Chapter 1452: Cooperation

At this moment, Eastern Europe, Tsarist Russia!

The Upper House in Moscow.

Although Moscow is not the capital of Tsarist Russia, and the capital remains Saint Petersburg, all orders are currently being issued from Moscow.

Elizabeth I also resides here.

In the Upper House, Councilor Dolgorukov and Councilor Naleishi arrived at the Upper House early.

Other councilors arrived one after another, and Elizabeth sat in the chief position.

Her brows were slightly furrowed as she looked at a front-line military report that had arrived this morning.

This military report was not long, only two pages, but the amount of information recorded on it was enormous.

Seeing that all the councilors had arrived, Elizabeth I put down the military report in her hand and said in a deep voice, "Go and invite the Patriarch."

The councilors were slightly stunned; what matter could possibly require disturbing the Patriarch now?

The Patriarch is the title for the highest-ranking clergy member of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Tsarist Russia.

The Eastern Orthodox Church is a branch of Christianity, standing alongside Protestantism and Catholicism.

It is the state religion of Tsarist Russia, and the Patriarch holds great influence in Tsarist Russia; sometimes even the Tsar must heed the Patriarch's advice.

However, the Patriarch is merely a title for a religious leader in Tsarist Russia and does not possess power like the Pope of Catholicism.

In Tsarist Russia, religious authority has not superseded imperial power.

A priest wearing red and white clerical robes, holding a Latin Cross, walked in slowly.

As the current monarch of Tsarist Russia, Elizabeth I stood up to pay her respects, and the other councilors followed Elizabeth I in standing to pay their respects and offer prayers.

This is the etiquette among Protestants.

"May the Lord bless us," the Patriarch shouted aloud.

"May the Lord bless us," the others echoed one after another.

Elizabeth I glanced at the Patriarch and invited him to take his seat; only then did the other councilors return to their respective seats.

The Orthodox Patriarch looked at the solemn atmosphere in the Upper House hall and scanned the room; the expression on everyone's face was different.

Yet, a sense of gravity was revealed.

The Patriarch spoke slowly: "Respected Elizabeth I, my Tsar of Tsarist Russia, although I am the Patriarch, I should not participate in any political affairs; that was the promise made when our Eastern Orthodox Church was introduced to Tsarist Russia."

"I do not know for what matter you have summoned me."

Elizabeth I nodded slightly, looking at the Orthodox Patriarch, this highest-ranking clergy member of the Eastern Orthodox Church: "Patriarch, I understand what you mean, but today we received a military report from the front line, and Catholicism has extended an olive branch to us."

Hearing the three words "Catholicism," the aura on the Patriarch changed; from the previous amiable demeanor, he instantly became stern and cold-eyed.

"Catholicism!" The Patriarch's voice was calm, but everyone felt the chill in his tone.

He looked quietly at Elizabeth I's face without saying another word.

Everyone knows that the Eastern Orthodox Church and Catholicism have always been at odds, and the conflict between them can be traced back a thousand years!

It is understandable for Tsarist Russia to be on good terms with those countries that believe in Catholicism.

The Orthodox Patriarch will not interfere in political affairs between nations.

But for Catholicism to extend an olive branch to Tsarist Russia during a war, what does this mean?

Everyone knows that Catholicism wants to use this war to spread its faith into the territory of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Tsarist Russia.

How could the face of this Orthodox Patriarch possibly look good?

Elizabeth sighed and said again: "The conditions they proposed are ones we cannot refuse."

"Patriarch, I am afraid I can only wrong you in this matter," Elizabeth I said softly.

On the floor, time seemed to freeze, and everyone fell into a deathly silence.

These words from Elizabeth I were almost telling the Orthodox Patriarch that they had already tacitly allowed Catholicism to come to Tsarist Russia to proselytize.

The Orthodox Patriarch looked coldly at Elizabeth I.

The Orthodox Patriarch, whose seat had not even warmed up,

stood up and said: "Since that is the case, then I have no need to disturb everyone here."

After speaking, the Orthodox Patriarch walked toward the outside.

No one blocked him, but everyone knew that something terrible was about to happen; although this Orthodox Patriarch did not have much real power,

Tsarist Russia possessed countless fanatical believers of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

This decision by Elizabeth I undoubtedly angered this Orthodox Patriarch.

If they were to harbor any evil intentions, then Tsarist Russia would surely fall into chaos.

Osilev looked at Elizabeth I and said to her in a deep voice: "Tsar, please think twice."

Councilors Dolgorukov and Naleishi also looked at Elizabeth I with rare intensity, making the same decision.

"Tsar, please think clearly; the Eastern Orthodox Church is our state religion."

"The councilors present here are all believers of the Eastern Orthodox Church; the Tsar's decision is too rash."

Elizabeth I blinked her eyes and said indifferently: "Who said I was going to let Catholicism proselytize?"

Elizabeth I looked at the Orthodox Patriarch who was about to leave and said solemnly: "Patriarch, please wait."

Elizabeth I stood up and chased after him, looking at this Orthodox Patriarch.

The Patriarch stopped his steps, turned around to look at Elizabeth, and sneered: "Tsar, now that things have come to this, what else do you have to say?"

Elizabeth I smiled faintly and apologized: "Patriarch, the Eastern Orthodox Church will always be the state religion of our Tsarist Russia; Catholicism cannot be introduced into our Tsarist Russia."

"But now we need the help of Catholicism, and we also need the help of the Eastern Orthodox Church."

The expression on the Orthodox Patriarch's face softened a little; he looked at Elizabeth and said indifferently: "Then, Your Majesty the Tsar, what help can our Eastern Orthodox Church give you?"

"Donations? Boosting morale, asking the Lord for blessings?"

Elizabeth I shook her head; she stared at the Patriarch's aged face and said solemnly: "We need the Eastern Orthodox Church to issue an order to crusade against the Protestants!"

"Crusade against the heretics!"

The Orthodox Patriarch's gaze froze; issuing this order meant that their Eastern Orthodox Church would have to begin cooperation with Catholicism.

The Patriarch neither refused nor agreed.

However, the expressions of the Councilors present changed, and they frowned as they looked at the Patriarch and Elizabeth I.

Such a course of action was undoubtedly asking a tiger for its hide!

The Pope of Catholicism claimed that divine power was supreme, and that he was the Messenger representing the Lord to inspect the human world.

The Eastern Orthodox Church, on the other hand, was a Holy See loyal to the Tsar.

Catholicism's ambition was too great and could not be guarded against enough; asking a tiger for its hide was simply playing with fire.

"Give me a reason," the Patriarch said indifferently.

Upon hearing these words, Elizabeth I understood that this matter had already half-succeeded.

Although the Eastern Orthodox Church's influence was not as great as Catholicism's, the Eastern Orthodox Church still had many believers in Europe, and gaining their support—

—would make the expedition to crusade against Protestantism much more convenient.

Moreover, using the pretext of cooperation to block Catholicism out of Tsarist Russia was the best Method, provided Catholicism dared to infiltrate Tsarist Russia.

By then, Catholicism would be just another heretic to their Tsarist Russia!

"Patriarch, Tsarist Russia needs an Ice-free Port."

Hearing this, the Orthodox Patriarch nodded, understanding Elizabeth I's meaning, and this negotiation came to an end.

The news of the cooperation between the Eastern Orthodox Church and Catholicism quickly spread throughout Europe!