A reader: “I know it’s been a bad day for Anglicans, but I disagree with
your pessimism about the Orthodox Church. Orthodoxy is designed to resist
social and political change. For almost half a millenia, the Orthodox Church
was subjugated by the Ottoman Empire (see Sir Steven Runciman’s “The Great
Church in Captivity”) and was the only link to Christ for millions of people
over hundreds of years. Orthodox Christians are raised with a siege
mentality; we already believe that we are the last candle in a world of
shadows. There is no tradition of compromise in the Eastern Churches. The
Orthodox faith has resisted Islam and Stalin. My Church is used to fighting
for its life and for my soul. Anglicans and Roman Catholics have just begun
to fight. You’re welcome to join my team, but maybe you should stay and
fight for yours.”
Hmmm. I admit I am not an expert on the history here, and I am open to
correction, but I always thought the Orthodox Church in Russia went along
pretty happily with depotic government–certainly under the Tsars, and even
(though I am thinking of WW2, and perhaps this ought to be discounted) with
Stalin.
As it happens, I shall be spending Labor Day with some Russian Orthodox
friends (I L-O-V-E that long basso profundo thing they do as a grace before
meals!) so I shall ask Father George for clarification. And this year I
shall remember to put the stress on the first syllable of “Matrushka.”
(That way it is the polite form of address for a priest’s wife; the other
way, it is a kind of doll.)