The hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Alaska on 15 August, asked for forgiveness for the meeting. Archbishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska published the appeal on the website of the Orthodox Church in America.
In a statement addressed to Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the OCA, Alexei writes that he wants to offer “sincere apologies” to those who experienced pain, suffering or surprise because of his action. The archbishop noted that he met with Putin during his visit to Anchorage out of a desire for peace and a sense of hospitality. However, the priest noted, many rebuked him for not directly addressing Putin about the need for peace in Ukraine. The archbishop noted that the official position of the Orthodox Church in America, which has repeatedly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has not changed.
“I deeply regret the scandal that provoked,” Alexei wrote.
Metropolitan Tikhon said in a statement that the archbishop met with Putin on his own initiative, without the blessing of the Synod. He emphasised that the church still condemns the war and calls for an immediate end to it.
Archbishop Alexei met with Putin at the memorial cemetery in Anchorage, which the Russian president visited after talks with Trump. The priest presented Putin with an icon of Herman of Alaska, and Putin gave him two icons.
The Orthodox Church in America is autocephalous, that is, independent of other local churches, including the Russian Orthodox Church. Its parishioners are Orthodox residents of the United States and Canada, among them some from Ukraine.