Orthodox Christianity and Ivan the Terrible’s Political Thought.

• Main Authors: Yuri Chen, 陳順祥
• Other Authors: V.V. Malyavin
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/40998039513806341777

碩士 === 淡江大學 === 俄羅斯研究所 === 92 === Ivan IV, also named Ivan the Terrible, the first tzar, reigned from 1533 A.D. to 1584 A.D.. The historical importance of his reign is almost equal to that of Peter I. Most historians have regarded him as a tyrant and have emphasized the pathological traits of his character. However, S.T. Platonov, and some others highlight Ivan’s positive contributions to Russia, praising him as the most constructive and innovative ruler in Russian history. Ivan’s influence on Russian history includes the following issues: 1. He terminated the Russian feudalism. 2. He enhanced the Russian kingship. 3. He started Russian ties with the Western nations. 4. He expanded Russia’s territory. The author investigates Ivan’s religious and political views. In his childhood, he received instructions from Archbishop Makari and acquired a sound foundation for his education. He faithfully took up the holy mission of a Christian ruler. He also made great contributions to the regulations and organization of Orthodox church in Russia. Ivan the Terrible put forward detailed theological theories to build up a Holy Muscovy with the concept of God, Jesus Christ and the Terrible Archangel, whom he himself bore analogy to. He adopted the Christian idea of the Second Coming to organize Oprichnina, a sort of political religious order. Thus, he wished to purified his motherland of Russia. As the author shows, Ivan’s religious views were a systematic development of the Orthodox heritage, but they contained sharp contradictions, which resulted in the severe crisis of the Moscow State. The author analyzes also Ivan’s Christianity criticism of Western Christianity.