002 - Leo Tolstoy - Decree of Excommunication

In his lecture at Georgetown University:

“A CHANGELESS FAITH FOR A CHANGING WORLD”
Center for American Progress and Georgetown University
Gaston Hall of Georgetown University
Washington, DC (November 3, 2009)

His Eminence the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew referenced Leo Tolstoy as being an Orthodox Christian.

A fellow blogger (John Sinidiopoulos, Mystagogy) reminded us today that Leo Tolstoy not only was not Orthodox, but he rejected Orthodoxy and in turn was excommunicated for this rejection.

See, http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Decree_of_Excommunication_of_Leo_Tolstoy

For those who are not aware of this person, he was a great author but apparantly not a very good theologian.

For those who have some time, they can read some his teachings at these links, note that the content is not traditional and accepted Orthodox thinking (ie, his teachins are false):

http://www.scribd.com/doc/8186/Tolstoy-vs-the-Orthodox-Establishment

http://saif_w.tripod.com/interesting_articles/nonmuslims/tolstoy_regard_me_a_mohammaden.htm