The Russian Clergy (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. THE SYNOD. The Eussian Church, we have seen, was long governed by a metropolitan dependent on the Patriarch of Constantinople. The developments of this Church, the increasing importance of the country, the precarious situation of the see of Constantinople after the capture of this city by the Turks (1452), --all these considerations, and many others, determined Boris Godounoff to erect at Moscow a patriarchal see. Favoured by circumstances, the new patriarch saw himself at first invested with very great authority; but misunderstanding was not slow in cropping up between him and the tsar. After a long and painful strife, a council, convoked at Moscow by the care of the Tsar Alexis, and at which the Eastern patriarchs assisted, deposed the patriarch Nicon. He was replaced, and nothing, externally at least, was changed in the relations of the two powers. The patriarch's authority, however, found itself diminished by the struggle in which he had succumbed. At first this was deemed to be only an eclipse; and had there arisen among Nicon's successors a man of intelligence and character, the lost ground had been recovered. Nothing of the kind occurred; but, on the other hand, a man was seen to mount the throne of the tsars endowed in the highest degree with those qualities which were essentially wanting in the chiefs of the Eussian Church. What at bottom were the religious ideas of Peter I.? This question is difficult and embarrassing. It is almost. certain that he dreamt of a reconciliation with Eome, but probably in view only of the matrimonial alliances which could be contracted with the houses of Austria and France. Besides sympathising with Protestants when very young, he was initiated into a masonic lodge founded at Moscow by Lefort. Hence it may..