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TO THE CLERGY AND CHILDREN OF THE AUSTRALIAN-CANADIAN-AMERICAN DIOCESE OF THE BELOKRINITSKAYA METROPOLIA.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.

Honorable and honest Fathers, dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

Most Reverend Bishop Sofrony, venerable and honorable Fathers, dear brothers and sisters in Christ!

We address our Old Believer parishes of the Australian and Canadian-American Diocese: to the pastors of the Church of Christ, as well as to all brothers and sisters in Christ, with the words of the holy apostle Paul: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1:3). With these words, the apostle Paul began his addresses to Christian communities, and with these same words, we humbly wish to begin our address to you.

Firstly, we would like to express our gratitude to the Most Reverend Archbishop Sofrony, all the clergy, and lay delegates of our parishes, who are part of the Australian and Canadian-American Diocese, for their efforts to attend and participate in the Holy Council of 2024. We wish them robust health, spiritual salvation, and swift progress in all their benevolent and salvific endeavors.

We wish to inform you, our esteemed readers, that the Sacred Council of the Belokrinitskaya Metropolis, which convened on October 24th of this year in the Holy Spirit, deliberated on the matter of "The State of Affairs in the Australian-Canadian-American Diocese".

Following extensive deliberations, the Council resolved the following (Point 2 of the Enlightened Council):

1. It is imperative to promptly establish a committee responsible for the publishing affairs of the Australian-Canadian-American Diocese.
2. The Publishing Commission will be responsible for the development and design of liturgical text translations, as well as for reviewing and approving existing translations of liturgical books into English.
3. The Publishing Commission is fully responsible for the translations of texts that it has approved.
4. Summon Archbishop Sofrony to annually conduct the Diocesan Assembly of the Australian-Canadian-American Diocese.
5. Until the restoration of prayerful communion, the clergy of the Moscow Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church, who are located or residing within the boundaries of the Australian-Canadian-American Diocese, are not permitted to perform sacraments.

We hereby inform Archbishop Sofroniy, the entire clergy, and the laity of your Diocese to dispel any doubts and disagreements among you regarding the fact that Priest Nikola (Yakunin) and Priest Porfiry (Toran) visited Romania and our Belokrinitskaya Metropolis on the day of our patron saint's feast, August 23rd of this year. During this visit, we bear witness that Father Nikola Yakunin, with tears, sought forgiveness for his transgression of doubting the Belokrinitskaya hierarchy, considering our Church as neither salvific nor grace-filled, thereby leading many faithful Christians astray. Having considered his weakness, but also his sincere repentance, our humility led us to the decision to forgive him without punishment, in accordance with the principle of economy.

We hereby inform that on October 23rd of this year, a pre-conciliar meeting took place at the farmstead of Braila city, in which we participated. Our bishops and lay delegates from America, Australia, and Latvia were present. At this meeting, Father Nikola (Yakunin) was asked whether he recognizes the Nikonian Russian Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, and the Old Believers as heretics. Father Nikola responded that he would not provide a written answer, but verbally confirmed in front of the entire audience: "YES, they are indeed heretics". He further affirmed his continued allegiance to the Old Believer Church of the Belokrinitskaya hierarchy, which he believes to be the True and Saving Church.

Furthermore, Father Nikola pledged not to send his parishioners to heretics in the future, nor to accept those who had joined the heretics for communal prayer. Those wishing to return should be accepted in the second order through Chrismation and renunciation of heresy. Otherwise, accepting such individuals for communal prayer in the church or even at home would violate the rule "those who pray with the excommunicated shall themselves be excommunicated" (Rule 10 of the Holy Apostles). Therefore, Father Nikola was urged not to repeat such actions, and in case of disobedience, strict measures would be taken, for the Church of Christ must be kept pure, holy, and immaculate.

We urge you all to heed our brief explanation and gentle admonition, and we beseech you as a father would: strive to preserve God's peace and fraternal Christian love, for where love resides, there the Lord Himself dwells. Based on the rules of the Holy Apostles and Fathers, it is necessary for both clergy and laity to show obedience and submission to your spiritual elders, in accordance with the words of the Holy Apostle Paul: "Brethren, obey your leaders."

Your Holiness, Bishop Sofroniy, we appeal to you to establish a unified Church-Parish Charter for all your parishes. Regarding the English language, we propose, in accordance with the synodal resolution, to form a Commission for the study and development of an accurate translation under your blessing. We also urge the venerable Fathers to make efforts to open schools within the Church, where children could learn to read and sing in Old Slavonic, in line with the traditions of our ancestors, to pass this heritage onto the next generation. It is important to remember that "obedience is above fasting and prayer," and that "those who are vigilant care for your souls."

Remember, my dear ones, that we believe in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Christ, and we adhere to the ancient Orthodox faith professed by the holy servants of God and our sacred ancestors. This is why we are distinguished from other denominations as "ancient Orthodox". Let us also be zealous in our ancient piety, emulating the lives of the holy servants of God and our sacred ancestors. They shed their holy blood for the true faith and were deemed worthy to be counted among the ranks of God's servants by the sacred councils of our Holy Church of Christ.

It is important for us all to reflect and contemplate on how our ancestors left Russia with the desire to preserve their sacred faith, rituals, language, and virtuous Christian morals. They endured long journeys, relocations, hardships, and sorrows for this purpose. The Lord protected and strengthened them in all their tribulations, leading them to a place where they could live a peaceful and tranquil life. In this place, they were free to profess the ancient Orthodox Christian faith and maintain the bond of Apostolic love.

So, my dear ones, we call upon all of you to stand firm in the faith of our holy ancestors, who shed their blood for the Church of Christ and the purity of the Holy Patristic Traditions. Be courageous, establish yourselves on the unshakeable foundation of the Church, which is the "pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Tim. 3:15). Guard the purity of our holy Old Orthodox faith as the apple of your eye, so that the "gates of hell" and "heretical instability" do not overcome it. Offer daily prayers to God for the peace of the whole world, for the Church, for yourselves, and for your neighbors. Let there never be among us the sin of pride, love of power, self-will which is the mother of heresies, malice, enmity, divisions, slander, and condemnation. Our pious ancestors, in the most difficult and sorrowful times, preserved and passed on to us the priceless treasure - the holy Faith of Christ, without which no one can please God and save their soul. Let us strive with all our might to preserve it, to multiply it with godly deeds, so that we have something to pass on to our descendants.

We understand that the spiritual upbringing of the younger generation during these times is a sorrowful challenge. Increasingly, our youth are distancing themselves from their identity, forgetting their native language, and not preserving their ancient Orthodox faith. However, we are obliged to strive to bring the souls of the children entrusted to us closer to God. We will make every effort to encourage our children to seek Christ the Savior, turning away from worldly amusements and entertainments of this world.

We appeal to all of you, brothers and sisters, with paternal warmth, imploring you to preserve God's peace and fraternal Christian love among yourselves. Love is both the source and the sum of all virtues, and thus it surpasses all other virtues. As Apostle Paul wrote, "now these three remain: faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love". Without love, all our knowledge, deeds, and even faith itself lack moral value.

The same Apostle Paul also teaches us: "Now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace" (Eph. 2:13-14). It is to peace that the Merciful Lord calls us. Today, it is especially necessary for us to turn to the Lord and Savior with all our hearts, with fervent prayer, and to ask Him for peace and love among ourselves. For where there is peace and love, there is God and all that is good and salvific.

We earnestly implore and beseech all clergy: our archpastors, pastors, and brothers and sisters in Christ of the Overseas Australian and Canadian-American Diocese, to strive to defend our Holy Orthodox Church. Do not repay evil for evil and, if it is possible on your part, endeavor to live in peace with all people, as the supreme apostle Paul instructs us.

Let us devote more thought to the spiritual salvation of each other, to the salvation of ourselves and our loved ones. With a clear conscience, we turn in prayer to the Lord God, asking Him to bestow upon us the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of gentleness, humility, and love. In this way, with one voice and one heart, we can glorify and praise the Lord God. After all, the prophet David the Psalmist did not speak in vain when he said, "How good and how beautiful it is for brothers to live together."

In conclusion of this address, we wish you all peace, health, salvation, and prosperity in all endeavors. We urge you to pray for each other, thus fulfilling the law of Christ, according to the Apostle's word. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, the communion of the Holy Spirit, and our archpastoral blessing be with you all, now and always, and forever and ever, Amen. With the archpastoral blessing, and you as a prayer to God.