Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume V

861.404/11–1549: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Kirk) to the Secretary of State

confidential

Moscow, November 15, 1949—10 a. m.

2834. Embtel 2808 November 11, 3 p. m.¹ Probable purpose behind Soviet efforts send to US Petin,² “Deputy Exarch of Moscow Patriarch in US” and his secretary, Zernov,³ is to gain support of American hierarchy for Soviet-controlled church and thus for Soviet regime itself. Clearly, it is unlikely that the projected visit revolves solely around ecclesiastical matters. In this connection, it is possibly noteworthy that Archbishop Aleksi of Yaroslav⁴ (to whom diplomatic visa granted by Embassy August 23, 1945) apparently had received invitation from Metropolitan Benjamin of Russian Orthodox Church in US, who we understand to be leader of pro-Soviet faction.⁵

We understand from incomplete information available here that-Russian Orthodox Church in US, while it has accepted spiritual leadership of Patriarch of Moscow, nonetheless has demanded and now enjoys full administrative autonomy. This being the case, perhaps our most effective move would be to advise Minister Foreign Affairs that clergymen might care to present invitation to visit US from head of American Church. Such an approach would carry with it advantage of removing from US any onus of seeming interference with religious freedom, and could be explained in terms normal visa practices. Moreover, in light administrative autonomy US Church, appointment of Petin as Deputy Exarch presumably would have to be made by Church itself rather than Moscow Patriarchate.

We are inclined to feel that continued withholding visas simply on ground no decision yet reached by Department may have undesirable repercussion our own efforts obtain Soviet visas. It also may be expected that Minister Foreign Affairs will press us for definite reply. In light Department’s feeling that these cases not parallel to that of Brassard (Deptel 477, June 28⁶) question of reciprocity does not appear to be involved, and we may be better advised to take separate tack.⁷

Department’s views requested.

Kirk

1. Not printed.
2. Alexander Porphiryevich Petin, Bishop Nikon, had applied for a visa in February in the capacity of “Deputy Exarch of the Moscow Patriarchate in the U.S.” for the object of “continuing work” with the Orthodox church in the United States. Action on his visa application was withheld because of the delay by Soviet authorities to grant a visa to Father Brassard. Concerning a message of the Patriarch Alexey and the Holy Synod on the “chaotic” status of the church in America, see airgram A–112 from Moscow on April 26, 1948, Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. iv, p. 838.
3. Archpriest Mikhail V. Zernov.
4. Archbishop Alexey of Yaroslavl and Rostov arrived in New York on September 15, 1945, “with the object of obtaining the submission to the Patriarch of the Church in America.” See Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. v, footnote 86, p. 1124.
5. Archbishop Venyamin (Benjamin) had been appointed on November 22, 1933, to administer the North American parishes remaining true to the Mother Church, with the title of Archbishop of the Aleutians and North America, Exarch of the Moscow Patriarchate in America. Later, for his work, he was elevated to the dignity of a Metropolitan. He finally returned to the Soviet Union in 1947.
6. Not printed.
7. The Embassy reported in telegram 3197 from Moscow on December 28, 1949, that a note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked for the return of the passports of Petin and Zernov “in connection prolonged delay in issuance visa”, and the Embassy proposed to do this without any communication, either written or oral. (861.404/12–2849)