St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-11
RUSsIA'S STATE CHURCH.
The Greek Denomination Of the
Christian Church-Its Dogmas
and Ordinances.

The Greek Denomination Of the
Christian Church-Its DOgmas
and Ordinances.
Philadelphia Press.
Hon. Charles Emory Smith, ex-min-
lister to Russia, delivered an address
Yesterday afternoon at the Grace Bap-
tist Temple, Board and Berks streets,
on the Estate Church of Russia" MI.
Smith first gave a brief sketch of the
history Of the Greek church and Its
separation from the Roman Catholic
church.
81 come not to discuss or analyZe the
Russian Greek church," said he, ''but
something about the results of my
personal observation of some features.
The Greek church is that part of the
Christian body which recognizes only
the authority of the first seven ecum eni-
cal councils. Originally it was united
with the Roman church. Differences be-
gan to spring up as early as the fifth
century, but the schism was not fully
completed till the eleventh century.
The Greek church is practically a
federation of churches without any
in the Greek church, but there are
Patriarchs of Constantinople. Antioch,
Alexandria and Jerusalem. the chief
prelate being known as the Metro
politan.
"The Russian Greek church embraces
nearly IS, ,000.0 adherents, more than
the entire population of the United
States. The emperor of Russia is the
head of the church, but has no more to
do with the doctrines than the king OF
Italy or the emperor of Austria has with
the doctrines of the Roman church. The
emperor is described as the defender of
the faith. AS far as the appOintive
power goes, he Is the complete head of
the hierarchy, and the Holy Synod is
| made up OF his appointees.
''The Greek church agrees with the
Roman church in various dogmas.
They have the same veneration for the
Virgin and mass. They recognize the
sacraments and pay attention to fast
ing. But there are marked distinctions.
The Greek church denies the primacY
and spiritual supremacy of the pOpeS.
1t recognizes no human infallibility ex-
cept on the part of the ecumenical coun-
ell. 1t maintains that the Holy Spirit
Droceeds from the Father, not from the
Son: rejects the doctrine of purgatOry,
though it recognizes the intercesSion Of
the saints.
"The church has what is termed
white clergy and a black clergy. The
latter are monks. They are celibates.
But the white clergy are required 70
marry. The white clergy preponderate.
tits from the black clergy that all the
high prelates are chosen. The white
clergy are not allowed to exercise any
choice as to their wives. The selection is
made by bishop, who chooses the
widow or daughter of another priest.
All the priests sons must become
priests, and the only possible method of
escape is by entering the army.
ssFhe Greek church does not have
images, but rather representations of
the Saviour, the Madonna, and the
saints upOn surfaces. These representa-
tions are called ikons, and those In the
edifices are beautiful and very valuable,
being studded often with precious
stones. In every house and every shop
| is an ikon, and when one enters the
door he must take off his hat In respect
for the ikOn.
"As to the character of the worship,
one never hears a sermon. l never
heard but one Russian hierarch deliver
a discourse, aud that was on an anniyer-
sarv.- The services consist of mass and
music. Sometimes the music Is very
monotonous, but then it will become
most entertaining and ravishing, the
grandest melodies and the sweetest
voices that ever heard. Women do
not take part. All the singing is by
men and boys. The boys who have
the sweetest voices are selected for the
priesthood. and their voices are trained
| during their life. There is no instru-
| mental music"