, 1881-07-10

n Ii y UCS4AN L kAo 1olbtA1ls
LETTER OF THE HOLY GOVERNING SYNOD TO
THE BISHOPS AND CHIEF PRIESTS OF TIE
EMPIRE TOUCHING THE MURDER OF THE
CXAli-
The Oriental Church Magazine publishes
in full the pastoral letter Of the Holy Gov
crnng Synod of Russia, written" i'll deep
sorrow for the hard trial sent by God to Rus-
sia, and its so1icitudc to protect tile children
of the Orthodox Russian Church from temp
tation." Among the more noticeable pas
sagcs Of it are tile following: ''Our most
pious sovereign and Emperor, Alexander
Ncholaievitch, perished at the hands of
apostate and pcr1dious murlerers. Russia
is suffering from :: great and deep sorrow; is
stricken with awe and covered with shame.
To the true SONS Of the country our most be-
loved 1nonarcll-fatller has always been sacred
and pure. Tie Russian people saw III him
the born and legal sovereign. bowed to him
lie - seal Of the Holy Ghost on lis
forehead. All those whose minds
were not obscurcd aud whose hearts
were not corrupted lovingly yenerated the
high qualities of his great anu pure soul:
But among the many millions Ut people loyal
to their Emperor there are found, like cllatf
amid, wheat, unworthy and morally corrupt
persons, Of whom lately there were formed
though small in number, but to the last de-
gree hardened, bands OF treasOnlble coll
sprators, ready for every evil. These ven
tllreu to raise theirsacril us'ha1ldsagainst
Gods annointed sovereign, bencfactur Of his
people. These regicides are alien to tile na
tionai life; they defy tue f2itll AMI the law;
they have lost the human 1nlnd and feeling.
Satanic pride, bounaleSs corruption, beastly
malice, audaciouS rapacitr; mad athcisln,-
such are the qualities OF their lerlllclolls life.
4 perpetual disturbance, anarchy, perfect
destruction and annIIilat1on of everything
dear to the man and citizen,-tliat is the aim
OF their evil efforts and undertakings. They
call themselves human beings; ,hrt the whole
world, with Indignation anu disgust, turns
itself away from them. They cali themselves
Hussaus; but Russia, aWc-stricken, repudl-
tates them. Several Of them bear the name
of orthodox; but the orthodox Church pro-
nounces anathena against such persons.
:. Indeed. sins and the laWlcss deeds grow
and multiply in the Russian country, among
US who bear the name of Christ and call our
selves tile orthodox The holy creed is as
soulted and weakened, the commands OF
Diety are not fulfilled. fidelity to the Church
statutes and orders Is violated, good GUS
IONS are not observed, and the traditions Ut
our fathers counted OF 1langllt. IN the falnl,
II and matrimonial life entered discord and
iisaster in the education Of children; and
weakness and indulgence i'll the State sery-
ice and tue unblic service: neglect and self
interest in science; unbridled libertlnlsnl i'll
he soul of everybody, pride, cupldity, thirst
If pleasure intenpertnce, ana envy. When
he men slept the enemy came anu soWed
weeds. In the same way, during our neglect,
,iddiness and corruption sprang up, u1s?oe-
lition. Let us. then. clean ourselves from
.yery fiIthiness of body and soul by doing
yhai is HOWL Gods fear" The rest is an
,xh0rtation to pastors and religious teach