Archbishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) on Compromise Policy of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) in Letters to Yu. P. Grabbe

The publication includes two letters of Archbishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky), the future first hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). The letters were written in the summer of 1928 and addressed to Yuri Petrovich Grabbe. Later, Grabbe was ordained a priest and bishop, played a great role in ROCOR politics for decades, and is well known for his uncompromising policy towards Moscow Patriarchate. However, according to the letters, in 1928 Grabbe was loyal to the policy of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) and suggested that disagreements with him be “covered with love”. Archbishop Anastasy (Gribanovsky) insisted in his letters that Metropolitan Sergius’ policy was wrong, since it led not to political indifference, but to direct support for the communist government. In his letters, Archbishop Anastasy also gives his assessment of the actions of the Russian bishops in the Fatherland, who opposed the compromise policy of Metropolitan Sergius. Metropolitan Anastasy pointed out that the policy of Moscow Patriarchate might be justified in Russia, but was not necessary for the emigration. At the same time, Metropolitan Anastasy pointed out that being safe, the emigration could not judge Metropolitan Sergius.