Clerics of the Russian Orthodox Church in Masonic Lodges

The Masonic movement in Russia began later than in Western Europe, but went through the same stages. Under Catherine II, the Grand Lodge was established in Russia. Russian Masons changed quite a lot of systems they worked by. The most popular ones in the 18th–19th centuries were the “Swedish” and “Rosicrucian” ones. Their followers claimed to be the guardians of “true Christianity” and relied on the Christian doctrine and the Holy Scripture. Such a position predetermined participation of Orthodox clergy in the work of the lodges of those systems. The Russian Orthodox Church avoided giving any assessment of the Masonic movement and did not impose bans on the joining of lodges. At the same time, Masonic lodges were publicly and secretly banned by Catherine II, Pavel Petrovich, Alexander I and Nicholas I. Trying to eliminate causes of conflicts with the authorities, Masons initiated Orthodox clergy into lodges extremely rarely. Only 23 clergymen were registered as Masons, with varying degrees of membership. 17 of them joined lodges of the “Rosicrucian” system. The priests were mostly attracted by the religious component of Rosicrucian works and their resonant interpretation of European theology. The composition of the clergy who took part in secret meetings after the banning of Masonic lodges in 1822 was especially representative. Those attending meetings of the “Theoretical Degree of Solomonic Sciences” lodge included members of the Holy Synod, learned theologians, superior fathers of monasteries, confessors of prominent persons and even a missionary — Archimandrite Macarius (Glukharev) who was canonized.