The All-Russian Council approved an appeal to the Anglicans and Old Catholics on this day. On August 3, 1918, at the All-Russian Church Council, a department for ecumenical relations was created for the first time in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. Archbishop Evdokim (Mescheriakov) of the Aleutians and North America was appointed head of this department. On September 4/17, 1918, the Department prepared a draft of a resolution to be issued by the Council: “The Sacred Council of the Orthodox Russian Church, gladly seeing the sincere efforts of the Old Catholics and Anglicans toward union with the Orthodox Church on the foundation of the doctrine and tradition of the ancient Catholic Church, bestows its benediction on the labors and efforts of those who are seeking the way towards union with the above-named friendly Churches. The Council authorizes the Sacred Synod to organize a Permanent Commission with departments in Russia and abroad for the further study of Old Catholic and Anglican difficulties in the way of union, and for the furtherance as much as possible of the speedy attainment of the final aim” (The Anglican and Eastern Churches: a Historical Record, 1914-1921 [London 1921]). This proposal was reviewed and approved by the Council at the last of its 170 meetings, on September 7/20, 1918. However, during the bishops’ last meetings, which were to confirm all decisions of theological or dogmatic importance, this proposal was not reviewed. Conciliar work regarding the heterodox continued in the territories controlled by the White armies, and then in the diaspora. The position of the Russian Church Abroad began to take shape at the Southern Russian Church Council, which met in Stavropol from May 3 to May 17, 1919. The draft of the conciliar appeal to Christians throughout the world was rejected based on the view of Count Pavel M. Grabbe, who believed that it was improper to address heretics on behalf of the Church. Sources: Günter Shultz, “Vopros o soedinenii Tserkvei na pomestnom Sobore Rossiiskoi Pravoslavnoi Tserkvi 1917-1918 godov,” Pravoslavie i ekumenizm(Moscow, 1996). Iu. A. Biriukova, Iugo-Vostochnyi russkii tserkovnyi sobor 1919 (Moscow, 2018). The letter of Fr. George Grabbe to S. Ia. Krasovitskii. Feb. 15, 1979. Stanford University Library. Department of Special Collections. M0964. The Bishop Gregorii Papers. Box 9. Folder Stefan Iakovlevich Krasovitskii 1977-1990. | 
