Ulunruh Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 The Reformation That Might Have Been Source: Article by Oleg Zhigankov in Perspective Digest Vol. 7, No, 3 2002 Russia had its own Reformation, an event that has not received its deserved attention in the Western world. ... This significant movement had the potential to change not only Russian history but also the religious situation in the West... It's theology was rooted in the Bible, the movement was not affected by Byzantine Christianity . Since adherents were not numerous, its activity smoldered throughout the centuries, only to burst into flame in the 1400's.... In Russia, the Bible had not been kept from the people as in Catholic countries. From the writings of Ivan Chiornyl and the brothers Ivan and Feodor Kuritsyn... it is clear that the principles of faith, the lifestyle and the teachings of the Sabbatarians within the movement were based on the Bible. As far back as the 11th century parts of the Bible had been translated into the language of the people and by 1581 Russians had a complete printed Bible.... By the second half of the 15th century a large group of Russian Orthodox clergy in Novgorod supported and promoted the Reformation movement.... The Reformation found support in both the upper and lower classes.... https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/pd/vol7/iss3/12/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulunruh Posted February 5, 2023 Author Share Posted February 5, 2023 The teachings Although deviant views existed among the [Russian] Reformers, there was little justification for the Russian Orthodox clergy to brand the Reformers "Judaistic"... 1. The Holy Scriptures are the highest authority for the believer and they are above the traditions of the church. Sabbathkeeping, observing the Lord s Supper, and other similar beliefs are directly deduced from this paramount belief. 2. Monasticism, icons, holy relics, and other traditions not found in the Bible are priestly inventions and should not be venerated. 3. The Bible that ties together the past, present, and future. 4. The Christian should pray to God without any human mediators such as priests or saints. The Scriptures can be understood and explained without the help of the clergy. 5. Believers should keep all Gods law, the Decalogue, including the Sabbath. 6. Christ s death was an atoning sacrifice for the sins of humankind. 7. Human beings are monistic and not dualistic creatures. There is no such thing as a soul surviving the body; the soul is not immortal. 8. Every person is free to choose and practice what he or she believes. Freedom of conscience is crucial in religious faith and practice. 9. True religion and science are not antagonistic to each other. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/pd/vol7/iss3/12/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulunruh Posted February 5, 2023 Author Share Posted February 5, 2023 What happened? By the end of the 15th century, the Reformation's ideas and practices had spread throughout Russia...That even some of the czar's family accepted the new teachings disturbed the Orthodox clergy. The church clearly perceived the threat to its power and the need to act without delay to save itself... 1490 the first of the church councils brought accusation against the Reform movement calling it a Judaizing heresy and anthemizing it. ... On December 27, 1504 Moscow witnessed the first inquisitional burning of "heretics" in Russia.... (burning numerous leaders and less known "heretics") Though the Novgorod Moscow movement suffered heavy losses among the upper classes, it remained popular among the lower classes. In 1511, Czar Vasilii was pressured to increase the persecution of the "heretics" lest they destroy the Orthodox Church in Russia. Thus, the Reformers were swept out of the Kremlin. ... So it was that Russia's progress toward Protestantism and Enlightenment was stopped...In its stead came absolutism over the social, political, and religious realms of the Russian people. Read the whole article to get a fuller story of this little known reformation. The Reformation That Might Have Been by Oleg Zhigankov in Perspective Digest Vol. 7, No, 3 2002 https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/pd/vol7/iss3/12/ GHansen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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