THE POSITION OF THE ORTHODOX POPULATION IN HUNGARY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST WORLD WARAS IT WAS DEPICTED IN RUSSIAN CHURCH PUBLICATIONS IN 1914-1915

Abstract

The article analyzes the peculiarities of the religious life in Hungary shortly before and at the beginning of the First World War in 1914-1915 on the basis of Russian publications «Theological Bulletin», «Church records», «Chisinau eparchial records» and «Riga eparchial records». The status of the Orthodox, Uniates and Catholics is highlighted. The activities of the clergy and the policy of the Austrian government in relation to the Slavic population are considered on periodicals materials. The main idea of the article isto study inter-confessional and international relations in Hungary and to analyse the angle at which these relations were interpreted and described in church publications. The position of Russian journalism related to religious education in Austria-Hungary is defined. The influence of the events of the First World War to the peculiarities of the national liberation movement of the Slavic population in Austria-Hungary is characterized.The journalists were primarily interested in the position of the Slavic population in relation to the Russian Empire. As a result of research, it has been found that the interest of the Russian public in the religious life in Austria-Hungary increased significantly after the beginning of the First World War. Correspondents received information directly from the place setting and analyzed local press. These direct reports provided the opportunity to become familiar with the life of the local population in more detail. Particularly, the attention in the publications was focused on the issue of the oppression of the Slavs and the Orthodox Church by the Austrian government.The journalists of church publications negatively assessed the internal policy in the Hungarian lands. They pointed out that the government pursued a policy of Latinization and Magyarization of the local Slavic population. The economic life in the Hungarian lands did not remain unnoticed. Particularly, while analyzing the situation of villages in Hungary, the journalists reported that the economic situation was difficult. Since the beginning of the First World War, the representation of Austria-Hungary on the pages of Russian church press was exclusively negative. In Russian journalists’ opinion, the internal policy of the Austrian government was aimed at the suppression of the consciousness of the Slavs.In this regard, the editorial staff placed a premium on the issue of national liberation movement, which increased considerably at the beginning of the XX century, in the articles of publications. While researching, a focus was brought on the confrontation of the Germans and Slavs. In 1914-1915 the issue of reunion of the Slavs was the most discussed in church periodical press. The special attention in publications was also paid to the activities of religious institutions and the clergy which had a significant influence on the life of the population.Corresponds supported the activities of the Orthodox Church in Austria-Hungary in their articles. Journalists noted that the Austrian government sought to restrict its activities. Considering the inter-confessional life, the correspondents analyzed the relations between the Orthodox, the Uniates and the Catholics in Hungary and Bukovina. In general, readers had to make a detailed presentation concerning the basic characteristics of the religious life in Hungary during the First World War.