[12Dvop4I]

The Russian Orthodox Church's emerging role

Nadezhda Kevorkova, Russia Now


Patriarch Kirill, in his job for less than a year,
is encouraging the Church to engage with all parts of society


The search for an identity that began after the collapse of Communism remains a critical question for Russians. The Orthodox Church is the only institution that unites Russians with their “near abroad” and has survived throughout the country’s long history. Today, the state needs the church much more than vice-versa.

When foreigners convert to Orthodoxy, more often than not it is because they are impressed by the splendour and majesty of Russian liturgy.

They appreciate that strict Orthodox priests do not connive at human weaknesses or play up to the individual, accustomed to indulgence. They are attracted by the centuries-old spiritual tradition, which is inevitably conservative and inflexible but all the stronger for that.
It stands in stark contrast to the “flexibility” of Western Churches adapting to changing circumstances, which in many ways has left them today in a “social ghetto”.

The Russian faith, like the Russian revolution and like life in Russia itself, never condescends to the individual.

In the 20 years since the collapse of the Soviet system, the Russian Church has been rebuilt from ruins inhabited by shuffling old women and somewhat eccentric zealots into the most powerful body on the post-Soviet stage.

No other Russian social institution has experienced such a rising from the ashes. And no other country has seen such an obvious revival of faith as has occurred in Russia.

(click here for more of the aricle)

[ronaldasten]

Thanks Antonios for sharing this with us!

In Christ, Nicolaj

[EnubreBense]

I think is God's work and I think is a consequence of Tsar's sacrifice.

[Acrogeokickic]

In the 20 years since the collapse of the Soviet system, the Russian Church has been rebuilt from ruins inhabited by shuffling old women and somewhat eccentric zealots into the most powerful body on the post-Soviet stage. When I read this I got the feeling that the article conveys very Western approach towards the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia. “Shuffling old women” and “eccentric zealots” may well imply the idea to the reader that there is a new (more progressive and perhaps more applaudible) Russian Church in the modern era.

The point is that those dear to my heart “shuffling old women” and “eccentric zealots” are being constantly replaced now by post-Soviet fraudulent gas and oil businessmen. If it goes like this the world will soon be running short on the Salt Of The Earth (i.e. Russian old women and Russian eccentric to the West zealots).

[jeaccatty]

The point is that those dear to my heart “shuffling old women” and “eccentric zealots” are being constantly replaced now by post-Soviet fraudulent gas and oil businessmen. If it goes like this the world will soon be running short on the Salt Of The Earth (i.e. Russian old women and Russian eccentric to the West zealots).

It is my experience that many of the future salt of the earth "shuffling old women" of the Russian Church are now being found in the Russian diaspora. The now young "internet brides" who are coming from Russia to marry American (or other nationalities) men find that they are without roots, until they find those roots often in the Russian Orthodox Church. Previously "fashionable" or "heritage" Orthodox Christians in Russia, they soon find a depth of the Church in their new homes and become pious and faithful daughters of the Church. Some will stay here and inhabit their new parishes as the "shuffling old women" in years to come, others will eventually go home with a new found love of the Church and become the next generation of "shuffling old women" in their homeland.

I agree with Oleg that these "shuffling old women" and "eccentric zealots" are very much the heart and soul of the Church and God forbid we should ever run short of them. These are the true builders of the Churches for without the people who pray, the temple is but an empty building.

Fr David Moser