Andreas Osiander: an ideologue of Russian-German rapprochement efforts

Abstract

The religious doctrine of Andreas Osiander was similar to the teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Church. That was in line with the stance of the most prominent representatives of the West European clerical elite who advocated for the strategic union with the Grand Duchy of Moscow. It turned out to be the natural ally of the German (Holy Roman) Empire in their joint struggle against the Turkish expansion. After the public execution in Königsberg of distinguished public figures, some followers of Andreas Osiander could have found refuge in the Tsardom of Russia during the confusions of the Livonian war and thereafter. It is plausible that some congregants of the first Lutheran parish in Moscow might have been influenced by the ideas of Andreas Osiander. The social and spiritual integration of the Germans who were at the military and civil services of the Russian state was facilitated due to the affinity of the religious beliefs of the Andreas Osiander’s devotees and those preached by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Keywords

• lutheran church
• russian orthodox church
• turkish wars in europe
• duchy of prussia
• philipp melanchthon
• matthias flacius illyricus
• john calvin
• johann faber
• albertus pighius
• vasili iii
• ivan iv
• johann funck
• matthias horst
• hans schell