Putin receives icon of life-giving Trinity for unifying church

Moscow, May 17 (UNI) Russian Patriarch Alexy II today presented a folding icon to President Vladimir Putin for his '' serious contribution'' to the unification of the Moscow Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR).

A historic agreement, the Act of Canonical Communion, signed today reunited the two branches of the Russian Orthodox Church after decades of hostility since the Bolshevik revolution of 1917.

Alexy II and the Church's NewYork-based First Hierarch of the ROCOR, Metropolitan Laurus signed the agreement at the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.

Mr Putin, who attended the signing ceremony, received from Alexy II a casket with a folding icon of the Life-Giving Trinity.

"Let it be a reminder of today, a day that has unified us all," the Patriarch said.

Mr Putin exchanged triple kisses with Alexy and Laurus.

The signing of the Act of Canonical Communion symbolized the return of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia into the fold of the Moscow Patriarchate and of the whole of the Orthodox world, which until recently did not recognize the Russian Orthodox Church abroad.

From now onwards, being part of the Mother Church, parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad, will have the right to take communion at all of the world's Orthodox churches, while its clergy gained the right to serve jointly with the hierarchs and clergy of all 15 local Orthodox churches.

The name of the Russian Patriarch will now be mentioned in all services of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad before the name of the First Hierarch.

The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia will, as previously, be run by its own Council of Bishops - "its supreme ecclesiastical, legislative, administrative, judiciary and controlling authority" convened by her First Hierarch in accordance with the Regulations.

"This election is confirmed in accordance with the norms of the canonical law by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church," the agreement said.

"Decisions on the establishment or liquidation of dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia will be made in agreement with the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church," it added.

UNI