Clergymen on the Russian question

January 24 2012, the opinions of the clergy on the national Russian politics.

The journalists asked the clergy the following questions: “Do you think to legislate the state-forming role of the Russian people? Than you explain the reluctance that this idea encounters? The reason for the survey was the publication of an article by Vladimir Putin “Russia: a national question".

Prot. Maxim Kozlov, rector of Tatyaninsky the temple of Moscow State University is convinced that "legislatively consolidate the status of Russian tradition, culture, historical and religious tradition, would be prudent from the point of view of the interests of the state "and somewhat surprised why this has not been done so far.

Rector of Spassky temple on Novoslobodsky archpriest. Alexander Ilyashenko recalled, what is most important is that the “state officially supported the Orthodox faith that shaped the Russian people.” "If Russian people will keep the Orthodox faith, then, of course, it will remain and the state-forming people,” the priest believes.

Podmoskovny Priest Alexy Novichkov is convinced that only "by returning the Russians to their proper place in Russian reality”, moreover, by law, it is possible to “restore live in Russian state and prospects for the future.

Prot. Andrey Spiridonov (Blagoveshchensky temple in Petrovsky Park) is convinced that the state-forming role of the Russian people is necessary, but it is necessary to understand what "is the common values Russian people" - “democracy and liberalism or Christian values ​​and Orthodox". In his opinion, “since the revolution itself, the Russian people have always been subjected to discrimination, and precisely as a bearer of Christian values.”

Prot. Alexander Kuzin (temple Cosmas and Damian in Shubin) underlines that although he “believes that the state-forming the people is Russian, and the religion is Orthodoxy”, “it is impossible to introduce this into the constitution” according to cause of the increase in interethnic conflicts.

Prot. Sergiy Privalov is sure that "the attitude to the national question, the Church can have one thing, and the state another. "In the Russian The Orthodox Church does not have a national question as such, - he said. - IN Temples are served by priests of different nationalities. And we partake from the same cup representatives of different nationalities, regardless of their language, traditions and cultural identity".

Sources

• Should the Russian people be recognized as a state-forming people? (Opinions of the clergy) // Regions.Ru. 2012. January 24.