Russian+Orthodox+Church

=(4)= =The Russian Orthodox Church=

Influence of Revolution of 1917 -"The Russian Revolution of 1917 and the rise of the Communist Party caused great suffering and confusion" (1). -affected by communist regime -government viewed religion as a hindrance and an inequality -after Russian Revolution, Orthodox population greatly reduced -after Russian Revolution, religion began to revive

Connection to Animal Farm Moses the Raven

-Moses was Mr. Jones' advocate; Monarchy and religion were closely linked prior to the Bolshevik Revolution -He spoke of "Sugarcandy Mountain", likening to a belief in heaven, a better place where one goes after death "Moses, who was Mr. Jones' especial pet, was a spy and a tale-bearer, but he was also a clever talker. He claimed to know of the existence of a mysterious country called Sugarcandy Mountain, to which all animals went when they died. In Sugarcandy Mountain it was Sunday seven days a week" (2). - "The pigs had an even harder struggle to counteract the lies put about by Moses, the tame raven" (2).

-Moses was indifferent to the daily struggles of the other animals on The Manor Farm -At first, Stalin ordered organized religion to be shut down, removing it from the lives of the citizens he controlled "Under Stalin, the Soviets actually carried out a program //against// religious orthodoxy. Many priests were executed as part of the Stalinist "purges," and in other places churches were defiled"(3). "The animals hated Moses because he told tales and did no work, but some of them believed in Sugarcandy Mountain, and the pigs had to argue very hard to persuade them that there was no such place" (2). -Later, Stalin gained control over his population, and enlisted the help of the Russian Orthodox Church

"When Stalin was attempting to drum up patriotic support for the war effort against Germany in 1941, he once again re-instituted the Church; he began to see how it could assist a totalitarian leader" (3). -Moses returned "after an absence of several years" and claimed, "there it lies, Sugarcandy Mountain, that happy country where we poor animals shall rest for ever from our labours" (2) -The pigs used Moses as a distraction, to keep the other animals from rebelling and to keep them hopeful that they would eventually be rewarded The pigs "all declared contemptuously that his stories about Sugarcandy Mountain were lies, and yet they allowed him to remain on the farm, not working, with an allowance of a gill of beer a day" (2). -Boxer had believed in an endless field of clover available during retirement, similar to Sugarcandy Mountain, where "clover was in season all the year round, and lump sugar and linseed cake grew on the hedges" (2). -Unfortunately the pigs prevented him from having a long, contented retirement, but the pigs kept Moses around to quell any unsanctioned inquiry regarding their leadership and hope for the future. -Old Major (Karl Marx) was against the church in the beginning because to him, religion is a way for capitalist to control society. (3)

Background > "a general council of the Catholic Church held at Vatican > City from 1962 to 1956....did not change the discipline thatallowed married priests in the Eastern Rite Catholic churches" Orthodox Church Cross (5)
 * Russian Orthodoxy/ Eastern Catholics (1) || Most Catholicism /other Christian branches (1) ||
 * < * clergy allowed to marry
 * do not follow verdicts of Pope"They elected their own bishop in defiance of Soviet appointees"
 * pray using icons
 * pray using local languages:Russian, Ukrainian, Polish
 * communion wafer is leavened ||< * clergy must be celibate, unmarried male"an unmarried way of life was a necessary requirement"
 * follow the Pope, who lives in the Vatican city"recognize the pope as the ultimate spiritual authority"
 * religious literature in Latin
 * communion wafer is unleavened ||

Reference page

1. Anatolios, K. Ph.D. & Brown, S. Ph.D. (2009). //Catholicism & Orthodox Christianity: Third Edition//. New York, NY: Infobase Publishing.

2. Orwell, G. (1974). //Animal Farm//. United States of America: Harcourt, Brace & Company

3. Siminoff, D. (2012). //Moses and Stalin's Russia.// Shmoop University//.// Retrieved from http://www.shmoop.com

4. Peterson, J. (2012). Moscow Russian Orthodox Church. //Oil Paintings & Prints//. Retrieved from [|http://jeraldpeterson.com]

5. (2012). Orthodox Cross. //Windstar Embroidery Designs//. Retrieved from [|http://windstarembroidery.com]