Kyrie Eleison

It was almost as breathtaking as if the Vatican had suddenly given its blessing to atheism. The Moscow radio announced this week that the Soviet Government would permit what remains of the Greek Orthodox Church,* disestablished since the Russian Revolution, to elect a Patriarch and form a Holy Synod. This act would amount to official restoration of the church in Russia, where, despite official Soviet apologetics, religion has in effect been banned since the advent of the Bolsheviks.

The steps whereby this historic about face was made were of Byzantine indirection. As Bolshevik No. 1, it would be somewhat out of character for Premier Stalin officially to initiate a backsliding.

So last week Stalin gave a reception for three Greek Orthodox Metropolitans, Leningrad's Bishop Alexis, the Ukraine's Archbishop Nicholas, Moscow's 76-year-old Bishop Sergei, who was brought back for the occasion by special train from Mohammedan Tartar Republic, where for two years he has been in genteel exile.

At this reception, says the Moscow radio, the three Metropolitans "informed" Stalin that the Orthodox Church intends to call a council of bishops, elect a Patriarch of Moscow and form a Holy Synod.

Said the Moscow radio: "Comrade Stalin favorably considered these suggestions and stated that there would be no obstacle on the part of the Government." Several motives might be behind the Kremlin's new move--none of them religious. Stalin, a realistic man, may be looking for wider popular support among the Russian masses, thousands of whom have remained doggedly Christian. He may wish to counteract the influence of the Roman Catholic Church (the Vatican radio has been broadcasting to Russia in Russian). He may have a watchful eye on the predominantly Greek Orthodox Balkans. He may think it best for Russia to present a Christian front to Christian Europe, and to the other United Nations at a postwar peace conference.

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