Orthodox Church and Russian Nationalism in the Second Half of the 19th Century and Early 20th Century

Abstract

The article is based on the pre-revolutionary journalism. It reveals the attitude of Orthodox church authors of the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century to a number of subjects related to the problems of the Russian nationalism. The traditionally high interest of the Russian society in general and Orthodox Christians in particular in the attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church to nationalism in its various manifestations accounts for the relevance of the publication. Considering the return of the modern church journalism to the same range of problems that concerned representatives of the Orthodox clergy, theologians, missionaries and teachers of theological schools in the pre-revolutionary period, it would seem that an appeal to the historical experience of their understanding is fairly significant and essential. The article examines the ways in which church authors used to understand the nationalism, their ideas about its place in the life of an Orthodox Christian, along with its challenges and threats. It is noted that although the Orthodox Church did not have a single and consistent view of the nationalism, most church authors tried to give this phenomenon a direction that would not contradict the gospel teaching and could become a constructive and creative factor for the Russian life. At the same time, it is noted that, when discussing the nationalism, church authors of the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century often gave this concept a meaning different from that of modern scientists, politicians and journalists. Standing at the Christian viewpoint, church authors rejected the militant, “pagan”, secular kind of the nationalism that involved only the earthly prosperity of the people. They supported another kind of nationalism consisting in the right of peoples to a special spiritual path, cultural and state identity and independence.