In the second half of the 17th century (1650-1660), a large-scale reform was carried out in Russia, initiated by Patriarch Nikon. Its main goal was the unification of traditions and religious rites with the Greek canons. What caused the need for church reform? First of all, this is the powerful influence of the Byzantine foundations on the entire Orthodox society.
What caused the need for church reform?
Toward the end of the 1640s, the tsar and the Moscow patriarch learned that an act of burning Moscow religious books, which were proclaimed heretical, had taken place in the Athos monastery. Of course, this fact deeply angered the ruler, but he could not help but recognize the fact that the event had good reasons. Moscow church books had significant errors in rituals and rites. The patriarch saw that it was precisely this that caused the need for church reform.
As relations with other countries become more lively in the 17th century,Greekophilism. Even the ruler Alexei Mikhailovich himself was his sincere supporter. He dreamed of bringing the Russian Church in line with the Greek. This desire was largely due to the need for church reform in the 17th century.
Aleksey Mikhailovich also pursued selfish, selfish goals. He hoped that bringing the Russian Church into unity with the Greek would make him the vicar of God on earth, help rid the country of the Turks, and subsequently contribute to his accession to Constantinople.
Another important factor was the desire to annex Little Russia. At that time, it was administered by the Throne of Constantinople. Thus, answering the question: "What caused the need for church reform?", we can single out the following main factors:
1. Establishing power over Little Russia.
2. Strengthening the position of the king in the world.
3. Bringing Russian rituals into line with the Greek canons.
Chronology of the split
In February 1651, after a major church council, a policy of unanimity was initiated. Previously, in different temples, services were held in a different order.
- 21.02.1653, a provision was introduced to replace the two-fingered sign of the cross with a three-fingered one.
- September 1653 - Archpriest Avvakum was imprisoned. Later he was permanently exiled to the Siberian town of Tobolsk.
- 1654 - Nikon stands for the equation of Russian church books with Greek ones.
- 1656 - the church officially condemned the sign of the cross with two fingers and cursed those who remained with himcorrect.
- 1667-1776 - riots all over the country. Old Believers attack new churches, rob them and destroy property.
- 1672 - 2700 Old Believers committed an act of self-immolation in the Paleostrovsky Monastery.
- January 6, 1681 - the uprising organized by Avvakum Petrov.
- 1702 - Peter 1 signed a decree, according to which the persecution of the Old Believers stopped.
Main characteristics of the reform
Priests from Greece were invited to Russia to edit church books. Patriarch Nikon was inseparably watching their work. Any disagreement with his authoritative opinion was punishable by dismissal and suspension from correcting errors in books. The main changes were aimed at bringing Russian rituals in line with Greek ones. Nikon clearly imagined what caused the need for church reform and sought to unify all traditions and ceremonies taking place in all churches of the state.
People's reaction to the reform
Patriarch Nikon had a stern disposition and rudeness. Many clerics denounced his intolerance and opposed him. So, at the cathedral, he could afford to tear off the mantle and even publicly beat the bishops. His judgments were too categorical, which caused indignation among the people.
In 1667, by the decision of the Great Moscow Cathedral, Nikon was deposed for his arbitrary abandonment of his department.
