Freemasonry and the Orthodox Churches

Abstract

Freemasonry is supposed to have emerged in Russia in the 1770s. The Church of Russia was like a partner of Russian Freemasonry, and had absolutely no part in its prohibition by Catherine II in 1794. The countries which could be called 'Orthodox', that are those where Orthodoxy was the prevailing Christian denomination, had been under Ottoman rule for centuries. Within those politically and nationally committed Freemasonries, one can find priests, monks, even bishops, as members. So Freemasonry and Orthodox Churches closely cooperated in the fight for national freedom. After the decolonization, the Islamic rules were enforced and Freemasonry was prohibited, with three exceptions: Turkey and Israel, because they are supposed to be secular States, notwithstanding many restrictions; and Lebanon, owing to its singular situation as a multiconfessionnal State. The great majority of Orthodox Churches has not yet taken a decision, neither for nor against Freemasonry. Keywords: Christian denomination; Freemasonry; Islamic rules; multiconfessionnal state; Ottoman rule; Russian Orthodox Church