The proposed "canonization" of Mr. Stalin, however absurd and unlikely to actually occur (I hope), only goes to illustrate the dangers of having a "national church" a la Church of England, Free Evangelical Church of Norway, all of the Orthodox churches, etc. Only the One Holy Catholic (Universal) and Apostolic Church is able to put its teachings and the needs and concerns of its faithful above purely national interests.

Very different from a national church is the notion of a country embracing the True Faith and establishing It as its national religion. In this case the nation-state is subservient and obedient to a Church which rightly governs all the nations in matters of faith and morals.

The Orthodox lands in particular have always suffered from a confusion of temporal with eternal authority.