A more serious attempt to effect intercommunion be- tween the Anglican and Russo-Greek churches was be- gun in 1862, with the authority of the Convocation of Canterbury and the General Convention of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church in the United States. In the session of the latter held in New York in 18G2, a joint committee was appointed " to consider the expediency of opening communication with the Russo-Greek Church, to collect authentic information upon the subject, and to report to the next general convention." Soon after- wards (July 1, 1863) the Convocation of Canterbury ap- pointed a similar committee looking to "such eccle- siastical intercommunion with the Orthodox East as should enable the laity and clergy of either Church to join in the sacraments and offices of the other without forfeiting the communion of their own Church." The Episcopal Church in Scotland likewise fell in with the movement. These committees corresponded with each other, and reported from time to time to their author- ities. Two Eastern Church associations were formed, one in England and one in America, for the publication of interesting information on the doctrines and worship of the Russo-Greek Church. Visits were made to Rus- sia, fraternal letters and courtesies were exchanged, and informal conferences between Anglican and Russian dignitaries were held in London, St. Petersburg, and Moscow. The Russians, however, as well as the other branches of the Orthodox Eastern (Greek) Church, did not show the least disposition towards making any concession. A number of Russian divines took an ac- tive part in the Old Catholic reunion conferences at Bonn in 1874 and 1875; but although the Anglican and Old Catholic theologians here surrendered to the Ori- entals as a peace - otfering the filioque of the Western Creed, the Orientals made no concession on their part.
3. Ecclesiastical Polity. — In regard to Church consti- tution, the organization of the Holy Governing Synod has established a considerable difference between the Russian Church, on the one hand, and all the other sec- tions of the Orthodox Eastern Church, on the other.
(1.) The Holy Synod. — The members of the synod are partly priests, partly laymen. All of them are appoint- ed by the czar, who has also the right to dismiss them whenever he pleases. They meet at St. Petersburg in a special part of the large building whioli has been erect- ed for the high imperial boards. At first the synod had twelve clerical members, one president, two vice- presidents, four councillors, and four assessors. The twelfth member was destined for the synodal office at Moscow. Three of the twelve clerical members had to be bishops, the others were to belong to different de- grees of the hierarchy. It was, however, forbidden to appoint an archimandrite or protopresbyter from any diocese tlie bishop of which was a member of the syn- od, as it was feared that the former might be intluenced by their bishop. According to the pleasure of the czar, the number of the clerical members was, however, some-
times larger, sometimes smaller than twelve. No epis- copal see except that of Grusia (Tiflis) confers ex offi- cio upon its occupant the right of membership in the Holy Synod, but the metropolitans of St, Petersburg, Moscow, and Kief invariably belong to it. Some of the members are obliged to reside at St. Petersburg, others are absent members who are invited only when matters of prime importance require the presence of all the members. The synod is always presided over by the oldest metropolitan. The most prominent among the lay members is the i)rocurator-general of the synod. He represents the czar, makes the necessary prepara- tions, has the right of veto, and carries out the meas- ures that have been adopted. Every member of the synod, before taking his seat, must bind himself by a solemn oath to discharge faithfully tlie duties of his office, to be loyal to the czar and his successor, and to recognise the czar as the highest judge in the synod. The salaries of tlie members of the synod were at first paid from the property of the former patriarchate, which after its abolition was called synodal property. At present they receive a verj^ moderate fixed addition to tlie salaries which they derive from their regular ec- clesiastical office (as archbishops, bishops, or priests). The synod is subject to the emperor, and receives his orders ; on the other hand, all prelates and clergymen are subject to the synod. Among the chief duties of the synod are to preserve purity of doctrine, to regulate divine service, and to act as the highest court of ap- peal in all Church matters. The Synod has to pre- vent the spreading of heresies, to examine and censure theological books; it is entitled to prescribe ceremonies, and to see to it that they are observed. It has to su- perintend all churches and convents, to present to the czar suitable candidates for the vacant positions of archimandrites and prelates, and to examine the candi- dates for episcopal sees. It may transfer bishops to other sees, remove them, or send them to a convent. It acts as a court of appeal from the decisions of the bishops, and receives the complaints of any clergyman against his superiors. It lias the right in doubtful cases to give instruction to the prelates; but it can make new laws onlj' with the consent of the czar. It can grant dispensation from ecclesiastical laws, as from the rigid observation of the fasts. All trials which were for- merly brought before the court of the patriarch belong now to the jurisdiction of the synod; among them are trials for heresy ( against the Raskolniks ), blasphe- my', astrology : for doubtful, unlawful, and forced mar- riages; for adultery, divorce. Fornication and abduc- tion are tried before secular courts. In affairs which are partly of an ecclesiastical and partly of a secular character, the synod acts conjointly with the senate, to which it is, in general, co-ordinate. The administra- tive functions of the synod are divided into two sec- tions, the Economical Department (or College of Econ- omy) and the comptroller's office. All affairs which involve an outlay of money — as the erection of churches, schools, convents, payments, supports of clergymen, anil so forth — are first submitted to the Economical Depart- ment, The Department of Comptrol has to examine whether the moneys assigned have been properly used, and to examine the accounts. Since 1809 all sums realized by the sale of consecrated candles and other objects which the faithful purchase from the Church, as well as the proceeds of the voluntary offerings of the people, have to be sent by the bisliops to the synod, which distributes them among the eparchies according to their several wants. The treasury of the synod, which receives all these moneys, stands under the spe- cial control of the two youngest members of the synod, and of a civil officer appointed by the chief procurator.