Julius T. Loeb, “Russian Priest’s Confession,” Birmingham News (Birmingham, AL), Jan. 12, 1913.
RUSSIAN PRIET’S CONFESSION
BY RABBI JULIUS T. LOEB
A most remarkable incident is the parting of Illiador from the Greek-Catholic church in Russia. He, the extremely popular priest and bosom friend of the czar of all the Russians, the fanatical leader in Russian affairs, the “holy terror” to foreign elements, and the instigator of brutal outrages against Jews—he is now out of the Russian orthodox church, under the ban of a self-imposed ex-communication.
A sudden transformation came upon him. Smitten with the pangs of conscience for having incited Jewish massacres in Russia, for stirring up public sentiment against all foreign elements there, and for pursuing a policy of pan-slavist aggression to the detriment of all else, he suddenly awoke to publicly confess his sin, and to own up before the world the shortcomings of his own mother church and state.
His open confession to this effect has stirred all religious and political circles in Europe, and would doubtless form on the great sensations of the day were it not for the war in the near orient and the other matters of vast importance now engaging the public attention and filling the columns of the public press everywhere in civilization.
The letter addressed by Illiador to the senate in Russia is of real historic significance for Jews as well as for the at [lar]ge.
Follow [. . .] a few items in that notabl[. . .]t, which the writer of thes[e . . . t]ranslated from a European [. . .]:
“Yes, [. . .]” says the penitent, in his humb[le c]ontrition before the world. “I must run from the church and quit my former activity.”
“After a long mental struggle I have reached such conclusion. A hard and bitter struggle it was—this inner reversion of mind. I cried during nights in my mental agony. But I am happy now, as I have found my new path. I have emerged from darkness into the light. I am now in possession of that truth for which I have sought. Though lonely and forsaken, with no friends nor admirers, I care nothing, as I am rich in the discovery of a new treasure. The new truth I have acquired is by far more precious than the one I had hitherto cherished. For this new truth I have by myself drawn from life’s purest source, while the former truth had been imposed upon me by others.
“If I am still destined to continue my labors in Russia it will be my especial effort to bridge the gap that is dividing between the intellectuals and the plain people in Russia.
“Thou millioned Russian people, united in pravo-slavie, forgive me, thy faithful servant, my parting from thy faith, from thy hierachy, [sic] as I am not doing it to spite anybody, but merely because I have ceased to believe in that which I had deeply and earnestly believed heretofore.
“Alos thou non-pravo-slavist, non-believing Russia, as they call thee, forgive me, for I have greatly illtreated thee. I am not to blame. I was taught that Russians only have a right to eat their morsel of bread, to speak and believe in their own fashion; but that the mouth of all others must be hushed. A fictitious Russian truth had ordered me to cry aloud that whosoever is opposed to it is doomed to destruction.
“Thou people of Israel, light of the world: I ask thy forgiveness in particular; for my severest attacks I let fall upon thee. Believe me; it was not for thy blood I was craving, but it was my especial business to incite people against thee. Thy innocent children, murdered in the fearful “pogroms,” torture my soul. O forgive me, thou noblest and most gifted people of the world! Deep has been my blindness heretofore, and equally deep is now my remorse. Lead thou Israel, lead mankind unto truth everlasting. God hath given thee much, and for him thou hast so much to do in this world.
“Also thou noble Leo Tolstoy, forgive me, for I have sorely sinned against thee. My heart always was near thee and thy thoughts; but my mind filled with a conclusion of truth and untruth had stood up against thee.”
No comments:
Post a Comment