Days 3-5 in South America, 6-9 February 2008
Day 3, 6 February 2008
On Wednesday morning Vladyka Hilarion, Fr Michael, Fr Alexei and Roberto Leon visited the senior clergyman of the Chilean diocese – Archimandrite Benjamin (Wosniuk). No one knew how the meeting with Fr Benjamin would proceed, since even prior to the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion (in May of 2007) he had ceased commemorating his lawful Church hierarchy. However, Fr Benjamin received the archbishop and those accompanying him in a courteous and friendly manner. He spoke with the archbishop and Fr Michael regarding his stance on the question of Church unity. He conveyed his misgivings concerning the present Church situation and cited many examples from history which, in his opinion, support his point of view. Mother Abbess Juliana arrived during the conversation and attentively listened to all that Fr Benjamin, Vladyka and Fr Michael said. Despite the fact that no consensus was reached on the question of the restoration of ecclesiastical unity and both Fr Benjamin and Mother Juliana remain with their previous opinion, both of them parted with the archbishop and those with him on a friendly note. Any further decision concerning their personal relationship to what has transpired depends fully on whether they wish to accept that the conciliar decision of the entire Russian Orthodox Church was in accordance with God’s will and subject themselves to their lawful Church authorities.Continue Reading
