Restoration of the Patriarchate at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church (1917-1918)

Abstract

The beginning of the 20th century was a crucial period for the life the Orthodox Church in Russia. The main event, which changed the internal and external situation, was the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1917/1918. The most important decision of the council was the restoration of the patriarchate, which was destroyed by a resolution of tsar Peter the First in 18th century. The discussion concerning this process initiated numerous interesting opinions and dialectic directions. In this article positive arguments for restoration of patriarchate have been presented on the basis of  publications by S.N. Bułgakow, N.I. Troicki and A.W. Wasiljew, which supplemented the work of the council. Their relation to the marks of the Church such as unity, apostolicity, and conciliarity (sobornost’) is of particular importance.