The Washington times., 1922-07-23
RED CLERGY IN
CONTROL AF TER
RUSSIAN SPLIT
Five Priests Executed for Re-
sistance to Famine
Levy.
MANY BISHOPS FOR TAX
General Congress Called to
Decide Between Patriarch
and Secessionists.
By ANNA LOUISE STRONG,
I...rn.tinnaI Nexvs Seryiee

BY ANNA LOUISE SERONG,
international News Service.
MOSCOW. July 22.-The ortho-
dox Church Of Russia Is split
to its foundations by q division
between the so-called "red clergy"
and the group supporting the
Patriarch Tikhon in his opposition
to the Soviet Government. The
division has been developing from
within for several years, but has
been precipitated by the action Of
the Government in commandeer-
ing church treasures for the
famine.
Five Priests Resist.
Five priests shot for melting to
riot, the Patriarch himself indicted
for resisting lawful authority"
and the Church at present in the
hands of a group of bishops who
openly proclaim that II served the
Patriarch right--these are some Of
the Incidents OF the split.
Some weeks ago the Government
decreed that superfluous gold, sill
yer and precious stones in the
churches were to be taken for the
famine. They pointed out that this
had been done in the past for pur-
poses Of aggressive war against the
Turks, whereas they were doing II
for purposes of feeding the starv-
ing.
Patriarch TIkhon sent a letter
on the subject to the priests which
led to his indictment on the charge
OF stirring up resistance to lawful
L. A,.,kN tk.AA
from the Patriarchate, as a man
Of the Church for the time in the
hands Of a group OF Government
sympathizers known as the Red
Clergy" At the same time he
called for q general congress OF
the Church to determine between
him and his SUCCESSORS which should
control the future policy of the
Russian Church.
Priests Condemned to Die!
Eleven priests. in response TO
the Patriarch's letter, resisted by
force, calling their people to arise
against the commissars and the
Jews. Soldiers were beaten and
stones were thrown. The priests
were condemned to death. but the
StHttHCt WIS
other five were shot.
Bishop Antonin, one OF the pres
ent leaders OF the Church. until
such time as the general church
congress shall decide between the
Patriarch and the Red Clergy" +"
openly proclaims. in a hot public
forum in Moscow. that 1t was the
Patriarch's own fault.
I'VE regard this Government as
an infidel Government" he states.
but IL gives us complete freedom
OF conscience and religious action,
demanding only that we do not war
against II. II the Patriarchate has
suffered II was because II was in
overt opposition to, the Govern
ment. He fell under the influence
Of the Black Hundreds and ruined
himself Around him grouped
everything that was dissatisfied
with the Government"
Cursed as Murderer.
Bishop Antonin is in receipt Of
letters Of all varieties. Some of
them curse him as a murderer"
and add ito go against the Bolshe-
viks is to serve Christ" Others
say: Your Holiness. you are the
CHOSEN one Oh SHTlbt. II Is not Iar
when the church Of our Saviour, in
gold letters on marble, shall write
your noble name as a fighter for
the faith. We pray that God grant
you health and unbending man.
hood and patience to lead us out
from our inertia and to revive our
souls!'
Other clergymen write and speak
even more strongly than Antonin.
Bishop Yarofei, from a strong com.
munist district Of textile workers
near Moscow. writes, in the Work.
ers' Province:
''The soviet power is strong by
the support Of the toiling masses
II is kindred also to the peasant by
interest and spirit. No difference
should be between the church and
the workers party, which aims for
the good Of humanity and the de.
structicSl Of all evil
A group of conservative priests
in Eursha agrees that a church
congress is necessary, since Church
life is not in order and must remove
the foreign political elements forced
on 1t by its connection with the old
state"
Furr FeudiSts IN Have