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OverviewTHE accession of the Emperor Alexander II to the throne of Russia inaugurated a new era for that vast empire. Since that event the serfs have been emancipated; the introduction of trial by jury with an oral and public procedure has completely reorganised the administration of justice; and territorial institutions have laid the first foundations of self-government. With these important and salutary reforms, however, we have not to be occupied. We confine ourselves to a single observation. Those inveterate abuses could not be touched without the discovery of others, and reforms already effected could not but open the path to new ones. Among those yet to be accomplished, one of the most important concerns the clergy and the organisation of the Russian Church. During the reign of the Emperor Nicholas public opinion was little interested in the situation of the clergy. In connection with it many abuses were known to exist, but their correction seemed to be a matter of little importance. For some thirty years M. Andre Mouravieft' alone devoted his pen to this subject; but his chief object was to throw a veil over disorders unfortunately too real: he denied the abuses, not combated them. It is not so now. The laity, through the press, are allowed to make frequent attacks more or less clear and direct against the Russian clergy, and the latter reply. A considerable number of journals and ecclesiastical reviews exist, the chief work of which is to defend the clergy, but which, however, from time to time call loudly for reform. This publicity is quite insufficient, because of the very narrow limits imposed on the liberty of the press. When a question arises of abuses existing in the administrative order, a sufficiently great latitude is accorded to the journals. By the aid of rhetorical precautions they were recently able to make a breach in the fundamental principles of Christianity and of social order; but were checked when their efforts were directed against the clergy and church organization. Everything touching on matters of this kind being subjected to ecclesiastical censure, it is almost impossible to carry on discussion on this ground. In this embarrassment recourse was had to the foreign press. In 1858 a very remarkable pamphlet was published at Paris on the condition of the country clergy of Russia. - It contained harrowing details on the abuse! existing in the administration of the dioceses, and in the establishments for the education and formation of the clergy. This pamphlet produced in Russia a prodigious effect. Although its author took care to conceal his name, it was Boon known that he was a poor priest of the diocese of Tver, named Belustin. The Synod was much irritated, and about to make the unfortunate writer feel the weight of .its anger, when the intervention of M. Bajanoff, the Emperor's confessor, sheltered him from all persecution. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Father Gargarin Sj , Ch Du Gard Makepeace Ma , Brother Hermenegild TosfPublisher: Createspace Imprint: Createspace Dimensions: Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.50cm , Length: 22.90cm Weight: 0.381kg ISBN: 9781518643569ISBN 10: 1518643566 Pages: 284 Publication Date: 16 October 2015 Audience: General/trade , General Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: Available To Order ![]() We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately. Table of ContentsReviewsAuthor InformationTab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |