a rapprochement with the MP was not possible. Such treatment of dedicated clergy is an ugly and unprecedented event in the history of Rocor and it resembles the tactics and behavior of the KGB-controlled MP, rather than Rocor. The MP, which calls itself the Mother Church, despite the fact that it was established by Stalin and is younger than the pre-revolutionary Church Abroad- the MP is not a church but an organization that has been used as a tool to combat religion by the atheist communist regime.

*In the USSR, and in Russia today, the ROC has always been a tool of the State. Though technically, there was a separation between Church and State after the Bolshevik Revolution, the Church as a potential enemy with its own philosophy, was alien to the Soviet State and for that reason, in the initial stage of the Bolshevik Revolution, all the church people who honestly believed that they had their own Supreme Being to serve, not the State, were mostly exterminated.

Therefore, to suddenly speak of the MP as a legitimate church, as was done by the hierarchs in the October Epistle, created dissension and profound consternation, which was voiced by people, from around the world including Russia, through letters, protests and Orthodox Lists on the Internet. Finally, in July of 2001, the President of the Synod of Bishops of the Church Abroad, his Eminence Metropolitan Vitaly, was forcibly and illegally removed in what can be considered one of the most odious Coup d'Etats (1) in history. Those unfamiliar with the Coup might want to acquaint themselves with at least the most recent events, for instance, the fact that Metropolitan Vitaly''s June 22 Epistle, which he ordered to be read from the amvon in all churches, was forbidden(2) With unprecedented insolence on the part of a young bishop towards his First-Hierarch, Bishop Gabriel discredited Metropolitan Vitaly's Epistle, with the help of Archbishop Mark,(3) as not having been written by the Metropolitan. This accusation later was proved to be wrong and the document authentic.(4) One should also become acquainted with the accounts of the infamous July 10th-13th events, when the First-Hierarch was yelled at (literally) and lied to by the bishops under him. On July 10th, the Metropolitan walked out of the meeting in which he was rudely mistreated, thus canceling it and making all subsequent meetings of the new Synod illegal. Much has been written about the events that week, but suffice it to say, people who voiced their concern, and spoke in defense of the Metropolitan and the Church Abroad, as well as against union with the MP, were invariably silenced, labeled as mentally imbalanced or otherwise incompetent, and considered as schismatics who "refuse to obey their bishops." Words such as sectarians, fanatics, extremists have been applied to them, words that stem directly from the KGB-controlled Moscow Patriarchate, and one must add, have always been used by the KGB to degrade, weaken and discredit.

It is with great sorrow and shame that one reads the reactions to the Coup in the Russian Press:

(Coup d'Etat in Rocor: Apparently Metropolitan Vitaly Has Been Expelled from Ruling the Church): "The virtual release of Metropolitan Vitaly from his duties as the First-Hierarch of Rocor and his expulsion from the Synod (archbishop Lavr and bishop Michael literally demanded that he vacate his room in the Synod building), coincided with the 50th celebration of his services as a hierarch… The members of the Synod abroad not only did not respond to many offers to reward him with the right to wear a second panagiia together with the title of the "Most Holy" but subjected him to obstruction. The refusal of the Synod Abroad members to use most elementary rules of respect for their elderly First Hierarch even on the day of celebration of his 50th "golden" anniversary, stands as an important indicator of the spiritual atmosphere which reigns in today’s pro-Moscow Patriarchate leadership of the Church Abroad." (5)

For those who do not have access to the Internet and are patiently "obeying their bishops," it is crucial, for the sake of Rocor’s existence, to become acquainted with that which has been withheld from them. After the Coup d’Etat, an Epistle was issued by the Bishops stating that they "cannot fail to note how, through the wide dissemination of all manner of distortions and false interpretations- especially on websites formed for this purpose on the internet… full of slander against the hierarchy." The Epistle admonishes: "Pay no attention to the various Open Letters, Statements… [by that they mean the protests to the October 2000 Epistle voiced by those concerned]… which are being disseminated on the internet and by electronic mail by various provocateurs."(6) What these bishops fail to mention is that for many years now, a very vocal, persistent and highly determined and organized group of real provocateurs (7) have been unrelentlessly brainwashing the flock on the internet promoting what they thought would be a smooth rapprochement and convergence with the MP, cheering each other as they went along. These have become so obvious to the readers’ dismay, that they have been labeled as the "pro-MP" faction, gradually leading the Church Abroad into union with the MP and ecumenical World Orthodoxy. As stated in their Epistle, "not one of the hierarchs is striving for a speedy unification with the MP-" maybe not speedy but a definite gradual, highly calculated, behind the scenes process has been under way for years. Behind the names of those who have become obvious advocates of the Union, stand others, who are steering the entire process. Their names will become known later, as more is unveiled- but for now it is important to make that unveiling process available to the public rather than being fearful of repercussions and personal attacks. It is to those who intend on working in whatever capacity God has endowed them with, to help the Church Abroad continue its existence, to those who will not be afraid of spreading the truth- and to disseminate literature (8) banned by the official so-called pro-MP faction- and to those who do not have access to the Internet (apparently a large number of parishioners who have remained in the dark during the entire process), that this work is humbly dedicated.

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*On August 3, 2001, the author conducted a taped interview with Major General Oleg Kalugin, former Chief of Counterintelligence of the First Directorate of the KGB, in charge of Foreign Intelligence against the West, whose department was especially known for its special emphasis on religion. Major General Kalugin, who has since defected, has graciously accepted the interview and provides us with first-hand information on the mindset and tactics used by the KGB then and now. All statements marked by an asterisk will be his.(back)