APPENDIX A.

Outlines of the Constitution of the Orthodox Catholic Church of the West (163)

I.THE Orthodox Catholic Church of the West being essentially the same as that of the East, both must profess the same Faith. Our Creed is therefore to be found in Peter Moghila’s "Orthodox Confession of Faith of the Catholic and Apostolic Church," or in the Larger Catechism of the Russian Church (translated by Mr. Blackmore).

II. The East and the West must likewise have the same fundamental Church-Constitution. Therefore the Western Church accepts the Holy Canons of the seven oecumenical councils. For further information see "Die orthod. kath. Anschauung," p. 115-126; and "Po voprossu o soyedinenii tserkvey" (On the Question of the Reunion of Churches), St. Petersburg, 1866, p. 8 seq. The Russian author comprises my overtures in 16 items.

It would be a vain attempt to establish the Orthodox Church of the West, Proprio Marte, as an autokephalous Church. This would but be one more Schism. The first requisite of Western Orthodoxy is a correct course in founding its Church. Those who agree with the principles laid down in this book (the shortest expression of which is contained in the two points just exhibited) should commune with each other, and thus form a body of petitioners who would address themselves to "the most Holy Governing Synod" of the Russian Church in order to be, on the said basis, admitted into the Communion with that branch of the Orthodox Church, since that branch is nearer and more congenial to the West than any other branch of the Eastern Church. Up to our formal reception into the Orthodox Church no administration of sacraments could take place, but we were only to join for private devotions, like catechumens, and in case of urgency, to apply to an Eastern Orthodox priest. As it will take a long time to settle all minor details of the question, our reception may not be deferred to such a moment, and it cannot be deferred by the Authorities of the Orthodox Church, if we pledge ourselves not to retain or introduce anything Western which the Holy Governing Synod does not approve of.

Thus the first thing of the Synod would be to license a Western priest validly ordained and conforming to Orthodoxy 1. to celebrate the Liturgy as found in the Missale Romanum (without the Elevation after the words of the Institution), of course the Masses of modern saints excluded; 2. to confess the faithful; to administer the Holy Communion under both kinds; to baptize by trine immersion; to solemnize the sacrament of matrimony; and to dispense the sacrament of the Unction of the sick (not to be limited to the hopeless state of the dying). For the celebration of the Liturgy the Synod would supply an Antiminsion. The Liturgy and the other services would be held in the vernacular tongue, but the official language used in documents, Councils of the Western Church, &c., would remain the Latin. The sacerdotal garments (now partly curtailed and disfigured) to be restored to their primitive Western shape and simplicity. No opera-music, but the dignified Gregorian chant. Only icons to be used in Church. The Horae canonicae to be purified from Romish stain; and to be said in full length by the Regular Clergy (Monks), but "ritu paschali" by the Secular clergy.

The indispensible arrangements and regulations to be made by the Russian Church before founding the Orthodox Western Church, can therefore be greatly simplified by the clause "salve Sanctae Synodi approbatione," binding the Westerns in their proceedings.

(163) J.J. Overbeck, Catholic Orthodoxy and Anglo-Catholicism: A Word about Intercommunion between the English and Orthodox Churches (London, 1866), pp. 198-200. Italics and other peculiarities are OverbeckÕs.