Less than a week remains before the opening of the All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America, and I find myself reflecting on both the progress we've made and the walls we still face.
When we first drafted our Open Letter to AAC members documenting religious persecution in Russia (2022-2025), I hoped it would spark urgent institutional response. The reality has been more complex—and in some ways, more encouraging—than I anticipated.
Three Updates as We Approach the Council
1. The Metropolitan's Chancellery: Still Waiting
I submitted new proposals to the Metropolitan's chancellery a week ago, outlining concrete ways the OCA could support persecuted believers. As of today—silence. No acknowledgment, no response. I won't speculate on the reasons, but this institutional reticence reminds me why grassroots efforts matter so deeply.
2. Your Voices Matter: 230+ Strong
Here's what gives me hope: Over 230 individuals have now signed our Open Letter. These aren't just names on a page—they're priests, theologians, laypeople, and concerned Christians from multiple jurisdictions who understand that silence in the face of persecution is complicity. Each signature represents someone choosing courage over comfort.
3. Reaching Those Who Need to Hear
This week, The Moscow Times published my column on the churches' silence regarding religious persecution in Russia. While our Public Orthodoxy piece spoke primarily to Western Orthodox readers, this new article aims directly at Russian-speaking audiences—including those within Russia who may feel utterly alone in their suffering. Sometimes the most radical act is simply letting people know they haven't been forgotten.
A Personal Reflection
The contrast weighs on me: individual believers keep stepping forward while institutions hesitate. Yet I'm learning that change often begins exactly this way—with ordinary people refusing to accept the unacceptable. Your signatures, your prayers, your willingness to speak truth—these create ripples that eventually become waves.
Link to The Moscow Times article: https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2025/07/06/molchanie-tserkvei-ilipochemu-hristianskii-mir-ne-zamechaet-gonenii-na-veruyuschih-rossii-a168036
This is my first post on Substack. I'll be sharing regular updates on religious freedom, the persecution of believers in Russia, and what it means for the Church to maintain its prophetic voice in times of moral crisis. If these issues matter to you, I invite you to subscribe and join this conversation. Together, we ensure that those who suffer for righteousness' sake are not forgotten—and perhaps more importantly, that we don't forget our own calling to bear witness.