The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-06
PATRIARCH OF MOSCOW.
Head Of Greek Communion Thunders
Excommunication.

Accommodation. ..
Petrograd, Saturday, Feb. BE
cause of the seizure of the Alexander
Nevsky monastery in Petrograd by
the Bolsheviki and other attacks on
church property elsewhere, taken In
conjunction with other circumstances
attending the latest revolution, the
Most Rev. DR.. Tikhon, patriarch OF all
Russia, and Metropolitan of Moscow,
issued today at Moscow an anathema
threatening the participants with ex-
communication and calling on the
faithful to defend the sacredness of
the church.
In connection with the seizure Of
Alexander Nevsky monastery which
occurrer yesterday by order of Mad
anne Kolontay, minister of social well
fare, there was a riot and a sharp
struggle, in which the monks fought
the Red guards. One monk, named
,Sitpetrov, who was wounded, died to-
day.
Great Demonstration
The church authorities are arrang.
ing a big demonstration in the Petro.
grad streets which the Bolsheviki lead
ers are seeking to prevent on the
grounds that it. might bring forth
clash. The church authorities, how
ever, apparently are determined to
carry out, their plan.
The clash Of the church with the
Bolsheviki government is approaching
a most acute stage. The patriarch.
whose anathema is couched in the
strongest language, also has demand
ed from the military commission at
Mohilev the release of Arch Bishop
Gommel and other prelates and an OK.
PLANTATION of their arrest.
When patriarch advisers urged him
to revise his anthema so that it would
be less bitter against the Bolsheviki
he is reported to have fatty refused,
declaring that he was read yto carry
it out to the death.
The Anathema
The anathema in part is as follows:
"The old Orthodox church is pass
ing through hard time. It is an open
secret that it's enemies are perpetrat-
ing prosecutions against Christ's teach
ingsings. They want to kill Christ's
cause, excite hatred and bring fratri-
cidal war" -.,.f
After declaring that atrocities and
prosecutions are increasing in general
and that right and law are disregard
ed, the patriarch says it compels him
TO address Ito such outcasts of man.
kind our menacing word of condemna.
ton" -. ..,-. ~
"Come to reason" he continues.
stop your bloody fratricide. This
work is the work of Satan.
| i D., BY the Power Of God
by the power given to US by God,
we forbid you to participate in Christ s
communion. We excommunjte you, If
you still have christian names, If only
by birth you belong to the Orthodox
church. We pray all the faithful chill.
dren Of the Orthodox church not to
come into contact with such outcasts
of mankind Throw the veil from
among yourselves" ....
OF the prosecutions of the church
the patriarch declares:
"The holy communion, which bless
es the birth and marriage of man, has
been declared Unnecessary. The
churches are subjected to destruction
from bombardment by guns or to hum
iliation, as in the case of the church
Of Christ, the Savior, the Holy Alex
ander monastery in Petrograd and the
BOcheyeav monastery at Kiev, which
are being captured by the goddess DOM
inators of our time" 7.a
The anathema closes with an appeal
by the patriarch through all church
prelates, calling upon all the parishes
to fight and suffer for the sanctity of
the church.