RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH AND THE DOUBLIING OF POWER

The present political situation in Russia can be called "the doubling of power". This is an objective observation. To call the actions  of Yeltsin a "coup-des-etat" gives the seriousness of the political situation absolutely no consideration at all.

From a historical psychological point of view the present situation is opposite to that of the August, 1991 coup (and I believe that it is impractical to judge this political buzz in any other terms). The situation at that time was completely unexpected - now it was expected long beforehand. In 1991 everybody was frightened - now everybody is calm. Then everything was uncertain because there were too many options available - now there is hardly any choice at all. The victory of Hasbulatov is highly improbable. In any case it is perfectly clear what will be the result of his victory: dictatorship. It is quite strange that the rule of Yeltsin which is formally a dictatorship will result in new steps on the road to freedom. Certainly all other representative powers will try to overcome Yeltsin with brute force. But after the disappearance of Bolshevizm, shooting right and left without hesitation will not be tolerated by the Silent Majority. I am not very silent nor am I a majority, but still I hope I belong to the voice of this S.M. which is not pro-Yelsin but is anti-Hasbulatov.

The position of the Russian Orthodox Church in this conflict is undetermined as yet. This is to be expected. In August of 1991 Patriarch Alexy issued two letters which later were announced to be proclamations in support of Yeltsin. But a close reading shows that if coup-des-etats win, these very letters can easily be interpreted as proclamations condemning Yeltsin. It is typical Asian cleverness and is very practical in Russia. There are two bishops in the Moscow Patriarchate who made definite political choices during the last few years. First, Metropolitan Pitirim closely connected himself with Gorbachev and the post-communist Establishment in general. Second, Metropolitan John published a series of articles of pro-monarchist,  anti-democratic and anti-semitic sentiments and even met with Hasbulatov in July, 1993. That is why today both are suspicious figures in the eyes of their colleagues. It is a bad practice for a bishop to have a  definite political position and articulate it publicly. It is exercised for the purpose of demonstrating a snobbish benevolence to those who are now in power. It would be preferable to have the option of choosing what position to side with at all times. Many bishops are very active. Metropolitan Cyrill is a nice example. But they are concerned only with their own careers, not with some political or church interest.

Now the Patriarch is in the US and apparently is not in a hurry to return. He will be silent until the last possible moment and then he will issue some most neutral declaration in the "All-You-Need-Is-Love" style (He has issued one on September 23; he asked to avoid bloodshed by all cost). He is now in a more delicate position than ever before because of the recent activity surrounding the Religious Freedom Act. Initiating the Act to prohibit foreign missions, the Patriarch thought that both Yeltsin and Hasbulatov would help him. Really, until June of 1993 this was the case: two leaders unanimously approved the Act (Yeltsin - during the meeting with religious leaders on March 22). But then something inevitable happened: foreigners and a newly-born Russian public opinion managed to make the struggle against prohibition a symbol of democracy. Yetsin's heart is actually completely indifferent on this issue but in this situation he was obliged to take the side of Clinton, Yakunin and other democratic figures.

So the Patriarch found himself in a position of supporting Hasbulatov's line. This is actually quite contrary to the main principle of political neutrality and against the intentions of the Patriarch himself. Without the Great Doubling he will manage to find a sort of compromise. Now he ought to wait. If Hasbulatov wins, then even without the Act there will be no foreigners at all in Russia. If Yetsin wins, there will be no question of prohibition for missionaries and the Patriarch will need some purifyng period of silence in order for democrats to forget about his attempt to dominate the Russian Orthodox Church. It would be most easy for them to forget because the Moscow Patriarchy is still the most prominent religious body in Russia and it is better not to quarrel with it.

James Krotov, 24.09.1993