The Third Rome is ... Why Moscow is the Third Rome?

Are words or thoughts of historical figures often distorted in favor of the ruling party or ideology? Take, for example, the harmless doctrine of Nietzsche about the superman, God within us. It led Germany and the whole world to a world war, as well as the idea of universal equality - to the war of independence and gay pride parades. The history of Russia is rich in such concepts: they pop up every time people stand at a crossroads. One such theory is the tale of the Third Rome. Why Moscow - the Third Rome, how to understand this today, did the humble monk think that his words will be speculated for centuries? Let's talk about this in our article.

How it all began: letters from Philothea

Long ago, in the first decades of the 16th century, the Pskov churchman Filofei wrote a series of epistles. The first - about the sign of the cross - he addressed the Grand Duke Vasily, the second - against the astrologers - to the deacon, prince confessor. These were letters of caution against the dangers of that time: astrologers, heretics and sodomites. In his address to the ruler, he calls him "guardian of the church throne" and "king of all Christians", Moscow calls the "kingdom", in which all the Christian lands converged, forming here a spiritual Orthodox center - the "Roma kingdom", Rome. And further: "The first Rome was served and the second; The third stands, and the fourth does not happen. "

It is not known whether it was Philotheus who was the founder of this concept. According to some reports, Metropolitan Zosima's letters dealt with the theory of the Third Rome 30 years before the Pskov monk. Describing the essence of the same, Zosima called Moscow "Constantinople successor." To understand what the Russian clergy meant, one must plunge into the history of that time.

Historical situation

In 1439, the Patriarch of Constantinople concluded a union with Rome, recognizing the primacy of the Pope and retaining from Orthodoxy only formal ceremonies. This was a difficult period for Byzantium: the Ottoman Turks stood on the threshold, threatening its independence. Constantinople hoped for the support of the western kings in the war with the invaders, but did not wait to help.

In 1453 the capital fell, the patriarch and the emperor were killed. It was the end of the Eastern Roman Empire.

The position of the Russian Orthodox Church

Until then, the supreme ruler of the Russian local church and kings could only be patriarch - governor of God on earth - and only in Constantinople, this human embodiment of the kingdom of Christ. In this sense, the Russians were dependent on the eastern neighbor. For a long time the Grand Duke claimed the title of king. In 1472, Ivan III was even married to Zoe (Sophia) Paleologus, the daughter of the last Byzantine emperor. With her, Ivan took the double-headed eagle as a symbol of the new state. Formally, he had the right to fiefdom - the inheritance of his wife.

From the point of view of the Russian clergy, the union was a betrayal of the Orthodox Church, a departure from the true faith. The empire paid for it by the invasion of Muslims. The kingdom of Rome - Christ's patrimony, and with it the rights of the patriarch, went to the only remaining stronghold of Orthodoxy - the Russian local church. And here now stands the Third Rome - this is the earthly kingdom of God on earth.

First and Second Rome

According to Philotheus, First Rome is the ancient Eternal City, which was destroyed in the IX century. Nomads after the separation of churches into the western and eastern. The Latins are mired in the "heresy of Apolinariev," betrayed the ideals of Christ. The kingdom of Rome went to Constantinople.

The second Rome firmly stood until the 16th century, and then was destroyed by the Ottoman Turks in punishment for spiritual treachery. The conclusion of the Florentine Union was seen as a heresy, from which the Russian Grand Duke, later the Tsar, was to guard Rus.

The Third Rome is Moscow

Was there any political calculation in the words of Philotheus? Certainly, the kingdom of God must have a strong central authority and influence in the international arena. But not the political situation worried Pskov monk.

After the Russian Church inherited the rights of the Byzantine Patriarchate, she:

1. She became independent, the Metropolitan did not have to bow to Constantinople, he was appointed from the local clergy, and not from the Greeks.
2. Russian ruler was able to crown the prince to the kingdom and demand his protection.

The idea of the Third Rome was proved by the author from prophetic books - the Old Testament tales of the four earthly kingdoms and four beasts. The first - the pagan - disappeared in the days of Egypt, Assyria and old Europe. The second kingdom is Latin (Ancient Rome), actually the first Christian; The third is Byzantium. The fourth - earthly - should be the last, because it will destroy the Antichrist himself and announce the end of the world.

The monk's messages had more fear of apocalypse than pride in the exaltation of the Russian Church. If Moscow collapses, not only Christianity will fall - it will be the end of humanity. Therefore, the prince, whom the Russian metropolitan anointed the kingdom, must guard the true faith from Muslim infidels and heresy, including Catholicism.

How did Philothee's words take shape in society?

Unlike the pessimistic author, Russian churchmen singled out the positive side of the concept: pride and grandeur. The third Rome is the pillar of all Christianity. It is not surprising that, right up to the Nikonov reform, monastic words were recounted in stories and parables in every way:

1. Novgorod "The Legend of the White Hood" (1600) says that in ancient times Constantine the Great handed Metropolitan Sylvester a cap - a symbol of high church dignity. The Russian clergyman embarrassed and did not accept the gift, but the relic through Novgorod again returned to Moscow, where it was rightfully received by the new ruler.
2. Parable of the Monomach's Crown: how Rus came to be not church, but secular royal regalia, which passed to the lawful anointed of God - the first Tsar Ivan the Terrible.

Despite the fact that it was a hard time uniting the Russian lands in a single Russian state, nowhere in official documents does the concept of the Third Rome sound. On the basis of the foregoing, it can be concluded that the idea was fashionable among the clergy, which defended the independence of the church, its privileges. For a very long time this theory had no political significance.

The Third Rome and Nikon

In the original sound of Philotheus there was a protest not only against Muslims, but also against heresy. It was understood as science and any innovations. Nikon's reform of the unification of church rituals was also a departure from tradition. Supporters of Habakkuk Nikon was perceived as the Antichrist - the fourth beast, which will destroy the last Roma kingdom.

Officially, the writings of Philotheus and all the legends and parables that directly or indirectly pointed to the theory of the Pskov monk were prohibited, for they proved the validity of the Old Believers' rules. Raskolniki carried this idea with them to Siberia and remote monasteries. Until now, the Old Believers believe that the Third Rome is the old Old Testament church in Moscow, which exists, while they are alive - its true and only representatives.

What happened next?

It seemed that both the church and the political elite had forgotten about the concept of the Third Rome . But in the second half of the XIX century, she received a new birth. In connection with the establishment of the Patriarchal Throne in Russia and the fact that the Russian people urgently needed a unifying idea, Philotheus's letters were published. The theory became widely available: "Moscow is the Third Rome", the essence of which has changed a little: all references to heresy were removed, only words about Muslims remained.

The Russian philosopher V. Ikonnikov proposed an interpretation that strengthens imperial claims and the ideology of Russia: Moscow, after the fall of Byzantium, took its rightful place in international relations, it is the savior of Christianity and humanity, because "there will be no fourth Rome". This is its historical role, its mission, on this basis, it is entitled to be a world empire.

The subsequent transformations of the theory

From this moment, Third Rome is called Russia as a stronghold of humanity, attributing to it a great mission. Especially to strengthen this idea, the Slavophils and Pan-Slavists tried. V. Soloviev, for example, believed that Russia played a key role in uniting the East and West, all Christians under the auspices of Russian Orthodoxy. Historian I. Kirillov wrote that the theory of Moscow, as the Third Rome, is that very Russian idea, national self-determination, self-awareness, which the country so did not have all this time. The Orthodox should not only unite all the fraternal peoples around them, but also strike at the Muslim Ottoman Empire, so that it does not attack first. During the liberation wars on the Balkan Peninsula, ideas became extremely popular among the people.

Since then, the words of Philothea finally became political, out of them spiritual and ecclesiastical significance was ousted.

During the Soviet era

The theory was interpreted differently during the formation of the Soviet state, but already with the advent of Stalin studies were carried out, chronicles and legends were studied. It was proved that the concept of the Roma kingdoms concerned only spiritual matters.

This is understandable. The great Soviet state did not need other theories, besides the victory of communism throughout the world, to rally the surrounding nations around itself. Yes, and religion was banned. The legends of the Pskov monk were even taken from the textbooks.

Our days

The USSR disintegrated, the people turned to God and again began to search in their history for hints of the Russian way. All research and publications were resurrected, from Philotheus to Berdyaev and Solovyov, explaining why Moscow is the Third Rome. In all history textbooks, the theory has entered as a political one, which from the New Age has shown the Russian people the right direction of development. Nationalists once again started talking about the mission of Russia in world history.

Religion is now separated from the people, nevertheless the first persons of the state often come to church, lessons of Orthodoxy are introduced in schools and universities, the Patriarch is listened to, taking diplomatic decisions. How can one be surprised that Western political scientists sometimes explain the place of Russia in the international arena with the concept of the Third Rome!

So Pan-Slavism, Bolshevism, Soviet expansionism, the Russian national idea, the true path, the historical mission - all this was explained by the concept of the Third Rome, described by the monk Philotheus in 1523-1524. Did the clergyman know that his words would find such wide application? If you study the context (complete recording of messages) and the historical situation, you can see that there is no big political hue in the theory. Only religious, apocalyptic, ecclesiastical fear for the independence and strength of the Russian Church. However, for several centuries, the words of Philothea were nevertheless mercilessly exploited by those who benefited from a different interpretation, and acquired a different meaning. How today should be understood "Moscow - the Third Rome"? As with all other historical ideas, everyone must decide on their own whether to consider this a product of that time or to explain the current state of things by theory.