Patriarchate in Rus' turned 415 years old

Today there are 415 years since the patriarchate was introduced in Rus'. In connection with this date, the Interfax agency spread a historical certificate, which refers to the role of this institute in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church (Russian Orthodox Church).

The introduction of the patriarchate in Rus' dates back to 1589. This was the logical result of the Ferraro-Florentian union, which the Byzantine church concluded in the 15th century with the Vatican , as a result of which the Russian metropolis began to elect its primary hierarch.

In addition, after the fall of Byzantium in 1453, the Constantinople Patriarchal throne was completely dependent on the Turkish sultans, while Russia remained the only independent Orthodox state and naturally turned into the center of the Orthodox world.

The patriarchate in Russia did not last long: at the beginning of the 18th century, the era of repression against the church from secular circles begins. In 1721, Peter I abolished the patriarchate, which, according to church historians, inflicted a huge blow to the church and made a split into Russian spiritual and cultural life.

The restoration of this institution occurred only in 1917 after the February Revolution: the frank intervention of the Provisional Government in church life and the challenge of Bolshevism prompted the church to force the restoration of the patriarchate.

At the Local Council, Tikhon (Belavin) was then elected the first hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, which was later reckoned with the saints.

For a long time after the death of St. Tikhon, the Bolsheviks did not give the church the opportunity to convene another cathedral on which a new Primate would be elected. In this regard, the church primary Hierarch at that time was not worn by the Patriarchal San, but by San Metropolitan and was called the Patriarchal Locumber.

Only in 1943, in the face of the war, the then Primate of the Russian Church, Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky), was finally able to receive the title of Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

Despite the difficult story, the patriarchate was destined to play an important role not only in the spiritual life of Russia, but also in strengthening its statehood. Thus, Patriarch Yermogen, who lived in the 17th century, headed the struggle for Russia's independence from the Poles, Patriarch Filaret (father of Mikhail Romanov, the founder of the royal dynasty) had a huge stabilizing influence on life in the country after the Time of Troubles, Patriarch Nikon actively helped the reality of Ukraine with Russia.

The current head of the Moscow Patriarchate Alexy II is the 15th Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. Largely due to the fundamental position of its Primate, the church managed to keep from the split that could happen after the collapse of the USSR.