Act of Canonical Communion with the Moscow Patriarchate

[1] The accord was signed on 17 May 2007, which for the Eastern Orthodox Church in that year was the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus.

[1] The ceremony which officially reestablished the fullness of communion between the Moscow Patriarchate, headed by Patriarch Alexy II, and ROCOR, headed by Metropolitan Laurus, took place at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

After official statements by both hierarchs, the service continued with the joint celebration of the Divine Liturgy by clergy of both churches.

[2] Among the dignitaries present was President of Russia Vladimir Putin, Mayor of Moscow Yuriy Luzhkov, presidential envoy Georgy Poltavchenko, and other government officials.

Putin has been hailed by the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus' Alexy II as instrumental in healing the 80-year schism between it and the Russian Orthodox Church outside Russia in May 2007.

Metropolitan Laurus (left) and Patriarch Alexy II (right) sign the Act of Canonical Communion between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, 17 May 2007.