INTERVIEW:
METROPOLITAN
OF KRUTITSY AND KOLOMNA YUVENALY ON CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS AND
CHARITY IN
SOCIETY
by
Elena
Aleksandrova
Will
the Russian
Orthodox Church support the campaign of the Ministry of Health
for popularizing
organ donation? Why has the recognition of the authenticity of
tsarist remains
been so dragged out? Why religious education for students of
secular universities?
These and other questions from Izvestia were answered by
Metropolitan of
Krutitsy and Kolomna Yuvenaly.
--We
are talking
with you in the midst of preparation for New Year's. But because
the church and
state use different calendars, we celebrate Christmas after New
Year's, and we
celebrate New Year's during the Christmas fast. What is the
likelihood that the
Russian Orthodox Church will at any time move to the Gregorian
calendar?
--One
cannot
view this question apart from links with our history in the 20th
century. When
persecution for faith and the church was beginning after 1917, most believers began to
view suggestions
arising at that time regarding a switch to the Gregorian
calendar as a symbol
of compromise with the atheistic government and thus they were
rejected. Until
the present we have grievously borne the tragic events of the
last century,
when thousands upon thousands of new martyrs were cruelly killed
and gave their
life for Christ. I think that the time still has not come to
discuss the
question of the Gregorian calendar, and the usefulness of
changes in this area
is not evident.
--At
the recent
Bishops' Council once again the Ekaterinburg remains were
discussed, but a
decision regarding them has still not been made by the church.
And it seems
that all the doubts are connected with events of 20 years ago.
In January 1998,
Boris Nemtsov and his advisor Viktor Aksiuchits and the
investigator Vladimir
Soloviev met with Patriarch Alexis II and described for him the
work of the
governmental commission and its conclusions. Both Soloviev and
Aksiuchits say
that the patriarch answered: "You have perseuaded me." But
several
days later you declared that the results of the investigations
"cannot be
accepted with absolute certainty." And then the synod stated
that the
commission's decision "raised serious doubts and even
confrontation
between the church and society." What happened in January 1998
and why did
the position of the church relative to the authenticity of the
remains change so
sharply?
--As
regards the
aforesaid meeting, I did not participate in it and thus I cannot
make any
comment. Regarding the question of the Ekaterinburg remains on
the whole I will
say that recognition of them by the church as relics of the
royal
passion-bearers goes far beyond the bounds of an inter-agency
dialogue. Faced
with such a responsibility it becomes clear that one must not
make a mistake.
It is better to check everything one hundred times and resolve
all existing
doubts and dispel counterarguments so that in peace and harmony
the final
decision is made for the good of the spiritual life of people.
--Religious
education
is penetrating ever more deeply into the secular schools and
universities. Does the church intend to continue further along
this line? And is
it necessary to do this within the bounds of secular educational
institutions?
--We
intend to
continue cooperation between the church and the schools. This
was noted by the
recent Bishops' Council. It is widely sought by society, which
was evident in the
recently completed work of the Moscow regional Christmas
Readings. Orthodox
culture is an integral part of our common heritage, and I do not
understand why
students of secular educational institutions would be
artificially bereft of
this knowledge.
--What
are the
future scenarios in the development of relations with the
Ukrainian Orthodox
Church?
--In
accordance
with the charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church
is self-administering, with the rights of broad autonomy
(chapter 10, article
1). We are profoundly concerned about the difficult situation in
which this
church finds itself today. Its church buildings have been
subjected to violent
seizure and its legislative discrimination is being planned. We
pray for our
brethren and we draw the attention of the world community to
their burdens.
--Now
the
Ministry of Health has begun a campaign for popularizing
postmortem donations.
The development of transplant technology in our country has
lagged because of a
skeptical attitude of society towards donation. Meanwhile
donation has
developed well in Catholic countries. And this is one of the
services of the
Catholic Church since in his time Roman Pope John Paul II
supported donation.
Is the RPTs ready to actively support the Ministry of Health?
--In
point of
fact, postmortem donation may find expression in the Savior's
commandment
regarding sacrificial charity. However in order that a start in
this area could
be achieved and have good results, it is necessary to create
pertinent legislation
and administrative mechanisms that will preclude a broad
spectrum of possible
abuses.
--What
is the
church's attitude toward decoding of the human genome, genetic
modification,
and prolonging life with the aid of modern technologies? And
what do you think
about artificial intelligence, when man, in essence,
appropriates for himself
the functions of the Creator and creates nonorganic forms of
life?
--One
can only
welcome the development of science, if it promotes good. As
regards artificial
intelligence, then regardless of achievements in this area it is
naïve to think
that man actually will be able to become God. It seems that the
spiritual task facing
every person lies on another plane: never forget about faith,
sacrifice,
reconciliation, and love. If the words of the 50th Psalm:
"Create in me a
clean heart, God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Ps.
50.12) will
determine the inner life of a person, then his research activity
will serve to
glorify the Creator and serve the good.
--What
does Christmas
mean for you? What childhood memories do you have about this
holiday?
--My
childhood
was passed in Yaroslavl in years that were difficult for the
church. Most
churches were closed and it was difficult to attend church for
the holiday
because of the crowds. I grew up in a believing family, and for
this reason
from my early years I preserve in my heart a Christmas joy and
happiness.
--Miracles
usually
happen on Christmas. Do you have such a story for readers of
Izvestia?
--Listen. In late December the annual meeting of the Moscow diocese occurred. Originally we held this in the Dormition church of the Novodevichy monastery, but in time there came to be too little room. We assembled in large suburban Moscow churches. But even this proved to be insufficient. In 2017 the meeting was conducted in a large sports complex of the city of Vidnoe. There was assembled not only all our clergy but also it was attended by active laity who participate in educational. evangelistic, and charitable activity. For me, as the administrator of the Moscow diocese for 40 years, this was a true miracle of the flourishing of church life and the triumph of Orthodoxy. (tr. by PDS, posted 1 January 2018)
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