In the practice of the Russian Orthodox Church, a local council is a collection of bishops, laity, other clerics, as well as the local Church. It discusses and resolves the most important issues related to the affairs of dogma, moral and religious life, as well as discipline, organization and management of the church.
Cathedral History
The practice of convening local cathedrals appeared in the so-called ancient church. It originates from the Jerusalem Cathedral, at which the apostles gathered, to solve the issues of baptized pagan observance of the requirements of the law of Moses. Over time, decisions of local cathedrals (as well as Ecumenical) became mandatory for all novices of monasteries and temples.
Initially, the cathedrals were named after the cities in which they took place. There was also a conditional distribution according to the location of the churches, the name of the local churches, countries or territories in which they were organized.
The practice of cathedrals in the Russian Orthodox Church
In our country until the 20th century, any private cathedrals of antiquity were called local cathedrals, with the exception of Ecumenical ones. At the same time, the term came into widespread use only in the 20th century, when preparations began for the All-Russian Local Council of the Russian Church, which we will talk about in more detail. It opened in August 1917. It is noteworthy that more than half of its participants were laymen.
Already in the most recent original documents of the Russian Orthodox Church , it is stated that the meeting of the episcopate, as well as any other clergy and laity belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church , is considered a local cathedral.
Formation order
In the modern charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, there is even a special procedure for the formation of the local cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church.
It should include bishops, heads of synodal institutions and theological academies, delegates from theological seminaries, as well as from abbesses of convents. The composition of the local cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church includes the head of the domestic spiritual mission, which is based in Jerusalem, members of the commission for the preparation of the cathedral under the Russian Orthodox Church, representatives of the patriarchal parishes in the United States of America, Canada, Italy, Turkmenistan, and the Scandinavian countries.
The restoration of the patriarchate
Perhaps the most important local cathedral of the Russian church in the twentieth century took place in 1917. Firstly, it was the first cathedral organized since the end of the 17th century. Secondly, it was on it that it was decided to restore the institution of patriarchate in the Russian church. It was adopted on October 28, putting an end to the synodal period. Everything was organized in the famous Assumption Cathedral.
Interestingly, this local cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church met for more than a year. It coincided with such important events as the First World War, survived the rise and collapse of the Provisional Government, as well as the socialist revolution, the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly, which many had high hopes for, the signing of the Decree on the separation of church and state, the beginning of a bloody Civil War.
In response to some of these crucial events, the local ROC council made statements about them. At the same time, members of the Bolshevik party, whose actions were discussed at the council, did not impede the holding of this assembly.
It is noteworthy that the preparation for this cathedral of local Orthodox churches was conducted from the first years of the 20th century. It was then that anti-monarchical sentiments began to prevail in society. They also met among the clergy.
Participants in the cathedral were 564 people. It was attended by the head of the Provisional Government, Alexander Kerensky, Nikolai Avksentiev, who oversaw the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as members of the diplomatic corps and the press.
Preparing for the Cathedral
Preparations for the Orthodox local cathedral began in 1906. A special definition of the Holy Synod was issued. The formation of the pre-conciliar presence began, during which time four volumes of "Journals and Protocols" were printed.
In 1912, they organized a special department at the Holy Synod, which was directly involved in the preparation.
Convocation of the Cathedral
In April 1917, the project of the Holy Synod was approved, dedicated to the appeal to pastors and archpastors.
In August, the charter of the local cathedral was adopted. It was supposed to serve as a qualitative example of a “rule of thumb”. The document stated that this cathedral is capable of resolving any issues, all of its decisions are binding.
In August 1917, a resolution was issued on the rights of the Holy Cathedral, signed by the Provisional Government.
First session
Officially, the work of the cathedral started in August 1917. It was then that the first session began. She was entirely devoted to the reorganization of the top of church administration. They discussed the restoration of the patriarchate, as well as the election of the patriarch himself, the establishment of his duties and rights. The legal situation in which the Orthodox Church found itself in the changing conditions of Russian reality was discussed in detail.
From the first session, discussions began on the need to restore the patriarchate. Perhaps the most active champion of the restoration of the patriarchate was Bishop Mitrofan, and members of the Council Archbishop Anthony of Kharkov and Archimandrite Hilarion also supported this idea.
True, there were also opponents of the patriarchate who pointed out that this innovation could hamper the catholic beginning in church life, as well as lead to absolutism in the Russian Orthodox Church. Among the ardent opponents, a professor of the Kiev Theological Academy named Petr Kudryavtsev, as well as archpriest Nikolai Tsvetkov, professor Alexander Brilliantov stood out.
Election of the Patriarch
An important decision this year was made for the Russian Orthodox Church. The local cathedral for the first time after a long break chose the patriarch. It was determined that the elections will be held in two stages. This is a secret ballot and draw. Each participant had the right to write a note in which he could indicate only one name. Based on these notes, a final list of candidates was compiled. The names of the three leaders who received the most votes, it was decided to choose the holy throne. Which of them will become the patriarch was decided by lot.
It is worth noting that some members of the council opposed such a procedure. After counting the notes, it turned out that the leader of the first stage was Archbishop Anthony Khrapovitsky, who received 101 votes in his support. Metropolitan Kirill Smirnov and Tikhon followed him. Moreover, with a noticeable lag they turned out to be only 23 votes.
The ceremonial announcement of the result of the lot happened at the end of 1917. In the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, this was done by the elder of the Zosim desert in the name of Alexy Soloviev. He drew lots in front of the icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir. It was this old man for such an important mission that was not chosen by chance. At that time he was already 71 years old, entered the Zosimov desert in 1898, and there he was tonsured a monk. In 1906 he began to engage in senility. This is a special type of monastic activity, which is directly related to spiritual leadership. In old age, a special person exercises spiritual guidance over other monks who live with him in the same monastery. Mentoring is carried out, as a rule, in the form of advice and discussions that the old man leads with people coming to him.
By that time, he was already a fairly respected person. He announced the name of the new patriarch, who became Metropolitan Tikhon. It is noteworthy that as a result the candidate won, for whom initially the least votes were cast.
New patriarch
Tikhon became the Patriarch of Moscow. In the world Vasily Ivanovich Bellavin. His biography is interesting. He was born in the Pskov province in 1865. His father was a hereditary priest. In general, the surname Bellavin was very common in the Pskov region just among the clergy.
At the age of 9, the future patriarch enrolled in a religious school, then was educated at a theological seminary in Pskov itself.
The patriarch tonsured monks in 1891. Then he received the name of Tikhon. An interesting stage in his biography is missionary activity in North America. In 1898, he was appointed Archbishop of Aleutia and Alaska.
In the memory of contemporaries, Patriarch Tikhon remained the author of high-profile appeals, anathemas and other statements that were actively discussed in society.
So, in 1918, he issued an appeal, in which, in particular, he urged everyone to come to their senses and stop the bloody reprisals, because this is actually a satanic affair (for which a person can be exiled to fiery hell). There was an opinion in the public mind that this anathema was addressed directly to the Bolsheviks, although they were never called directly. The patriarch condemned all who went against Christian values.
In July 1918, in the Kazan Cathedral on Red Square, Patriarch Tikhon openly condemned the shooting of Emperor Nicholas II and his entire family. Soon, the Bolsheviks began criminal prosecution of the clergyman. He was not sentenced to real criminal punishment.
In 1924, a robbery attack on the patriarchal home took place. Jacob Polozov was killed, who for many years was one of his closest assistants. This dealt a serious blow to Tikhon. His health was greatly shaken.
In 1925, he died at the age of 60, according to the official version, from heart failure.
The second session of the cathedral
Returning to the local cathedral, it is worth noting that at the very beginning of 1918 the second session began, which lasted until April. The session was held in conditions of extreme political instability in society.
There were a large number of reports of reprisals against the clergy. Especially everyone was struck by the murder of Kiev Metropolitan Vladimir Epiphany. A parish charter was adopted at the cathedral, which called for rallying parishioners at this difficult time around Orthodox churches. The diocesan administration was supposed to participate more actively in the life of the laity, to help them cope with what was happening around.
At the same time, the cathedral strongly opposed the adoption of new laws on civil marriage, as well as the possibility of its painless dissolution.
In September 1918, the cathedral ceased its work without completing it to the end.
Third session
The third session was the shortest. It took place from June to September 1918. At it, the participants had to develop the main conciliar definitions, which should be guided by the highest bodies of church administration. Questions were discussed about monasteries and their novices, attracting women to participate in various divine services, and also about protecting church shrines from so-called sacrilegious seizure and abuse.
Just during the cathedral, the assassination of Emperor Nicholas II and his entire family took place. After the debate, the question was raised about the need for a worship service dedicated to the murder of the emperor. Voting was organized. About 20% of the participants in the cathedral spoke out against the service. As a result, the patriarch read the memorial service, and orders were sent to all Russian churches to serve the requiem.
Memory of the cathedral
In memory of the cathedral there are many documentary sources. Among them were icon paintings. The most famous of them is the icon "Fathers of the Local Cathedral". It was written in 1918. It depicts all the hierarchs who supported the resumption of the Russian patriarchy. It is noted that behind each image is a true confessional history, which is important for any Orthodox.