“The Blessings of Reunification for American Converts” by Dmitry Zlodorev

We spoke with regular Pravoslavie.ru/OrthoChristian.com contributor Dmitry ZlodorevZlodorev, Dmitry

“>Dmitry Zlodorev, a professional journalist of thirty years. Dmitry is currently working on a book about the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) with its Mother Church, the Moscow Patriarchate. Here are his insights as a Russian-American.

Signing of the Reunification document by Patriarch Alexiy II and Metropolitan Laurus     

—You are a long-time contributor to Pravoslavie.ru and OrthoChristian, being uniquely positioned in the United States. How long have you been working in the U.S.? Is it home for you now?

—My American journey started 27 years ago when I visited the United States for the first time. It was Boulder, a small town in Colorado, where I worked as an intern with the very local newspaper. That experience was great: after working in ITAR-TASS, the major Russian news agency and one of the biggest in the world, I had a chance to deepen into America’s local life, and that was interesting.

Then, I returned to Moscow, but as a journalist, I have returned to the U.S. several times for short business trips. My major trip began in 2006, and it continues to this day.

Yes, the U.S. became my home—along with Russia, of course. At least, this is the home for my kids, who were born and are growing up here. They are Russian Orthodox Americans, and we try to educate them in Russian traditions and add some appropriate American traditions.

Of course, I continue to be a Russian Orthodox person. However, at some point, I began to notice that in certain cases, I think as a Russian American, not just as a Russian or an American. This is a very interesting experience.

And by the way, perhaps we would not be having this talk with you on the OrthoChristian platform without America’s “interference” in the best meaning of this word. I became an Orthodox journalist only here.

—How did that happen?

—Nothing happens accidentally in an Orthodox believer’s life, as St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco would say. My oldest son was diagnosed with leukemia here, and Father Archpriest Victor PotapovPotapov, Victor, Archpriest

“>Victor Potapov, the rector of the Russian St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC, came to baptize him directly in the hospital. Two months later we began coming to the church and found many interesting people around us. At one moment, I understood that I have a real “life treasure” here, and must share it with others. That was how I began listening and writing our parishioners’ and priests’ stories.   

—When did you become interested in writing a book on the reunification? What obstacles, if any have you met along the way of your quest?

—I am a news journalist who has worked in news agencies for over thirty years. I like anniversaries of any kind. As Julian Lowenfeld, an American translator of Pushkin and your godson, told me, “You Russians, like milestones.”

In 2022, when the fifteenth anniversary of the reunification approached, I decided to talk with people who participated in the process and combine their memories in a book. To tell the truth, some parts were published at Pravoslavie.ru and OrthoChristian.com as separate interviews.

Believe it or not, timing was the only obstacle I encountered. I wanted to complete a manuscript by the anniversary, May 17, 2022, but not everything was ready. However, the bitter comes with the sweet: I decided not to “clue” to any dates and do the book better. Now, I understand that I still have space that should be filled.

Metropolitan Laurus with a ROCOR delegation and Metropolitan Onuphry of the UOC, visiting an orphanage in Ukraine.     

—What do you mean by “space”?

—For example, many of my interlocutors advised me to talk with Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov)Tikhon (Shevkunov), Metropolitan

“>Metropolitan Tikhon (Shevkunov), who was one of the major “engines” of the process from the Moscow Patriarchate’s side. I understand Vladyka is very busy, but I hope we can talk.

Then, I know many people close to St. John (Maximovich) of Shanghai and San Francisco

“>St. John of Shanghai, the hieraches Averkii (Taushev), Nikon (Rklitsky), Antonii (Medvedev), Bishop Mitrophan (Znosko-Borovsky)Mitrophan (Znosko-Borovsky), Bishop”>Mitrofan (Znosko-Borovsky), Basil (Rodzyanko), Archimandrite Cyprian (Pyzhov), and other elders of Russia Abroad who reposed well before the reunification. It would be interesting to learn what they thought about reconciliation.

It would also be great to speak with more American converts who came to the Russian Orthodox Church. So far, there are memories of Bishop Jerome (Shaw) and Archimandrite Tryphon (Parsons), the Igumen of All-Merciful Savior Monastery in the state of Washington. Now, I would like to expand this list.

Metropolitan Hilarion and Archpriest Seraphim Gan     

—Did you know Metropolitan Hilarion of blessed memory? Can you tell us what stood out the most about him, what most impressed you about him?

—Knowing Vladyka Hilarion was a blessing for me. And by the way, I received his verbal blessing to work on this book. It was at our last, as it turned out later, meeting in September 2021. Vladyka shared his memories related to the reunification. He spoke about how he was young and attended services in the Moscow Patriarchate church in Canada, how he wanted to study at the seminary in Leningrad, and how he came to the Holy Trinity seminary in Jordanville. Vladyka said that the reconciliation was a great achievement that allowed the Russian Church to become united.

That talk with Vladyka Hilarion occurred in the presence of the Kursk Root icon of the Mother of God. Sitting just two meters from such a great shrine was a great experience, and I cannot even describe my feelings. It was unbelievable to speak with such a great man near this icon.

Vladyka was a very humble person. I do not remember him denying even one of my requests for an interview despite his poor heald, fatigue, and busyness. He was always ready to serve God and his flock.

I still see Vladyka standing with the Cross after the liturgy. He would be tired after a long service, but people come to kiss the Cross and receive a blessing. And he humbly stands and blesses everyone.   

—When you lived in Russia, what did you know about the ROCOR?

—Oh, you cannot even imagine how far from the Church I was at that time. Yes, I was baptized, I attended services from time to time but it was a kind of “external interest.” My first “indirect” interaction with the ROCOR occurred in 1999 in Washington, DC. I asked my colleagues about the Russian church there, and was told that St. John’s cathedral is “not ours.” Now I am a parishioner of that “alien” church.

—Is there any schedule in place for your book’s release? Although you missed the anniversary in May, 2022, are you trying to tie it to any other date?

I would like to avoid being attached to anniversaries. Of course, sooner would be better. However, it is more important to do everything I can and acquire all possible materials. I already mentioned that I have ideas for including other people’s memories in the book. In other words, I am glad that I am no longer under time constraints.

—What language will the book be published in?

This is another example of why the delay in publishing was helpful. The manuscript is written in Russian. However, I have begun to understand that it is good to translate it into English as well, so that other people, not only Russians, can learn about the history of overcoming the schism in the Russian Church

Dmitry Zlodorev. Photo: roscult.org     

—Having interviewed the clergy who participated in the unification process, what is the most important conclusion or impression that you are left with? Have you found inspiration and a confirmation of the “rightness” of this reunification between the ROCOR and its Mother Church in Russia?

—I was blessed to talk with a dozen of ROCOR’s hierarchs and clergy—Metropolitans Hilarion and Mark of Berin and Germany, then-Bishop and now-First Hierarch Nicholas (Olhovsky), Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, Bishop Jerome (Shaw), Fr. Victor Potapov, Fr. Victor Lochmatow, Fr. Tryphon (Parsons), Fr. Andrey Sommer, Fr. Stephan Pavlenko, Fr. Nicholas Artemov from Germany, and Archpriest George Larin of blessed memory. They all underscored that the decision the ROCOR made in 2006 and 2007 was the only right one, even though some of them had doubts in the beginning. For example, Vladyka Gabriel was very skeptical about the reunification but then, he understood that this is the only way for the ROCOR to survive.

Fr. Victor Potapov from Washington, DC, recalled how he served the first Liturgy after returning from the signing ceremony in Moscow without a deacon and had to read the litany and commemorate the Patriarch for the first time in his life. “I remember, having said, “and our lord, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Alexy II with all his flock,” I felt as if a huge, heavy weight had been lifted from my shoulders,” he said.

That was the main conclusion: There was no doubt that reunification and reconciliation were the only right moves.

Yes, unfortunately, we lost some people who did not accept this. Some still remain in schism, but many have come to understand it was God’s will and have returned to the Church. This is another triumph of Orthodoxy, and this is very important.   

—What do you feel the significance is of this reunification to non-Russian converts in the ROCOR?

—It so happens that now I attend English Liturgies in our church more often than Slavonic ones. More and more Americans come to us. They are interested in Russian Orthodoxy, have converted to our faith, and have been baptized. I see with what enthusiasm they read Orthodox prayers in English, how they commemorate the Patriarch. I feel that being a part of the united Russian Church is a blessing for them. And when priests and other guests from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and other countries come to us, and when we ourselves go to those countries, we can approach the same Chalice together. This is very important.

—Thank you, Dmitry, for this and all you other labors of love and journalism, and for talking with us about your current work in progress. May God bless the work. Please keep us updated!

—I will, thanks!