A letter from metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) to metropolitan Eleutherius (Bogoyavlensky) about the attitude of some archpriests to the policy of compromise of Moscow Patriarchate
Abstract
Below is published a letter from the Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) to Metropolitan Eleuthery of Lithuania and Vilna (Bogoyavlensky). The letter, written most likely in the second half of July or early August 1929, is an answer to the question about the situation in the Russian Church, as well as about the attitude of the hierarchy to the compromise course of Metropolitan Sergius. First of all, the Lithuanian hierarch was interested in the position of three authoritative archpastors. These were the Patriarchal Locum Tenens Metropolitan Peter (Polyansky), Metropolitan Kirill (Smirnov) and Archbishop Seraphim (Samoilovich). All these archpastors, now canonized, to one degree or another condemned the policy of compromises with the God-fighting authorities. However, the Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens tried to smooth out the real situation. Thus, he presented Metropolitan Peter as his supporter rather than his opponent, referring primarily to the dubious testimony of Bishop Vasily (Belyaev). At the same time, Metropolitan Sergius considered his rights equal to the rights of the Patriarchal Locum Tenens. Metropolitan Sergius explained his disagreement with the compromises of Metropolitan Kirill and Archbishop Seraphim with personal motives or ignorance. According to the Deputy Locum Tenens, resistance to his compromise course is insignificant and is gradually fading. The introductory article and notes provide comments on the statements of Metropolitan Sergius.
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