Orthodox Church and Russian Nationalism in the Second Half of the 19th Century and Early 20th Century

The article is based on the pre-revolutionary journalism. It reveals the attitude of Orthodox church authors of the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century to a number of subjects related  to the problems  of the Russian nationalism. The traditionally high interest of the  Russian society in general  and Orthodox Christians in particular  in the  attitude of the  Russian Orthodox Church to nationalism in its various manifestations  accounts for the relevance of the publication.  Considering the return of the modern church journalism to the same range of problems  that  concerned representatives of the Orthodox  clergy, theologians, missionaries and teachers of theological schools in the pre-revolutionary period, it would seem  that  an appeal to the historical experience of their understanding is fairly significant  and essential. The article examines the ways in which church authors used to understand the nationalism, their ideas about  its place in the life of an Orthodox Christian, along with its challenges and threats. It is noted  that although the Orthodox Church did not have a single and consistent view of the nationalism, most  church authors tried to give this phenomenon a direction  that  would  not  contradict the  gospel  teaching  and could become a constructive and creative  factor  for the  Russian life. At the same time, it is noted  that, when discussing the nationalism, church authors of the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century often gave this concept a meaning different from that of modern scientists, politicians and journalists. Standing at the Christian viewpoint, church authors  rejected the militant, “pagan”, secular kind of the nationalism that involved only the earthly prosperity of the people.  They supported another kind of nationalism consisting in the right of peoples to a special spiritual path, cultural and state  identity and independence.