Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume VI, Soviet Union, October 1986–January 1989

159. Memorandum of Conversation¹

Moscow, May 30, 1988, 2:28–2:47 p.m.

SUBJECT

• The President’s Meeting with Monks in Danilov Monastery (U)

PARTICIPANTS

• U.S.

  • The President
  • The First Lady
  • Secretary of State George Shultz
  • General Colin L. Powell, National Security Advisor
  • Thomas Griscom, Director for White House Communications and Planning
  • Jack Matlock, U.S. Ambassador to Moscow
  • Rudolf V. Perina, Director for European and Soviet Affairs, NSC Staff (Notetaker)
  • William Hopkins, Interpreter

• USSR

  • Metropolitan Filaret
  • Archimandrite Tichon
  • 14 Unidentified Monks

After the President delivered his prepared remarks, the press was asked to leave and an unidentified monk delivered a message of greeting to the President. He said that the monastery wished to greet the President on behalf of all members of the Russian Orthodox Church, which had traditions dating back a thousand years. He said that when the grace of the Holy Spirit acted in the hearts of people, the world would be saved from destruction. The President had come on a mission of peace, and if the Summit meeting advanced the cause of peace, Jesus Christ would be present. He concluded by asking God to bless the Summit and to fulfill the prayers of both Russian and American Christians that this mission of peace be successful. (C)

Archimandrite Tichon then asked to say a few words about the members of the monastery. He said they included people of varied ages; he himself was 40 years old but some were older and some much younger. Some were still in religious schooling. He briefly introduced each of the monks present and their duties in the monastery. (C)

Tichon went on to say that he had earlier served at a different monastery. But the year before he had been appointed Abbot of Danilov Monastery. Restoration of this monastery had been underway since 1983, with the intention to complete as much of it as possible in time for the Millenium celebration of the Church. The restoration was financed by contributions from believers, both money and precious objects which they donated for this purpose. The government was now returning other monasteries to the Church, and several had been returned just in the past year. (C)

Tichon added that the monastery was grateful for the visit by the President and believed the President’s mission would contribute to peace. He said that the problems which the President had mentioned in his prepared remarks were at present finding satisfactory solution. He concluded by saying that he prayed the President’s talks with General Secretary Gorbachev would prove successful. (C)

In response to Tichon’s mention of his (Tichon’s) age, the President quipped that if anyone was self-conscious about age, they should remember that he had celebrated his 39th birthday 38 times. (U)

Tichon asked the President if he had any questions. (U)

The First Lady responded that she would have a question. She said that, out of curiosity, she would like to know if those present believed that the Church in Russia would ever be free of the state. (C)

Tichon responded that the Church was separate from the state under the constitution. Both Church and state had their own responsibilities: the Church to teach the faith, and the state to lead the political life of the country. (C)

The First Lady asked if believers and non-believers in the Soviet Union would ever have equal opportunity for advancement in life. (C)

Metropolitan Filaret said that this was what the Church hoped for. It was hoped that, after the meetings between the President and the General Secretary, all such problems would go away. The First Lady said she hoped so also. (C)

The President said he had already discussed this subject with General Secretary Gorbachev. The United States was one nation under God, but church and state were totally separated. The government could not interfere in the affairs of churches in any way. (C)

Filaret said it was the same in the Soviet Union by law, but the Church was trying to make sure that the law would be fully implemented. (C)

The President said he hoped the Church would win. Filaret concluded the meeting by saying that Christ would win. (C)

1. Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat, S/S Records, Memoranda of Conversations Pertaining to United States and USSR Relations, 1981–1990, Lot 93D188, Moscow Summit 5/29–6/1, 1988. Confidential. Drafted by Perina. The meeting took place in the Father Superior’s residence at Danilov Monastery.