The Grand Mission of Patriarch Sergius (Stragorodsky). On the Occasion of the 80th Anniversary of the Second Reinstatement of the Patriarchate

The article focuses on the actions and legacy of Patriarch Sergius (Stragorodsky). The author illustrates how historical context and divine providence shape the character of an exceptional individual and a devout church leader, highlighting several significant objectives in Patriarch Sergius's endeavors: the reinstatement of the patriarchate institution, safeguarding the Church against renovationist schisms, and revitalizing its societal and historical significance. A significant portion of the article is dedicated to Patriarch Sergius's contributions to theology, particularly within Orthodox soteriology. The article delineates how the efforts of two patriarchs, Tikhon (Bellavin) and Sergius (Stragorodsky), facilitated the reconciliation of the Church with the Soviet leadership, thereby mitigating the detrimental effects of the Renovationist councils (in 1923 and 1925). The author provides evidence supporting the inevitability and providential nature of Patriarch Sergius' decision to normalize relations between the Church and the Soviet state. The primary justifications for such normalization included resistance to internal church reformation and the mobilization of people, the country, and the Church in response to the civilizational challenge of Nazism during the war. Simultaneously, the article exposes certain emigrant parishes that, by supporting Hitler, forfeited any chance of becoming an alternative to the Russian Orthodox Church.

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