Russian
source: excerpt from "Православие и
патриотизм" [Orthodoxy and Patriotism], by Priest Alexei Shlyapin.
Patriotism is the obliviation of
the meaning of the Babylonian curse. After all, the division into languages is
a curse, a consequence of sin. Yet patriotism cultivates this division into
languages.
Thus, patriotism is a pagan
worldview.
Moreover, patriotism is
obliviating the fact that the Babylonian curse has already been overcome on the
Day of Pentecost. "When He came down and confused the tongues, the Most
High divided the nations; but when He distributed the fiery tongues, He called
all to unity..." (Kontakion of
Pentecost).
Cult
Cultivated by the nation
Patriotism is cultivated, first
of all, by the nation (language). Here, the instinctive sense of national
self-preservation plays a role, and accordingly, an instinctive distinction of
“one’s own,” parochialism. And pride.
The extreme, radical
manifestation of patriotism concerning the nation is nationalism, which is
paganism, as is evident even from the Slavic etymology of the word “nation” –
“language.”
Cultivated by the state
Secondly, by the state. When the
authorities, instead of fully subjecting the interests of the nation and the
state to the will of God, are guided by the instinct of self-preservation of
the existing order, the existing regime. And by pride. They are not content
with what is “Caesar’s” (i.e., the external) and the purely practical reverence
for the existing authority and the observance of state laws (which follows from
Scripture, according to the commandment “honor the king” [1 Pet. 2:17]), but
they lay claim to the human heart, demanding service to themselves.
For this purpose, the ideology of
patriotism is instilled and cultivated in the consciousness of the people. That
is, in fact, the cult of the “motherland,” the cult of the “fatherland.”
After all, it is clear that a
Christian will approach everything critically, evaluating from a heavenly
perspective the moral permissibility of participating in this or that war or
state program. And this evaluation will by no means always coincide with the
earthly interests of the state. But patriotism, being an entirely earthly,
carnal, instinctive ideology, conveniently aligns with the earthly interests of
the nation and the state, literally coinciding with them. This is why
authorities seek to cultivate not Christians, but patriots; not citizens of
Heaven, but citizens of the earth. For it is precisely the citizens of the
earth who are easy to govern. And this is a monstrous substitution.
And they seek to use Christianity
only insofar as it can provide an ideological basis for patriotism, thus
creating a grotesque hybrid called "Christian patriotism." This is
nothing other than a dilution of Christianity, an attempt to mix it with the
human and the earthly. Or rather, an effort to smuggle an earthly, carnal,
instinctive ideology—one that aligns with the earthly interests of the
state—into the minds and hearts of people under the guise of Christianity,
wrapped in a Christian covering.
And this is an abuse by the
state, an overstepping of the authority given to it by God. The state has no
God-given right to its own ideology. Christians should neither share nor
respect the ideology of the state, but only pay taxes ("what is Caesar’s"),
respect authority, and obey the laws (according to the commandment "honor
the king" [1 Pet. 2:17]). That is, to render only what is external and
practical—nothing more. Without the participation of the heart, without any
ideology distinct from the Word of God.
Thus, the ideology of patriotism
is nothing other than a religion, a kind of state cult—that is, plain and vile
paganism.
This is a repetition of the sin
of building the Tower of Babel.
The citizens of the earth want to
enslave the citizens of Heaven, seeking to make them build the earthly city
together with them. But Christians must be citizens of Heaven (ouranopolitai), directing all their
efforts toward striving for the Heavenly City, rather than devoting their
strength and aspirations to securing earthly comfort for those who seek to
settle on the earth.
If the state needs Christianity
for its proper functioning, this does not mean that the Church needs patriotism
or any state ideologies. Just as an organism does not need its parasites. Here,
the interest is entirely one-sided.
For the Church, pure
Christianity, the Gospel, is sufficient. No other, additional ideologies are
acceptable.
Paganism
People themselves created the
ideology of patriotism and elevated it to the status of a religion. The
concepts of "motherland," "fatherland," "land,"
"Russia," and "Rus'" have become idols for patriots.
The confirmation of this is the
sacralization of these concepts by patriots, attributing ideological value to
them.
For example, on what basis do
patriots call their earthly homeland "mother," artificially placing
it under the protection of the Fifth Commandment? The Word of God gives no
grounds for this.
Mother is a specific person. But
"homeland" is an abstract, indefinite, and multifaceted concept.
Comparing "homeland" to a mother is incorrect and unfounded.
My earthly mother is not
"land," not a "country," not "Russia." She is a
completely specific woman whom I love, honor, and remember the Fifth
Commandment.
Why should I consider or call the
land, or the country, or Russia my "mother"?! This is an ideological
fantasy.
Moreover, this is crude paganism,
idolatry. Because the concept of "Mother Earth" (or "Earth
Mother") is a cult of the earth, characteristic of many pagan religions.
Considering concepts such as
"homeland," "fatherland," "land,"
"Russia," etc., as "sacred" is also crude paganism. A
sacred object is something set apart from the world and partaking in the
holiness of God. These concepts, however, are purely earthly.
There is no basis for considering
them "sacred." Because the sacred is that which is dedicated to God
and, accordingly, can no longer be used for earthly purposes or directed toward
earthly goals. Which cannot be said about these concepts.
By the way, it is not fitting for
Christians to write the words "homeland" and "fatherland"
with a capital letter (unless referring to Paradise and the Kingdom of Heaven).
These are common nouns. It contradicts the rules of the Russian language. And
since this is not dictated by an orthographic motive, the reason for
capitalizing these words is therefore ideological.
To ascribe any ideological
meaning to the concepts of "fatherland" or "homeland" is
paganism, idolatry.
The human heart is too precious
to be bound to earthly concepts and ideologies. It rightfully belongs only to
the Creator.
Therefore, patriotism is an
ideology unworthy of a Christian. It is a pagan ideology, incompatible with
Christianity.
A consistent patriot is a pagan.
Because the most "Russian," the most "national" thing is
paganism. This is evident even from the Slavic etymology of the word
"people" or "nation"—"language."
The logical conclusion of
patriotism and its essence is concrete, classical paganism.
By the way, the expression
"on the altar of the fatherland" (in reference, for example, to
soldiers killed in war) is nothing other than outright paganism and idolatry.
Christians once destroyed the Altar of the Fatherland in Rome.
Incidentally, [Russian] patriots
even have their own idol, the "Motherland" statue on Mamayev Kurgan.
Corrupt Practice
That patriotism leads to paganism
and idolatry is evident even in the modern corrupt practice of "laying
wreaths" at monuments and soldiers' graves, which is nothing other than
offerings to the dead, a cult of the dead, and prayers before monuments that
bear inherently foreign, anti-Christian, and pagan symbolism (for example, the
five-pointed star) and before the symbol of the "eternal flame."
It is clear that a Christian
should not fear pagan signs and symbols or assign them any significance.
However, in this case, it is worth recalling the analogy with food sacrificed
to idols, according to the teaching of the Apostle Paul. Pagan signs and symbols
in themselves are nothing. A Christian, in private, may ignore them. However,
in this case, there is a deliberate standing before monuments in which these
symbols hold central significance, in the sight of the people, including those
for whom these symbols are meaningful and those who know that this symbolism is
anti-Christian and pagan. That is, it is an open cause of scandal and an
occasion for reproach against the Church. It is analogous to a Christian eating
food sacrificed to idols in the presence of a pagan who knows that the
Christian is aware of it—which the Apostle Paul forbade (1 Cor. 10:25-29).
As for the laying of wreaths, it
is obvious that this is not merely the decoration of graves. This act is
irrational, possessing a ceremonial character. That is, it does not have a
practical but an ideological motive. In other words, it is a religious, sacred
act—a form of service. But not to God. It takes place outside the context of
the Church and has no foundation in the Tradition of the Church. Thus, it is
evident that in this case, a religious act is being performed outside the
Church and service is being rendered not to God. Therefore, it is clear that
this is a violation of the Commandment to serve only God (Ex. 20:2-5; Deut.
6:13).
And the question arises: to whom
are these wreaths being offered? Obviously, not to God, since offerings to God
are made within the context of the Church. This offering of wreaths, which has
a sacred character, is directed toward the deceased. This is precisely the
meaning of this practice. That is, it is an obvious and blatant offering to the
dead, a cult of the dead. This is a classic pagan (folk) practice, deeply
rooted in the consciousness of the Russian people as well. Yet, a sacrifice to
the dead is an abomination before God (Deut. 26:14).
In fact, this is complicity in a
pagan (folk) cult, which is recognized by the state at an official level, that
is, in the state cult. This is classical idolatry.
The Church must not, and has no
right before its Bridegroom, Christ, to follow the lead of state and folk
ideologies and cults.
It is closer to the truth to
acknowledge the mistakes of the past than to continue a corrupt practice out of
inertia. Christians honor the departed with prayer and offerings to God for
them, not to them.
The practical uselessness of patriotism
Patriots, in fact, have no reason
to accuse the uranopolitans.
Is it really about not defending
one’s neighbors, women, children, the elderly, and Christian holy sites?
Or do patriots believe that only
patriotism is capable of motivating a person to self-sacrifice and the defense
of their neighbors? We, however, believe that love is preeminently capable of
this. The Gospel holds the same view, where the commandment of self-sacrifice
is directly linked to the commandment of love: "Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13) (and
not a word about patriotism).
Love for a specific person,
without attachment to nationality, culture, or anything else, is entirely
sufficient, according to Christ’s Commandment, to give one’s life for him, to
protect him from invaders. To care not for the well-being of society as a whole,
but for the concrete individuals who make up that society.
Therefore, patriots are mistaken
when they claim that "only thanks to patriotism do Orthodox nations still
exist." When a person's family, friends, and loved ones are in danger, it
is precisely love for them (and, of course, zeal for the faith and holy sites)
that moves him to take up arms against invaders. He does not need patriotism
for this.
If a person is a Christian, then
simply by virtue of being a Christian, he will go to defend his
neighbors—women, children, the elderly, and holy sites—from invaders, that is,
the people inhabiting the country. This is entirely independent of any patriotism
as an ideology. For him to fulfill his duty of defending his neighbors in a
defensive war, he does not need to consider or call himself a patriot. It is
enough to be a Christian. Without any additional ideologies. A Christian simply
does not need the crutch called "patriotism," neither as an ideology
nor as a designation. Christianity alone is sufficient. Christ’s Commandment of
love is sufficient.
Likewise, concern for the
well-being of the people inhabiting a country can arise not only from the
ideology of patriotism but simply from a Christian attitude toward specific
individuals living in the country, without any additional ideology. Moreover, it
must arise from love and care for the sake of Christ’s Commandment, not from
the ideology of patriotism.
Thus, in practice, when it comes
to defending one’s family and neighbors, as well as caring for the people
inhabiting the country, uranopolitism is in no way inferior to patriotism.
So, patriots have no reason to
reproach uranopolitans.
Thus, the reason for the
opposition of patriots to uranopolitism is not practical but rather the
ideological rejection of patriotism by uranopolitans—their refusal to adopt an
additional ideology alongside Christianity.
The Ideological Uselessness of Patriotism
Thus, patriotism is a pagan
ideology, foreign to and incompatible with Christianity.
The attempt to introduce
"Christian patriotism" is a dilution of Christianity (2 Cor. 2:17).
Priest Daniil Sysoev called such a policy "Christianity and...". In
the words of C.S. Lewis: "As soon as 'Christianity and' arises, Christianity
dies."
This is where the falling away
from Christianity begins—when Christianity is adapted for the earth, for
something earthly.
Is Christianity alone really not
enough for us to fulfill everything required of us before God?!
After all, this can be understood
from the simplest logic:
If patriotism contains something
commanded by God, then it is already contained within Christianity itself, and
patriotism is not needed to fulfill it. But if patriotism contains something
that God has not commanded, then it is neither necessary to fulfill nor needed
at all.
A Christian simply does not need
the crutch called "patriotism," neither as an ideology nor as a
designation. Is the name "Christian" not enough for us? Or is
Christianity somehow lacking, that it needs to be supplemented with something
else?
If patriotism is identical to
Christianity, then why is it needed under a separate name? And if it is not
identical, then it is all the more unsuitable for a Christian. In any case, it
is evident that it is not identical.
We must carry forth the pure Word
of God, without any admixture of other ideologies. As the Apostle says:
"For we are not as many, which corrupt (literally from Greek: do not
peddle, do not dilute with water) the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as
of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ" (2 Cor. 2:17).
The only "ideology" the
Church needs is the Gospel, which a wise and God-fearing person would not dare
to supplement with their own ideologies. As it is written: "Add thou not
unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar" (Prov.
30:6).
The very existence of
Christianity in the world excludes the permissibility of any other ideologies
besides Christianity itself.
Uranopolitism
An Orthodox Christian must be a
Uranopolitan (i.e., a citizen of Heaven).
"Uranopolitism" (a term
introduced by Fr. Daniil Sysoev) means heavenly citizenship.
"Uranopolitism – (from Greek
Uranos – heaven, polis – city) is the doctrine asserting the primacy of Divine laws
over earthly ones, the primacy of love for the Heavenly Father and His Heavenly
Kingdom over all natural and sinful inclinations of man. Uranopolitism affirms
that the primary kinship is not by blood or country of origin, but kinship in
Christ. Uranopolitism asserts that Christians do not have eternal citizenship
here but seek the future Kingdom of God, and therefore, they cannot give their
hearts to anything on Earth. Uranopolitism declares that in the mortal world,
Christians are sojourners and strangers, and their homeland is in heaven."
(Fr. Daniil Sysoev)
"The heavenly city is
mentioned repeatedly in Scripture (Rev. 21–22; Heb. 11:10–16; 12:22; 13:14),
and therefore the expression 'Uranopolitism' or 'heavenly citizenship' is
simply biblical." (Fr. Daniil Sysoev)
"The word 'Uranopolitan' (ouranopolitis) is found in many of the
Holy Fathers; in particular, Saint John Chrysostom uses it five times." (Deacon Georgy Maksimov)
One can perfectly do without this
term. It is simply practical when speaking with patriots to designate plain
Orthodox Christianity, unburdened by additional ideology.
The emergence of this term is a
reaction to the prolonged illness of the Russian Local Church—to cleanse
ecclesiastical consciousness from excessive, additional state ideology, which
has become so ingrained in people's minds that many believe it to be the norm.
Conclusion
Thus, those who suffer from
patriotism require metanoia (Greek),
that is, repentance, a change of mind.
For the Lord warned: "Where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also" (Matt. 6:21). And in the Kingdom of Heaven, there
will be no earthly homelands.
We must repent of patriotism,
condemn and cast it off like chaff, like a scab, like a tick that has long
parasitized the body of the Church—so that we may preach pure Christianity,
without any additional ideologies.
Russian source online:
https://orthoview.ru/ierej-aleksij-shlyapin-xristianstvo-i-patriotizm/
