Russian Orthodox History

[ThereseOfLisieux]

Can anyone tell me about the Russian Orthodox Church under Communism? How were they affected? What were the limitations on practicing, if any?

[Sergius_Lucius]

Hello, Therese :wave:
Can anyone tell me about the Russian Orthodox Church under Communism? How were they affected? What were the limitations on practicing, if any?
Sure, there were! Many bishops, priests and laypeople were martyred during the revolution and civil war, another wave was in 1936-38, with Stalin's purges. Later, strict control was established, with the goal to limit Chuch to performing rituals only and to make it unable to attract new people, so that it would die out gradually. So, no missionaries, one seminary in Moscow for all Church, no religious gatherings outside temples, informers at services; if somebody found out you're a Christian, expect big problems at your work or place of study etc etc.

Of course, other Christians didn't have nice time as well. Baptists, as people were told, sacrifice children and have incestual orgies - absolutely like first Christian in Rome; Catholics are all Western imperialist agents.

BTW - Catholic Newmartyrs of Russia (http://www.catholicmartyrs.ru/en/)

[ThereseOfLisieux]

Thank You Surgius.:wave:
I have been trying to learn more about the pointe of view of the Orthodox, the history in Russia has a lot to do with that I think. Thank you for the link also, I appreciate the information about my fellow Catholics in Russia.

Your Country, and your Church are in my prayers.:crossrc:


Therese

[Rilian]

Two articles about the horrors of the early years of the revolution. Church of the New Martyrs (http://pravoslavie.ru/enarticles/030208143325) and St. Tikhon of Voronezh (http://www.orthodox.net/russiannm/tikhon-archbishop-and-hieromartyr-of-voronezh-and-those-with-him.html).

[33ad]

I have been trying to learn more about the pointe of view of the Orthodox, the history in Russia has a lot to do with that I think.
Therese
Here is a very in-depth book written by a Protestant who is very sympathetic to Orthodoxy. The books' name is "A Long Walk To Church" by Nathaniel Davis. He examines most of the trials of the Russian Orthodox church under Soviet rule. There are passages in there that will make you weep.

Copy from the Prologue;




Prologue.

ON A WINTER DAY forty years ago, I remember standing in a country village far from Moscow looking for a church — as was my wont. I approached a bent, much bundled, aged woman. I asked her if there was a church close by and, if so, where I might go to find it. Her eyes were the pale, watery blue sometimes characteristic of the old. A deeply melancholy expression came over her face, and she answered: "It's a long, long walk to church."

In point of fact, for the quarter century between Khrushchev's campaign against religion and Gorbachev's revision of policy in 1988, one could travel east from Chita for 1,000 kilometers on the Trans-Siberian Railroad without passing a single church. One could also travel 600 kilometers west from there without passing a church. Sakha-Yakutia, with an area more than the size of the United States east of the Mississippi, has had only one church from the time of the Khrushchev drive until 1993. Most of the million Russians living east of the Urals and north of the sixty-second parallel have had to travel almost 2,000 kilometers to reach the nearest functioning church. Truly, it has been a long walk to church.



Here's the Link: http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/long_way_two_church.htm

Kolya