The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-10
THE RUSSIAN CHURCH
1T Is THE LARGEST BODY OF CHRIS
TIANs IN THE WORLD.
Russians Were Converted from Heath
enism by Force-Their Religion
Has Many Peculiarities.

The news OF the last few weeks has
had much tolsay of the Russian church.
The %accounts of the death and burial of
the late Gar. the conversion and be-
trothal of Princess Alix and the mar
riage of Nicholas III. are SO jnterspersed
with anasions to this, an institution al
most unknown to Americans, that curio-
sity witBiregard to it has been widely
aroused. Sf0E
Thee Holy Orthodox Church OF Russia
has at least this claim to interest, that
it is the largest body of Christians in
existence. TT has more than twice as
many members as any of the Roman
Catholic 1 national churches, and its
numerical strength is certainly superior
to that Of Protestanism in the United
States n England taken together.
The Car, governing this body by
means of the Holy Synod. an institution
of his own creation. is thus after the
Pope, the mightiest spiritual ruler Of
Christendom. OF his ninety millions of
Subjects at least sixty-five millions are
members OF the state church: and its
\ sixtysthree bishops, ninety thousand
secular clergy, 6,400 monks and 4.4o0
nuns, are in effect so many faithful tenn
poraI, as well as spiritual. officers of
Holy Russia" They form to-day nc
doubt the strongest force existing in
the empire.
1t is necessary to take a slight dip
into general church history in order to
gain any intelligent conception OF the
/ origin and nature of Russian Christiani-
~. POI
AS far back as the fourth century
there existed two great spiritual rulers
to one or other of whom all Christian
bishopssand people acknowledged allegi-
ance. These were the Pope of Rome,
and the Patriarch of Constantinoplc.
The former as representing the only
apostolic see in western Christendom be-
cause the supreme spiritual arbiter OF
that vast section of the Roman empire.
The latter as a patriarch of the church
by decree of it's councils, and as bishop
OF the new capital city of the empire,
| secured a like supremacy over he
greater part of the East
JEALOUSY AND STRIFE.
Time passed and jealousy and strife
inevitably marred the relations existing
between these rulers. Under their lead
ershipethe two sections of Christendom
grew apart. and developed many differ
| ences as to ceremonial and ritual, with
evenaa few as to doctrine. The year
$50 saw the absolute separation of he
two. and although at various times
brief rec~onciliations have been patched
up, non has been of long continuance.
To this day Easterns and Roman Catho-
lies mutually regard each other as schis-
MATES, or even worse as heretics.
Naturally the first converts amongs
the Russian people were made by mis-
siofaries of the Eastern church. The
| earliest records of their labors are in
definite and hard to follow; but Vladi-
mir who ruled the couAtry almost ex-
actly a thousand years ago is called the
Apostle of Russia. and certainly de-
serves the title in view Of his achieve.
n mepts.
That prince becoming dissatisfied with
the idol worship then prevalent amongst
HIS people sent embassies to inquire into
the, nature of Mohammedanism, the
Christianity of Rome and that of the
Eastern church. the only religions of
which he had ever heard. The members
lofsthe last embassy were most cordially
received at Constantinople; and after
seeing the gorgeous ceremonies of the
faith as performed in the great church
of st. Sophia. were so impressed that
they, brought back to their master most
Ia aOOO0iib " tniO lCliSlOh. Dul
Vladimir, while now fully determined to
embrace Christianity for himself and
| people. apparently also, not thinking ii
| worth while to consult their feelings in
the matter, had still another scheme in
| view He had also determined to marry,
and had pitched upon the Princess
| Anna. sister of the Greek Emperor of
| Constantinople. as a fitting consort. Pro-
ceeding to kill two birds with one stone,
as 1t We're, he sent an army to the gates
of Co~nstantinoDle and another embassy
which. demanded of the Emperor the
hand of his sister for Vladimir, promis-
ing that in case this was granted the
| prince and his people would all become
Christians, and finally ~intimating that
in case it was not granted there would
probably be trouble In that neighbor-
lhood.2@lss
Anna who seems to nave had little to say
in the matter, accepted a barbarian hus-
band; and vladimir, after a brief honey
moons hied himself away to the prose-
cution of what proved TO be phenQmen-
ally successful missionary labors.
RADICAL PROCESSES.
His first step was to order the de-
struction of all the idols in Russia; his
second was to command that all persons
should come uD at once and be bap-
tizedsal Under the circumstances then
existing few thought of questioning their
readiness for the reception of this sacra-
ment, aud if any did it was simply SO
much the worse for those particular in
diyiduals.
And such a baptizing as took place
curing those days when long lines of
converts stood by the banks of the Dnie-
per and Wore out the strength of count
less priests who plunged them cease
ilessly beneath its waters, has never been
seen Before or since. The process is
gsdpposed TO have left Russia q Chris
tian nation,
Vladimir is now revefed as a saint
His name adds another to the long list
of those who broke all the moral pre-
cepts of Christianity while living, only
to receive this honor after death. 1t is
however, but fair to say that history
records a change for the better in his
conduct after this strange conversion
and credits him with nan measures
designed to teach his people the moral
as well as ceremonial duties of the re.
ligion thus forced pom them.
The Russian peasant of to-day is per
haps the most truly religious man in
the whole world. 1t has well been said
that his church is still in it's Middle
| Age period. and his own faith in, and
submission To il. well agree with this
Characterization Yet he is not intol-
Grant of other religions, for in some vii
lagos Mohammedan mosques, heather
temples and Christian churches are
found peacefully existing side by side
manning in this most Christian Russian
Il &c oIrinna1 hxr the foot fhn& L. -