“By the Action of Love to Overcome the Agitation of Their Hatred”: The Taurida Clergy Against Socialism (based on the materials of the theological, journalistic and memoir heritage of bishops and priests)

Abstract

The article examines and analyzes the views of the clergy of the Taurida Diocese on socialist ideology. It is noted that local bishops and clergymen were consistent critics of socialism. This is evidenced by numerous materials of the official publications of the Taurida Diocese — the “Taurida Diocesan News” and the “Taurida Church and Public Bulletin”. The main motives of the rejection of socialism by the Orthodox clergy are shown. The emphasis is placed on the activities of Bishop Alexiy (Molchanov), who headed the Taurida diocese during the revolutionary events of 1905–1907 and tried to protect his flock from socialist propaganda. The negative attitude of the Orthodox clergy towards socialism can be considered as one of the reasons for the subsequent persecution of it during the revolution and the Civil War.