Notes of a Visit to the Russian Church in the Years 1840, 1841

William Palmer

134 chapters · about 8 h

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The opening

CHAPTER I. Mr. Palmer contemplates a visit to Russia.

Mr. Palmer contemplates a visit to Russia.

r^ Whit-Tuesday, May 21, a.d. 1839, when the Grand Duke Alexander of Eussia came with the Duke of “Wellington, our Chancellor, to Oxford, I, being then one of the Public Examiners, was invited to meet him; and I presented to him in Brasenose College library a petition written in French, of which the following is a slightly abridged translation, as I showed it for criticism to Dr. Eouth, our President, some words being omitted at his suggestion^ as noted in their respective places: —

“Though it may seem presumptuous, I venture to present a petition to yoiir Imperial Highness.

“It is this: to obtain that there be sent hither some Eussian ecclesiastic, capable of examining the theology of our churches. He could live in Magdalen CoUege (I am authorized to say this), and I would myself teach him English, that so through him the contents of some of our best books may be made known to His Imperial Majesty and to the Bishops of the Eastern Communion. And, if, after a time, I should go to Hussia, to study there the theology and the ritual of the Russian Church, I hope that I may obtain your Imperial Highness’s protection. Assuredly, if the whole Catholic Church ought to aspire after unity, nothing can be more worthy of the piety of a great prince, than to seek to facilitate the reunion of two Communions, separated only by misunderstandings and want of intercourse.

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  • Notes and pages added by translators, editors or publishers, in 19 places
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