As for my personal faith…I would say that it is les rational, less of the mind and more of the heart. Deacon Vladimir Rusak The release of Deacon Vladimir Rusak on October 23 came in answer to the prayers of Christians the world over who had been alerted to his case by the publicity given by…
As part of its celebration of the Millennium, which it officially observed June 5 – 16, the Moscow Patriarchate added nine saints to the 1500 already recognized by the Russian Church before the Revolution of 1917. The glorification service took place during the meeting of the Local Council at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra not…
Using the occasion of this year’s Millennium, the Moscow Patriarchate convened a Local Council, the first since 1971 which met June 6-9 at Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra in Zagorsk. One of the most Important items on the agenda was the adoption of a new Statute (Ustav) as a guide for church government. Although the…
“The party’s politics regarding millions of believers must be conducted with maximum advantage.” A.K. Kharchev, Chairman, CRA Church and State in the USSR Below are extracts from two interesting texts: the first is a report given in March by the Chairman of the Council for Religious Affairs, K.S. Kharchev, to a closed meeting of teachers responsible…
With this special double issue, the staff of “Orthodox America” greets its readers with the triumphant celebration of the Millennial anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’. It is, of coarse, a noteworthy occasion for the entire Orthodox world, but particularly for those within the Russian Church–whether they be of Russian descent or those who have…
Although the two letters below were not addressed to us directly, we are printing them in hopes that our American Orthodox youth will be encouraged to be as firmly dedicated to Christ and His Church as these young people behind the Iron Curtain. With great joy I learned that you distribute various books about the…
The following is taken from a talk delivered by Fr. George Calciu at a conference in Washington D.C. on Nov. 9, sponsored by CREED-the Christian Relief Effort for the Emancipation of Dissidents-which was instrumental in Fr. George’s release. It is by God’s will that I stand before you today. Three months ago I was a…
“The strongest prayer of all is found where the individual is the most deprived” – “Risen Indeed” The Soviet news agency TASS reports that the Moscow Patriarchate has “observed its humane and Christian duty” by sending “a large consignment of foodstuffs, medicines and other necessities” to Ethiopia. (Keston News, #227). Such action is, of course,…
Markus’ wife described her husband’s trial as “a trial of an Orthodox believer who has dedicated his life to preaching the Gospel and witnessing to the Christian faith.” An article in the “Philadelphia Inquirer” this month reported statements of an official delegation of four Orthodox women visiting the United States from the Soviet Union affirming…
Earlier this year news reached the West concerning the arrest of Fr. Alexander Pivovarov and his trial in the fall of 1983. He was charged with dissemination of religious literature – Bibles, prayer books, lives of saints, and for helping in the production of such literature; in short, for fulfilling his duty as a pastor. His sentence: 3…
