L. Freeze G.

War and reform: the Russian orthodox church during the World War I, 1914-1917 years

Authors

L. Freeze G.

Keywords:

РУССКАЯ ПРАВОСЛАВНАЯ ЦЕРКОВЬ, RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, ДУХОВЕНСТВО, CLERGY, ПЕРВАЯ МИРОВАЯ ВОЙНА, WORLD WAR I, РЕЛИГИЯ, RELIGION, ЦЕРКОВНО-ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЕ ОТНОШЕНИЯ, CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS, СВЯЩЕННЫЙ СИНОД, HOLY SYNOD, КАТОЛИЧЕСКАЯ ЦЕРКОВЬ, CATHOLIC CHURCH, ПРОТЕСТАНТСКАЯ ЦЕРКОВЬ, PROTESTANT CHURCH, ПРОПОВЕДЬ, ФЕВРАЛЬСКАЯ РЕВОЛЮЦИЯ, FEBRUARY REVOLUTION, SERMONS

Abstract

Like Churches in Western countries, the Russian Orthodox Church initially welcomed the outbreak of World War I and provided support—material and moral—to the national effort. Unlike the Western Churches, however, the Russian Church grew increasingly dissatisfied not only with the religious-political impact of the war (from the infamous Rasputinshchina to alarming signs of declining religiosity), but also with its destructive impact on the Church and its ability to function. By August 1915 clerical deputies in the Duma adopted a memorandum demanding immediate steps to address the Church’s problems—a view that broad clerical disenchantment. By February 1917 disaffected clergy would welcome the overthrow of the monarchy in hopes that overdue reform could finally commence.

War and reform: the Russian orthodox church during the World War I, 1914-1917 years