Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-14
The Russian Church in America.

The Russian Church in America.
For the first time in the history Of the Unite
States the full service of the Greek Church wa
to-day performed in one Of our Protesan
chapels by a Russian priest. The event typl6e
the closer union which is taking place betaee
Russia and America union iull Of poltica
significance as well as moral beauty The move
religious ceremonial to-day presented TO tn
view OF our citizens s the legitimate fruit of th
series Of international courtesle. which begaI
with the accession Of the Emperor Alexander
grew with the serf emancipation, expanded
with our reception OF the Russian fleet, extende,
with the telegraphic expedition, and culminate
in the broad humanitarian field of religious lel
owship
The movement for irstsrniElton between
the Greek Church 10 Russia and the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the United States bsgar
in this city two years ago. AT the Genera
Convention Of the Episcopal body, the exped
ency Of cementlne the bonds OF union between
the two nations was strongly urged by leading
members 1t WAS represented that some four
hundred communicates Oi the Greek Church
had settled in California, that the commercial
relations OF Russia aud the United States were
becoming Sc important that accessons to this
number were probable that no Russians priests
had vet arrived to take the spiritual charge of
this flock, and that the recognition Of the ortho-
dox Church Of the East by the Church Of the
West would encourage the establishment Of
permanent relations OF amlty.
The COnvt ntlOn, declining TO commit itself to
immediate or positive action, voted to appoint
committee ol inquiry and correspondence
This committee consisted Of three bishops, three
clergymen and two laymsn and two of Is mem-
bers, subsequently visiting Europe, extended
their tour To st. Petersburg aud Moscow, ex.
amlned the c Institution ami condition ol the
Russian Church, received from the ecclestica
dignitsres frank responses to their friendly
overtures, and returned with sincere conyic.
ton OF the utility of fellowship Their report
will be presented at the Trennial Convention to
be held this year. While these interviews were
in progress, the Russian feet came to anchor ia
our waters; It's officers were warmly greeted
It's chaplain received the attentions OF the Eps-
copal bishop and his clergy. These courteslss
were recently acknowledged by Admiral Lee.
sotfsky IN graceful letter, aud subsequently by
the Emperor in person. Ii was not to the dis.
advantage OF American interests in Russia that
our legation in st. Petersburg was soon alter.
wards provided with young American dtiache
who had learned the Russian tongue, and was
thus enabled to address the Emperor in his own
yernacular.
The aid given by the governments Of Russia
and the United States to the inter. continental
telegraph served to bind the two countries
sill more firmly together aud almost stimuli
tan tna ~
a Russian priest was sent out, arriving In this
city at the beginning Of this year. Thus Tie
material and the spiritual union advanced tc
gether.
Father Agapius, the priest who Olhciatod to
day 10 the service at Trinity Chapel, has been
received into the full fellowship OF the Eplrco- /
pal Church, and by permission Of the bishop
has been afforded ample privileges for conduct
ing the ceremonial OF his church the day Of
the introduction Of the ritual is notable as the
anniversary of the accession Of Alexander H. .
While the number Of persons Of Salvonic blood,
Or protesting the faith of the Greek Church, is
very limited in New York, the welcome extended
to Father Agaplus, will be no less gratifying to
him than indicative OF the good will which
prompts 1t.
Asimllar movement was begun sometime ago
by the Church OF England A writer IN the
London magazine Good Words says,
:" The idea of union between the Church OF
England and the Greek Church dates as far
back Us The time Of Peter the Great, who is said
to have proposed it through bis ambassador to
his country, The proposition, however, If 1t
,ver was made, fell TO the grouud-possibly from
/ somewhat excusable objection our government
,ad to entertain religious question emanating
rom such a source. From that time until the
asst three or four years the subject, with one or
wo Ineffective exceptions, seems to have droppel,
It least on the part Of the Wtslern Protestant
hurches but now it appears to have been ia.
,en up with considerable energy. Several cer.
ymen Of the Uhurch Of England entertained