Since the conclusion of the Council of Bishops, which met in October of this year, an unprecedented phenomenon has been observed: from various quarters one hears criticism, both of the Council's epistle itself, and of other documents adopted by the Council.

Such actions prompt us to remind all the members of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia of the meaning of conciliarity [sobornost'] within the Church of Christ. It is impermissible for anyone laymen, clergymen, much less hierarchs to violate the spirit of conciliarity. The Council of Bishops, the highest ecclesiastical authority within our Church, has given utterance to its conciliar word. Now it is up to us, the law-abiding children of the Church. The Council's word must be assimilated by us, pondered and accepted for fulfillment in our life. With time, questions may arise which require further examination. It may also become clear that the people of the Church do not accept one or another position. But at this moment, at the very beginning, one must not dispute the correctness of the Council's word, taking opposing positions, and thus undermining the authority of the Council of Bishops.

During the sessions of the Council, all the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church were fully able to express their convictions, to register their agreement or disagreement with any point under discussion. But after the Council, no bishop has the right to issue statements containing the individual views which have appeared since the Council. Now, when the common word of the episcopal assembly has been accepted and promulgated, all personal views must be set aside in deference to the Council's judgment. Otherwise, statements containing individual views will bring about the destruction of the very bases of our conciliar consciousness.

The storm which at present assails our Church is a temptation, a testing of our stand for the Truth. This loyalty could be observed with true clarity during the workings of the Council, which were conducted with brotherly love, in the spirit of true conciliarity. Truth must not be encroached upon or belittled to please any ideological party. Every attempt to apply such pressure is, in and of itself, an anticonciliar action directed against the foundations of our Church, and is destructive to the very order of the Church.

Over the course of eighty years, we have striven faithfully to preserve the Russian Orthodoxy handed down to us by our fathers. Now, when new developments may be seen taking place in the much-suffering land of Russia, we must all the more refrain from betraying it; we cannot remain neutral amid the multifaceted activity of the Church of Russia in the homeland and in the diaspora. During such a period of responsibility it is impermissible to make irresponsible statements which might trample upon conciliarity, casting the faithful into an abyss of confusion and instability. For then they may rightly ask us: "Whom should we, the children of the Russian Church Outside of Russia, believe; what positions should we take?"

For this reason, we ask everyone to calm their passions and pray for our Church, that our Lord, the Chief Shepherd, may grant all of us the strength to stand fast in Truth and righteousness to the end.