Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-03-02
THE RUSSIAN CHURCH.
xrs Chief Dignitsry-How It is Governed
l-AnDaal for Aid.

A%s
Appeal for Aid.
A remarkable letter was written few
weeks ago to one of the London papers by
the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg, the
chief dignitary of the Russian Church.
This letter was an appeal to Englishmen
to aid In supporting the missionaries who
have been sent out by the Russian Church
to Japan.
1t is very unusual and noteworthy that
a Russian prelate should appeal to the re-
ligious feelings of Englishmen IL such a
cause, and the letter attracted great deal
of comment; but the writer of the letter,
aside from his high ecclesiastical Office, is
no ordinary man.
1sidore, the Metropolitan of St. Peters
burg, is over 80 years of age, and has for
very long time been conspicuous and
much venerated parsonage in Europe. He
has spent long life in doing good and
beneticent work The son of peasant.
| he rose, at an early age, by reason of his
ability and true piety, to place in the
Church, and finally was placed in its high
est dignity.
| From the first he has worked with un-
remitting zeal to elevate the Russian
priesthood, and to infuse more ardent
zeal and spirit into the body of the Church.
! 1t is sometimes said that the Car is
the Pope of the Russian Greek Church,
but this statement is misleading He by
no means occupies the same position in
| it that the Pope does in the Roman
| Catholic Church, for the Roman Pontiff
defines and declares the doctrines of his
Church, which the Car does not. The
| C1or &c oaiIa1 tho c,,rra,,,a dafo,Jo~ of
the faith" he protects the faith, but can
not change it.
On the other hand, the Car does have
supreme power in the administration of
the Russian Church. He appoints all its
chief dignjtaries, and can also dismiss
them at his pleasure.
The general supervision of the Russian
Church is exercised by body of prelates
appointed. by the Gar, and removable at
his will, called the " Most Holy Synod
This body makes laws for the Church, but
its laws only become operative after the
Gar has approved and signed them An
officer called the Procureur is the inter-
mediary between the Gar and the Synod,
and all communications between them are
made through him.
Formerly the chief dignitary of the
Russian Church was the Patriarch !" but
as he had more power than the Gar liked,
his office was abolished by Peter the Great,
and the Synod was substituted The Synod
is general composed of the Metropolitans
of St. Petersburg, Moscow and other prov
inces, together with several Archbishops
The Russian Church differs in doctrine
from that of Rome mainly on three points.
1t does not recognize the supremacy of the
Pope; it not only does not forbid but COM
peis its priests to marry, and it permits all
It's members to read the Bible in their ma.
tive tongue.
A Russian priest is only allowed to per-
form the duties of his office while married.
If his wife dies, he must cease to officiate
His only recourse is then to retire to a
monastery, for he is not allowed to marry
second time.
The Russian priesthood is divided into
two orders-parish priests, who are called
the white Clergy" and monks, who are
known as the Black Clergy" The monks
hold higher rank in the Church than the
parish priests 1t is from the monks that
the higher officers of the Church are usu-
teries in Russia, many of which enjoy
large revenues.
The parish priests, especially in the
rural districts, are for the most part poor
They derive only small revenues from then
office, are in many cases ignorant and even
incorporate, and sometimes are open to
bribery. The members of the Russian
Church pay much more heed to its cere-
monies and outward displays than to its
doctrines. This is one of the features OF
the Church which the aged Isidore has
long labored to replace by a more intelli-
gent and spiritual worship. Many sects
exist in Russia which dissent from the doc
trines of the Greek Church Some OF
these are very fantastic in belief and
in their rites. The national Church
however, includes among its nominal
members by far the largest part of the
population. OF "White F." and "Black y
clergy there are more than 250,000
Protestants and Roman Catholics are per-
mitted to worship according to their faiths
in Russia, but Jews are subjected to many
special restrictions, civil privations and
even persecutions.-Y Youths Companion