The Priests' Nakedness

The Priests' Nakedness. August 1, 1923

Original Source: Krasnaia gazeta;, No. 171 (1621), 1 August 19

At present the Orthodox Church is a nasty picture to look at. Not long ago the "shepherds of Christian souls" of different degrees were running away from Tikhon, like rats from a sinking ship. They started joining the "Living Church" and its branches. Doubtless among the "Living Churchers" and other renovation groups ("'Regeneration," "Ancient Apostolic Church") there were and are sincere priests who were nauseated by the deceits of the Church of the monarchy (only imagine the wax dolls of the "undecaying saints"'). They fled from the crimes of the Tikhonist movement against the people and from the priests' "'White-guard" activities. But there were also those who under cover of the renovation movement tried to hide from the people's wrath, to extinguish the traces of their crimes, or save their income.

The All-Russian Church Congress, that took place this spring, presented a picture of astonishing unanimity in general; in particular, Tikhon was unanimously degraded from being patriarch and was 'excommunicated from the Church. Not one voice was heard in his defense. Of course, the crimes of the former patriarch were ponderous, but it is as evident, that the Patriarch's adherents were present and did hold their peace. With them as with all other Tikhonists no tendency for deeds of valor was apparent, which might have made them partake of their leader's fate.

Tikhon has repented his crimes against the people, he has denounced his fighting against the Soviet government. The latter has no more reasons for keeping the former patriarch in custody and he has been set free until the day of his law suit.

The Soviet government does not interfere in ecclesiastical matters so long as the Church does not get mixed up with political strife; therefore Tikhon may celebrate Church services as much as he like; fighting on religious ground - that is his own business. Believers are free to choose any branch, any sect - that is their business. But look and see what is going on now: Tikhon celebrates the services and towards Tikhon we see thronging merchants big and small, speculator's and the like income- increasing (profit making) people. Whether it is because the demons of darkness of the Sukharevskii and Aleksandrovskii markets (i.e. chief markets of the capital) prize very highly Tikhon's canonical tendencies, or because, notwithstanding Tikhon's repentance, they nevertheless see their own in him - it is a fact that only the former patriarch has the greatest. success with them.

And now we see unrolled a spectacle which is really delightful: yesterday's "Renovators,"' "Living Churchers" and the like, having denounced the patriarchal institution - they who excommunicated Tikhon - are now running over from "renovation" to Tikhon like cocks. And what else should it be, if all the income flows towards the former patriarch, if Tikhon stands "outside politics," and if though being "no enemy to the Soviet government" (who now is an "enemy"), he is not carried away by the "social truths" of the revolution. In a word Tikhon is the most befitting shepherd for "NEPmen". And as far as most Christian adherents are concerned, their "social truth" is - where the fattest income is. And here we see the Archpriest Platonov (from Vasilevskii Island) coming forth in the cathedral with a repentance" for his having been carried away by "Living Churchism."

This renovator calls to the orthodox to unite around Tikhon. The archbishop Artemii "blesses and permits" the prayer for Tikhon at the church services, etc. All this is really the priests showing themselves in all their nakedness. It is not possible to go further in deciding one's own convictions: "I serve him who gives an income," "I serve, so, as to receive more income."'

"Religion is the opium for the people." So Karl Marx has defined it. Science fights this narcotic, illuminating the brain with the light of knowledge. But at present, in our opinion, this fight against that religious opium is carried on most effectually by the church servitors themselves, who are persons without any convictions and lacking the most simple human conscience.

Formerly every church hid its ulcers, its lies, cheating and corruption under the cover of secrecy and hypocrisy. At present it is difficult, next to impossible to keep facts secret; they must go about naked in the presence of the whole honorable people. But the most horrible hypocrisy has remained. Do you think it is on account of income, that Platonov ran over to the "Living Church?" - Oh, no, he did that inspired by the Holy Ghost - You think he came running back to Tikhon on account of income? - Oh no, he did that by reason of that same "inspiration."

As you see, "inspiration" always wonderfully coincides with "'interest."

Such are the servitors of the Church, the merchants of spiritual liquor; they strip themselves without restraint and thereby show what their work is worth. Of course that "work" is advantageous as yet. But is it worth while bobbing one's head against the floors (i.e. praying) in order to increase the income of priests?

Source: Boleslaw B. Szczesniak, ed. and tr., Russian Revolution and Religion; a collection of documents concerning the suppression of religion by the Communists, 1917-1925 (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1959), pp. 197-199.