The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-08-18
TIE EASTERN QUESTION.
HwyvRY OF yHE RusslAS-GREEK CHURCH.


30, he~ &c.
Under the title Of the Russian Question" . new
work has lust appeared from the pen of Mr. LeouzoD
Isduc, calculated to throw great light on the events
new agitating Europe. Mr.. Leduc considers In his
vorh what he calls the three elements Of the Russian
question The person or the instrument Men.
ssAikof the principle or the pretert-ths Russian
Greek Church the tact and the conseqiences-the OBJ
3srt Of R.ssia asd foreign Intervention. The follow
ing extract from the second part will enable our
readers to appreciate the true character Of that Rus
sian-Greek Church, about which so much has lately
BEEN said, and upon which the Emperor OF RUSSIA
persists in founding the policy which ne has Just
adopted towards the Porte.
RUssIA HER CHURCH, ETC.
FxrsnsAtsd from Ia Patrie, Of Paris, Of July IA
What is the Russian Church 1t is the Greek
Church reduced to the petried state" So said one
lay The Rev. NJ. Lacordaire, from the pulpit of Notre
Dame. These words bear the impress Of profound
ruth.
A transfuge from the Church of Rome, and ser
via imitation Of the church of Constantinople the
Hssian Church appears to have had, during the Last
1hree centuries, no other object than gradually to
smother the principle which originally constituted
haf vitality to arrive at that dull torpid state where
u she is now languishing.
What signifes that title orthodox with which she
BOW so vainly decks herself? search history for
N answer, but to purpose History tells me that
in S67 the Byzantine Patriarch, Ignatius, who was
1hen living on footing of the most perfect harmony
With the Roman Pontif, sent missionaries into Rus
Bia for the purpose of making converts. History
tells me- too, that in $50 vladimir the Great, the
Arst Grand Duke Of Russia after the Princess Olga,
Who solemnly embraced the Christian faith, received
baptism at the hands of the Greek Bishop Of Kher-
psn. Now, in 1857 and in $50, what faith did the
Russians consider to be the orthodox faith Evil
asatly that which they openly professed- what
Mn was that other than the Catholic faith in its
purity, other, in word, than the Romish faith?
an well aware that Russian historians, accommodating
elements of darkness around the cradle of their con-
version have sought persuade the world that their
church came originally and directly from Photius.
History, fortunately, speaks louder than these his
tssiAns.
Was the name Of Photius ever mentioned in
81 No. Photius only appeared in $50. Was
there any question Of Photius in $50? No. That
period was for the church Of Constantinope period
Of rest; she was then living without thought of
Ne daring innovations of Photins, and it was only
SIXTY years later that Michael Cerularius resumed
eoce more the work OF schism, to consummate it ir-
yevoeably.
6tn, it should not be supposed that the Russian
Church, even from that period, exclusively followed
Me Byzantine Church For a long time after this
she remained faithful to the Difference, which from
her origin she had evinced towards the Holy See.
She kept with it an uninterrupted correspondence,
frequently asked advice of it, and although hierar-
ehially tributary Of Constantnople she seemed to
love TO seek at the Of Saint Peter for the pu
yy Of dogmas the rules OF canonical discipline, and
the splendors of faith.
Do we not learn from history that in 1875 the
Grand Duke Isarlof sued for aid and protection at
the hands of Pope Gregory VII. against the en-
eroachments Of his brother Weserlaf. The Pontiff
TeestaDlished harmony between them, confirmed the
FORMER in the possession of his dominions, obtained
fbY him, in addition the alliance of Poland, and be-
slowed upon the latter, in the name of the Prince OF
Apostles, the sovereignty Of Russia. We all know
what was then the importance, in the eyes of nations
Of those solemn sanctions which the superb Hide
brand conferred upon the rulers of the earth.
But already had the Tartars invaded Russia
Bowed down beneath the yoke Of the most painful
slavery, the Russians gradually lost their former
spirit-the national character was blasted in its
budding pride. How, situated as they were, could
they resist the injurious influence of schsmatc pom
tifs, sent them from Constantinople? Slaves al
ready, politically and socially, they became slaves
enthusiastically; ttey copied Byzantine; still the
bond was not d, fniiivey broken before the end Of
The fifteenth century.
Having discarded her dependence upon Rome,
the Russian Church wished also to free herself from
The supremacy Of Constantincple; in other words,
che wished to place at her head Independent and
national Patriarch. This required the consent and
intervention of the Patriarch of Byzantine.
They were obtained as follows At that time
mat is to say, in 1572-there was an unbushng
rivalry as to who should fill the Patrarchal chair Of
COnstantinople. Jeremy H., prelate of doubtful
faith, inclining now towards the schism of Photius,
low towards the heresy OF Luther was the first to fill
IL He was driven away by Metrophanus, who, in
his turn had to Weld to Pachomius then to Theolept
two Smonacal bishops. The reign Of the two latter
was short. Jeremy III. supplanted them once more
and in consideration OF pension OF 500 ducats a
piece they bound themselves to abandon all competi
tion prelae who knows so well how to buy others,
must know, when the opportunity presents itself,
how to sell himself-so reasons the Grand Duke of
Muscoyy, or rather Boris Godounotf, his favorite
and minister. He therefore invited Jeremy TO
Moscow, and promised him all the gold which he
could desire If he would confer the patriarchal dig
nifty upon Ivl, recently elected Metropolitan Of the
Holy City.
Jeremy did not hesitate to accept; he appeared at
Moscow in all the pomp Of Orieatal priesthood, and
Il is he who when he corsecrated the national
Patriarch Of the Russian Church, was supposed to
inspire him with that power and wisdom which
were thenceforth to constitute this church in her
independence, and to free her from Der former tut
age. wonderful genius, indeed, was that of
Jeremy H., and marvellousy proper, above all, to
found that orthodoxy which Russia nov makes
title to influence.
Still, the bargain thus concluded by the Patriarch
Of Constantinope far from being ratified by his
brethren Of the East In synod which he convoked,
shortly after his return to his metropolis, the MAORI
ty Of the bishops declared themselves against him;
nothing could silence their opposition but the inter-
vention of the Ambassador of the Grand Duke him.
self and the insidious efforts Of Me!etus, Patriarch
of Antioch, who had been brbed beforehand to side
with Boris Godounof. The year following, more
over, Jeremy having died, the Grand Duke, by dint
Of gold, prevailed upon Theophilus his successor to
visit him at Moscow, where the ne institution
Ahen confirmed for the second and last time.