THE ECCLESIASTICAL CONNECTION OF RUSSIA WITH JERUSALEM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6873, 10 March 1883, Page 3

THE ECCLESIASTICAL CONNECTION OF RUSSIA WITH JERUSALEM.

The Balnea ecclesiastical world is ell aghast at the recent election of the new Patriarch of Jerusalem. This important post has b*«a given to P. Photlas Peroglen, the withes of Bonis having been entirely ignored and overlooked, showing how weak is the influence the has preserved over the affaire of the orthodox Greet Church in the Bast. Hot only was the candidate presented by Bnssla (the Greek Archbishop Nioodemns) not elected, but he was not even allowed to pat his name down among the candidates. This slight to the Russian Synod has caused great indignation here, and inched is all the more unprovoked and unmerited that the Patriarchy of Jerusalem subsists chiefly on the means furnished by Russia; besides possessing considerable estates granted by the late Emperors, it receives solid help in money. The whole empire overflows with messengers, from the Eastern churches gathering voluntary tributes. These envoy* are universally received with kindness and hospitality, especially in the remoter provinces, and are never refused. It can even be ■aid without exaggeration that were Russia to withdraw her generous support it would be a matter of difficulty for these churches to subsist, as they possess hardly anything of their own. It is easy co imagine, taking these tact* into consideration, bow sensitive Russia has been to these proceedings. And, indeed, in return for the really considerable and continual sacrifices the Russians msks in the interest of the churches in the But (for every religious orthodox considers Jerusalem as a second fatherland), they have received but indifference and the grossest ingratitude. The legitimate desires of Russia are ignored } for instance, that of the reestablishment of peace between the Greek and Bulgarian Churches, the latter having been pronounced “ separated" by the Council of 1873. Russia, especially the Slavonophiles, cannot contemplate with this «• elusion of the Bulgarians from the united orthodox Church, which exclusion "ndwe them schismatics and deprive# them of-m«iy * ss m