"Faithfulness to the Truth" by St. Philaret of New York

"I would like to say a few words to you concerning the temptation which is spreading everywhere like a flooding river.  This is the temptation of the so-called ecumenism, which urges all people to unite, regardless of whatever faith they may profess; uniting everyone, in order to create what they call the true church of Christ.  I wish to briefly draw your attention to the following: those who urge us to participate in this ecumenism say: every church, every denomination possesses a certain portion of Christianity, of the truth of Christ, therefore every denomination is obligated to contribute its portion of the truth into this common spiritual treasury and in this manner one church will be created.  In other words, it is proposed to every denomination that they acknowledge that their faith is not completely true, but only in some part while the rest, being falsehood and in error, must be rejected upon entering into this artificial union.  But one must be completely aware of what is being required of us through this appeal to join ecumenism.  Here is what we are required to do:we must declare that we only possess a portion of the truth, as they said; this  means that our Faith is not completely true, not all Orthodox teachings are Truth, but merely some part, the rest being in error.

"Which Orthodox person would agree to recognize that in his holy Orthodox faith something is amiss, that it is only partly just and true?  Never will any firm Orthodox Christian conscience accept this.  Nowadays people's conscience have become too flexible when they agree to many things such as this, which a Christian conscience must not accept.  Who among us would agree to accept that in our Faith something is incorrect?  In that case, what would holy St. Seraphim of Sarov and the holy righteous [Saint] John of Kronstadt, who lived according to this faith, who glorified it and rejoiced in it then say to us?  And then, what would they say to us if we started to say that not all is correct in this Faith?  They would repudiate with indignation not only our words but us as well.

"So let us remember, that already for this reason alone it is impossible for us to enter into this ecumenism.  Our Orthodox Church knows that She stands in the Truth.  She offers this Truth to everyone; She reveals it to all; She does not conceal it within Herself hidden away, unknown to others, but invites all to recognize this Truth.  But She can never deny this Truth, nor will She ever deny it, nor will she ever recognize Her Truth to be falsehood and agree to this madness.

"Therefore for us there can be no place where this talk of ecumenism, because its attractive exterior side nonetheless covers up that falsehood about which I just told you.  Remember beloved ones: our Orthodox Church possesses the entire fulness of Truth, and not some mere portion of it.

"The Orthodox Church maintains the Christian Faith the same as the Holy Apostles passed it down to us.

[snip]

"Let [the heterodox] go their own way, if they do not wish to recognize that we possess the complete, pure Truth - that is their business, and we cannot go along with them.  The Orthodox Church carries Her sacred contents, Her Faith, and will thus carry it through until the end of the existence of the human race here on earth...."

St. Philaret of New York