Translated material
Priest Georgy Edelstein on the modern politics of the Russian Orthodox Church
On April 14, 2011, “Portal-Credo.Ru” published a conversation between Vladimir Oivin and priest Georgy Edelstein, in which, among other things, the statement of Izhevsk priests and the modern policies of the Russian Orthodox Church were discussed.
The priest insists that there is no reason to talk about a fundamentally new position of Patriarch Kirill in relation to the authorities: “ Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky), Patriarch Alexy (Simansky), Patriarch Piment (Izvekov), Patriarch Alexy II (Ridiger), Patriarch Kirill - it's all a bird of a feather. There is no fundamental difference between them. These are all Sergians. Neither of them wants to return to the origins of Christianity. None of them wants to go back to the Council of 1917-18 ."
In his opinion, the position of the Russian Church will be fundamentally different if the actions of the Local Council are comprehended.
“ There was a Council, ” said the priest. G. Edelstein, - no one discussed the actions and decisions of this council. What was the Council for? Why did he make any resolutions or decisions? If we want to live an Orthodox life, then we must return to the actions of this council. Accept something and reject something, regardless of whether Mr. or Comrade Yeltsin, Putin, Medvedev like these resolutions, decisions . The church must live its own life.”
In his opinion, issues of reform of the army, justice or police should be of interest to Christians only to the extent that they are citizens of the state.
“ These are not church issues ,” the priest reminds. “ And I very much doubt that our military chaplains are the right thing to do .”
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