Improving OCA - ROCOR relations

From the blog Reading Notes:

In a recent post on the Ochlophobist's blog, I made a few general remarks on my impressions of the remaining tensions between the OCA and ROCOR. One point I made was the standing concern of some that priests had uncanonically left one jurisdiction (or the other) and were thus suspended by their former jurisdiction. According to the ROCOR website, Metropolitan JONAH presented a decision of the OCA Synod to Metropolitan HILARION recognizing the former OCA clergy who left for ROCOR and lifting their suspensions. This is certainly bright news for the Church as Great Lent draws to a close and another important step toward healing the old wounds between the spiritual heirs of Holy Russia.

If I am not mistaken, this past meeting is the third such which has occurred since the elevation of +JONAH as Primate of the OCA. As some might recall, +HILARION sent a message of greeting to the All American Council which elected +JONAH. In that message, he expressed hope that the two jurisdictions would find new ways to cooperate in the future. Though some have disagreed with me, I have held fast to the view that one of the single most important tasks facing +JONAH is to bring to a close the needless divide between the OCA and ROCOR (which inevitably will include the participation of the MP as well). As one ROCOR blogger put it, it will be a great day when one can walk into an OCA, MP, or ROCOR parish and not be able to tell the difference.

Glory be to God for all things.

(ROCOR) - On April 9, 2009, His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, visited the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia at his residence in New York. After praying before the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God in the Synodal Cathedral, His Beatitude gave His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion a letter on the decision of the Holy Synod of the OCA regarding their former clergymen who had gone under the ROCOR while under suspension. At a recent meeting, the Holy Synod decided to recognize them as clergymen of the Russian Church Abroad, removing their suspensions.

Expressing his warm welcome to the Head of the Orthodox Church in America, Vladyka Hilarion gave His Beatitude a gift of the icon of Our Lady of Vladimir, and invited his guests to his residence, where a reception was held honoring Metropolitan Jonah and the clergymen accompanying him, Protopriest Alexander Garklavs and Protopriest Leonid Kishkovsky. Representing the Church Abroad were also His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, Archimandrite Luke (Murianka) and Protopriest Serafim Gan.