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Patriarchate spokesman explains rejection of western-style democracy
DEMOCRACY AS "DIRECT RESULT OF SIN" MUST BE OPPOSED BY 'CONCILIAR IDEAL OF UNITY OF CHURCH, NATION, AND STATE."by Yuliia Zaitseva
Blagovest-info, 17 August 2007
"Orthodox civilization" stands in opposition to western democracy, whose downfall is not far off, by its "conciliar ideal of the unity of church, nation, and state." Evidence of the incarnation of this ideal is already visible in contemporary Russian life to the vice-chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow patriarchate (OVTsSMP), Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin. He discussed this on 16 August at an international conference organized by the St. Filaret's Orthodox Christian Institute in Moscow. Fr Vsevolod titled his lecture "The Ideal of unity as a Christian message to contemporary society."
The Orthodox church should speak its message to the surrounding world, the priest began. In the establishment of Christian ideals he assigned a significant role not only to "people in robes," but also to millions of laypeople who should make their life outside the church "a part of Christian mission," doing their job, associating with people, and participating in governmental administration.
"One of the essential matters of our Christian testimony in this world are the ideals of unity," Fr Vsevolod noted. At present, on the contrary, the norm and engine of progress are considered to be various forms of conflict: separation of powers, party struggle, and competition. It is the speaker's conviction that this is not at all "the highest achievement of human society," but "spiritual illness." "Multiconfessionality, multiparty systems, separation of powers, competition, administrative conflictsÑall that the present political system takes such pride inÑare symptoms of spiritual unhealthiness. The very existence of a pluralistic democracy is none other than a direct result of sin," said Fr Vsevolod.
The recognition of these values entails "rejection of that unity whose ideal is rooted in holy scripture." In the opinion of the representative of OVTsSMP, our nation has not received a democratic paradigm. "The striving for unity and the rejection of conflict of interests is one of the characteristic traits of our nation, which has been preserved from the time of Orthodox training," he noted. Without exaggerating the effectiveness of "Orthodox training" in prerevolutionary Russia, Fr Vsevolod still emphasized that "regular participation in divine worship and study of the Law of God," together with the entire "audio-visual" atmosphere inside the church "constantly has imparted evangelical truths and taught the nation to preserve unity and reject division."
The vice-chairman of OVTsSMP emphasized that he is not at all speaking about a communist or even not about an "ethno-Orthodox" ideal, but about something that "flows directly from the New Testament," a social ideal of "the united, conciliar organism." "Here is why our church preaches peace and unity above political, national, and social differences. It is alien to involvement in parliamentary and judicial battles and noisy PR and advertising actions," he explained.
It is important that "the ideal of a conciliar, national body" not pertain only "to the distant past or an eschatological future," Fr Vsevolod emphasized. However he also rejected "the illusion of the reestablishment of the monarchy," warning of the danger of such projects behind which may be concealed only the ambitions of a number of politicians. No, Fr Vsevolod had in mind not monarchy but realistic indicators "of a transition from competition to community" in the contemporary social and political life of Russia. He sees these phenomena in the fact that "the Russian parliament (both chambers) has become a place of the harmonization of interests and not so much their conflict," and in the fact that the Public Chamber has appeared, an institution that aims for consensus. "Already today Orthodox laypeople are preaching the ideals of unity through forms of conduct in political and economic areas, through rejection of extremism in conflict, and through the construction of political and economic models on the basis of agreement," the priest said.
He is convinced that proponents of a western political model have nothing against "the ideal of community" except "relative prosperity in material relations," although the sources of this prosperity have already "been settled." This forces the world to seek for new ways for civilized development. "We as an Orthodox civilization have something to say to the surrounding world," the vice-chairman of OVTsSMP concluded.
We note that Fr Vsevolod's address was held in the run-up to the conciliar hearings of the World People's Russian Sobor (VRNS) at which, on 20 August, the ideological project of a "Russian doctrine" will be discussed. (tr. by PDS, posted 18 August 2007)
Kievan patriarch returns to theme of unified Ukrainian church
FILARET READY TO JOIN WITH CATHOLICSBut only in the event that they will help him create "local Ukrainian church"
Russkaia liniia, 16 August 2007
The head of the schismatic "Kievan patriarchate" Mikhail (Filaret) Denisenko unexpectedly declared that he is ready to unite with the Ukrainian Greek Catholic church, which is subject to the Roman pope. He said that unification "of the Kievan patriarchate" with the Greek Catholics can take place in the event of the creation of a "united local Ukrainian church," independent of the Moscow patriarchate.
"There can be no unification with either Jews or Islam. Unification of Greek Catholics and Orthodox is possible if there were in Ukraine a united local Orthodox church," Filaret declared in an interview with the Ukrainian publication "Glavred."
Commenting on Patriarch Filaret's acknowledgement, Vasily Anisimov, the director of the press service of UPTsMP and adviser to the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox church, Metropolitan Vladimir, said in an interview with "Novy region" that he is surprised by the frank statement of the leader of the "Kievan patriarchate."
"The Uniates have often said that they are ready to reunite with the Orthodox if the future church recognizes the authority of the Roman pope, in essence, accepts the Catholic faith. This is what the Unia has been trying to achieve in Ukraine over the course of centuries, shedding, in the words of the poet Shevchenko, 'a sea of tears and blood,'" Anisimov recalled.
"As is known, earlier Mikhail Antonovich Denisenko denied the possibility of the development of such a scenario," said the representatives of the UPTsMP press service. "However," he recalled, "the Kievan patriarchate is a political and not a church organization. It is headed by a person who was excommunicated from the church. He can make any declarations, but they will have nothing to do with church life," Anisimov concluded.
In connection with the final words of Vasily Anisimov, we recall that recently the self-proclaimed schismatic "Kievan patriarchate" declared its intentions, in time, to create its own political party, but for now it will maintain loyalty the "Orange" parties. As Anisimov stated in his commentary for "Russkaia liniia", "history shows that schismatics will support any political force that will guarantee their maintenance and the possibility of living parasitically off of Orthodoxy in Ukraine," noting at the same time that in the event of the creation of its own political structures, a most appropriate name for the associates of Filaret would be "party of excommunicants." (tr. by PDS, posted 17 August 2007)
Russian original posted on Interfax site, 17 August 2007
Related article: Anti-Moscow Ukrainian Orthodox promote "Orange Revolution"
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Azerbaijani Baptist preacher jailed
RUSSIAN UNION OF EKhB SENDS LETTER OF CONCERN TO AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTRussian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, 17 August 2007
Russian Baptists have expressed concern over the conviction of Baptist pastor Zaur Balaev from Azerbaijan. In the letter sent to Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliev, the president of the Russian Union of EKhB, Yury Sipko, said in particular: "We are expressing concern over the case that has become known to us of the arrest on 20 May 2007, in the village of Aliabad, Zakataly region, of Zaur Balaev, the pastor of the Aliabad branch of the Baku church of Evangelical Christians-Baptists. The police who conducted the arrest of the pastor exactly at the time of Sunday worship thereby insulted believers."
The letter emphasizes the baselessness of the charges presented against the pastor: "Zaur Balaev was arrested and convicted on the fanciful charge of 'resisting the police,' while the testimony of twelve persons, who voluntarily went to the police department of the city of Zakataly to give evidence of the illegal actions of the police, was ignored."
It is also noted that this was not the first incident of violation of the rights of evangelical believers in Azerbaijan: "Members of the congregation report other regrettable cases of violation of their legal rights on the part of local authorities who participated in the latest incident."
In the appeal to the president of Azerbaijan, the president of the Russian Union of EKhB asked for "personal cooperation in releasing Pastor Zaur Balaev and in punishment of those guilty of illegal persecution of members of the Aliabad branch of the Baku church of Evangelical Christians-Baptists."
We recall that the European Baptist Federation already has spoken out demanding the release of Balaev. In the statement of the general secretary of that organization, Tony Pek, he speaks of the necessity of achieving justice and freedom of religious confession in Azerbaijan. Also Pek called for other European Baptists to support their fellow believers in Azerbaijan. (tr. by PDS, posted 17 August 2007)
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Baptist leader agrees with academicians
INTERVIEW WITH YURY SIPKO REGARDING ACADEMICIANS' ANTICLERICAL APPEALby Evgeniia Kushnir
Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, 3 August 2007
A group of Russian academicians, two of whom are winners of Nobel Prizes, wrote an appeal to Russian President V.V. Putin, which stirred up a storm of emotions and a partial division of our society.
--Yury Kirillovich, how would you comment about the idea they expressed concerning "the growing clericalization of Russian society"?
--As a phenomenon, clericalization really does exist in the governmental and public life of our motherland; this is a fact, undisputed. As an example I can cite a meeting of the governor of Omsk province with Minister Gref. On the agenda were many questions that had governmental significance. This included the construction of roads; the city is languishing because of the lack of roads and junctions. This also included construction of a subway which has been going on more than fifteen years but the first line has not yet been opened. And there was construction of an airport, since the old airport, as the gateway to the city, is located in the center of the city and it has decayed beyond help and is a great eyesore. Construction on the new airport was begun twenty years ago. Minister Gref called the governor's attention to the fact that without the active participation of the province and the city, the federal authorities will not be able to help in resolving the indicated problems. To which the governor, without a moment's hesitation, responded: "We are finishing the construction of another church building for RPTs and then we will devote all our efforts to solving economic problems."
Who is not moved by the broadcast on the federal TV channels showing the taking of the holy fire from Jerusalem and its delivery to regions of Russia? (ironic)
But does the question arise for someone why all of the governmental events, whether taking the military oath or a visit of a state official, are conducted in the company of priests of RPTs?
And, excuse me, how does one understand the fact that in the majority of cases for conducting some events that are useful for society, like a festival of Christian music or a demonstration for a healthy lifestyle, protestants must get permission from the local RPTs priest?
My commentary in this regard is simple. Governmental bureaucrats must take an oath along with the president of loyalty to the constitution and to the laws of the Russian federation.
In addition, they should take examinations on knowledge of basic laws, because the ignorance of bureaucrats and their negligence leads to carelessness toward the laws of the Russian federation.
There is no doubt that in the first place the prosecutor's office is guilty for the state of affairs. There are innumerable cases where the workers of the prosecutor's office are fulfilling an order from publicity-seeking bureaucrats and they act in violation of existing laws.
Again the words of President Putin come to mind: "Only a dictatorship of the law has the right to exist in the Russian federation." We are all still waiting for the realization in practice of the president's letter. It is obvious that he is very patient.
--An announcer on the First TV channel, Mikhail Leontiev, called in his commentary the world-famous scholars a "strange minority." Do you think it is appropriate now to divide us into a minority and a majority?
--Well, I am not going to comment on the announcer you have named. He does not have the right to appear on the television screens. Even before he opens his mouth, the whole television space is aflame with hatred. I understand that nowadays hatred raises program ratings, but I think that in this case the effect is directly contradictory. He doesn't appear with Soloviev where he would appear more natural at the barriers with Zhirinovsky. He appears on the program "Vremia," which everybody who lived through the time of the Soviet Union thinks is like the voice of the Politburo.
It must be difficult for Konstantin Ernst, an intelligent man, to have to give air time to Mikhail Leontiev.
--The Orthodox movement "People's Assembly" appealed to the Moscow prosecutor to hold Academician Ginzburg criminally liable "for incitement of interreligious strife" after an interview in which he said specifically: "The church swine want to lure the souls of children." Do you think that such a statement by the academician, who considers himself an atheist, is incitement of interreligious strife?
--Of course, I think that the academician did not shine. And his undoubtedly crude attack testifies to the fact that an enormous mass of evil is accumulating in society. And the whole Orthodox community should devote its efforts to this undoubted fact. And it is necessary to heal the souls of everybody, beginning with the priests, and ending, as now has become obvious, with the academicians.
On the other hand, I cannot help but express my own alarm. The introduction into the schools of OPK as obligatory evokes in me personally great disturbance. And my concern is specifically for the Russian Orthodox church. Incitement of religious strife has already acquired a ubiquitous character and it is being done not be an academician but by leaders of the largest religious confession of Russia. The crudeness of the academicians is only a reaction. And this is fully described in the famous formula: what you sow, you reap. Everyone must recall the words of our Lord: "What you wish for people to do with you, do with them."
--The Public Chamber of the Russian federation also has not remained on the sidelines from the religious topic. In its report "On the condition of Russian society" it noted specifically "stormy interference of the church in governmental affairs." Since the schools are "a governmental affair," how do you view the cooperation of Russian religious organizations with them?
--I do not know what the "Public Chamber" is. Let's leave their commentary to them. Cooperation with the schools is possible only within the bounds of the law. Incidentally, the law on freedom of conscience closely regulates the possibility of religious teaching in schools. In our multiconfessional country it is very important to apply a single standard to all participants in the process. Properly the constitution of the RF affirms the equality of all religions before the law.
Unfortunately, actions of the most influential religious organization of the country today have created extreme tensions in the area of education. With all my soul I would wish to support the teaching in schools not only the theory of evolution but also the theory of creationism.
But what is going on in the present time is not concern for the children and their souls. It is an unprincipled and dirty struggle for power. In this struggle all means are good. And we actually observe that. And we will reap the fruits of today's crops: when in the souls of today's children tomorrow will be found the fruits of contemporary greed and self-interest.
--As the leader of a large Christian denomination, how would you respond to the academicians' appeal?
--If the academicians were to approach me, I would respond without question. But in this case I will speak as president of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists who preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to all, including the academicians. And this Gospel maintains eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ. It is a Gospel of salvation, a Gospel of love. Incidentally the Gospel contains the interesting words of Jesus Christ: "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children."
--Recently only the lazy person did not run down the Russian Orthodox church for its attempts to introduce "Foundations of Orthodox culture" (OPK) into the schools. What do you think the evangelical churches could suggest instead of OPK?
--You are right. I am guilty of this. True, I have not run down, and I understand them, but I can see very well their mistake and, in love I ask them to correct themselves. And again, almost justifying myself, I should say the following. The proponents use as a basis for the introduction of such a course the ignorance of our society. But the course itself does not have a multifaceted approach to religious history and life. It is a religious textbook of the Russian Orthodox church.
I am personally unable to accept such a textbook, if only because RPTs does not have the strength to switch to the generally accepted calendar in its church life. So they are forced to use a duel calendar, the generally accepted one and the church one, which does not have either a scientific or religious basis. Even this seemingly insignificant detail discredits the very idea. One cannot overcome ignorance with ignorance.
Yet another motive for introducing OPK into the schools is that nowadays the morality of society is extremely low. The problem, to put it mildly, is obvious. But here is something interesting. According to the representation of the proponents of OPK textbook the subject is culturological. According to the representation of independent experts, the textbooks are clearly religious and even contain calls for counteracting the sects. It is possible they would even fall under the law for combating extremism. This is obviously a crafty, that is, immoral, technique of indoctrination. How is it possible to raise morality by acting immorally? In this way it can only cause harm to the largest denomination in Russia.
Despite opposition, evangelical churches are performing their own sacred task. I am not going to name names, but I will say simply that in the families of evangelical believers there is no demographic problem. I admire our brothers and sisters who have seven, eight, or ten children. Neither their neighbors nor the government likes them, but they are saints in their honest parental deeds. Their children are honest, healthy, and happy. And there is one other important thing; they are well taught. They know their faith very well. Despite the desire to introduce OPK into the schools, the overwhelming majority of children live by different principles, and the children in the families of evangelical believers are steadfast followers of their parents. Believers from evangelical churches take into their families children from orphanages and they make them happy. Believers of evangelical churches take care of homeless children, clothe them, and impart to them spiritual principles, among which are the capacity to forgive and to love. They are honest and patriotic, and they selflessly serve God and others; they are sober and do not smoke.
Never in history have evangelical believers charged money for baptism and communion, and they do not use the patronage of the government in their religious practice. Evangelical believers do not arouse interreligious strife or infringe anybody's liberty.
Believers of evangelical churches at all times have offered the real OPK course: foundations of protestant culture. (tr. by PDS, posted 17 August 2007)
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Discussion of laws regulating evangelism in Russia
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE'S SUGGESTIONS REGARDING MISSIONARY ACTIVITY PREMATUREÑWORKING GROUPReligiia v svetskom obshchestve, 13 August 2007
On 20 June and 4 July 2007 were held regular sessions of the working group for summarizing and working out suggestions for improvement on legislation on freedom of conscience and religious associations of the Commission on Questions of Religious Associations of the government of the Russian federation. The session was devoted to discussion of conception for a draft of a federal law "On introducing amendments into several federal laws for the purpose of combating illegal missionary activity," which was proposed by the Ministry of Justice back in August 2006. Members of the working group considered that a review of the conception is premature. In their opinion, the draft requires further development, principally on the following questions:
--"regarding the introduction into legislation of the Russian federation of the concept of 'missionary activity,' its contents, subjects, and objects;
--"regarding expansion of the legal parameters of missionary activity in accordance with public interests;
--"regarding the permissibility and procedures for conducting missionary activity in state and municipal institutions;
--"regarding a list of the bases for prohibiting the conduct of missionary activity;
--"regarding the proportional sanctions for conducting prohibited missionary activity;
--"regarding the conduct of missionary activity on the territory of the Russian federeation by foreign citizens and persons without citizenship."
Detailed minutes of the sessions, in Russian, were published on the Gosudarstvo i religiia portal. (tr. by PDS, posted 16 August 2007)
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Baptist pastor writes open letter to Putin
Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, 15 August 2007Interview with Secretary for External Relations of Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists [RSEKhB] and member of the Council for Relations with Religious Associations of the Presidential Apparatus of RF, A.T. Semchenko
--Esteemed Alexander Trofimovich, a pastor of a church of the Russian Union of EKhB from Smolensk province wrote an open letter to Russian President V.V. Putin. Can you, as a member of the Council for Relations with Religious Associations of the Presidential Apparatus of RF, comment upon the letter of a former reserve officer who became a pastor of a Baptist church?
--Russia is often accused of not having a civil society. So here such an act is a manifestation of civil society. A pastor of our church as a citizen of the Russian federation wrote an open letter to his president, in which he express his opinion, and did it publicly. You know, this was a brave act and worthy of universal respect. If academicians can, why can't pastors. I am personally acquainted with this document and I understood the essence of the problem and I will discuss this question at a session of the Council.
--In this letter the writer poses to the president the question: "Is there a place for Baptists in Russia?" Alexander Trofimovich, can the Baptist church, which is not traditional for Russia, find its own place in our country?
--Yes, it can. This year the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists is celebrating the 140th anniversary of its ministry on the territory of the Russian federation. This is an enormous historical journey which our church has gone through along with other protestant confessions. It was not easy for our church. Many of our believers experienced years of persecution and repressions, and have thereby proven their right to be considered "traditional" in Russian society. The constitution of the Russian federation declares that Russia is a secular state and guarantees to every citizen the right to freedom of religious confession.
--The previously mentioned Baptist pastor has been threatened by parishioners of the Russian Orthodox church who promise "to wring his neck" and "burn down the house of worship."
--One should not judge the whole church on the basis of the words or deeds of one person. It has turned out historically that Orthodoxy occupies a special place among Christian confessions in our country, since it served as the culture-creating confession of our country. Nevertheless, our relations with RPTs are good.
In one of my interviews I said that people who have recently come to Orthodoxy, and who do not fully understand the historical relationships of events, experience an enormous desire to "please" their spiritual instructor and consequently they display religious intolerance toward believers of other Christian confessions.
The letter of the lieutenant-colonel, the pastor of a church in Smolensk province, is a cry of pain that disturbs his soul. It is unjust, when a person who was for many years a defender of his fatherland finds himself to some extent a public derelict because of his worldview and a second-class citizen. The pages of the New Testament contain many names of such people, who because of their high moral convictions were not accepted by society.
Speaking of the legal aspect of the question, I think that in such cases it is necessary to appeal to law enforcement agencies and the courts.
--Speaking about courts, one recalls the case where the Evangelical church of the city of Chekhov won in the Strasbourg court its suit against Russia. What do you think about this matter?
--I am happy that justice triumphed and the years-long judicial suits came to an end. This suit was not against Russia but against bureaucratic ignorance and arbitrariness in religious matters. The majority of these bureaucrats are seeking publicity and they act with caution not on the basis of the Russian constitution but on opinion that has arisen in their milieu.
The court proved that the right of a Russian citizen to freedom of religious confession is higher than the opinion of individuals. I regret that after going through all of the Russian judicial instances this church found justice only in the Strasbourg court.
--So is there a place for Baptists in Russia?
--Yes there is. All citizens of the Russian federation without exception have a place in their own country. And this does not mean that we will not have different views, but it is important to concentrate on what unites us. We are all called by God to serve our country, since it is impossible to be a citizen of the heavenly fatherland and not be a good citizen of one's earthly fatherland.
Evgeniia Kushnir conducted the interview. (tr. by PDS, posted 15 August 2007)
Russian original posted on Portal-credo.ru site, 15 August 2007.
ÒIS THERE A PLACE FOR BAPTISTS IN RUSSIA?Ó
Open letter of pastor of church of Evangelical Christians-Baptists in Smolensk province to the president of Russia
Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists
The pastor of the church of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (EKhB) of the village of Kasplia of Smolensk region, Vladimir Ivanovich Kalinin, wrote an open letter to the president of Russia Vladimir Putin. Before becoming pastor in 1998, Kalinin served 28 years in the army, readching the rank of lieutenant-colonel and he was assistant commander of a regiment.
The letter was evoked by the tense situation in the village where the village administration, paying attention to the local Orthodox priest, is hindering the activity of the EKhB church.
ÒI was told directly that if I am a Russian then I am simply required to be Orthodox, and that there is no place whatever for us Baptists here,Ó the pastor writes in his letter.
ÒThe wife of the head of the administration goes to the families of those who attend our church and warns them that they should leave our church, and she publicly threatens Ôto wring my neckÕ and to burn down the house of worship.Ó The head of the village administration also does not want to have Baptists under his nose. The pastor quotes his words in his letter: ÒWe do not want for you (Baptists) to be here, and secondly they told me Ôup aboveÕ that if there is a house of worship, there are problems, and if there is no house of worship, there are no problems.Ó
At a time when the Orthodox church is freely providing various services in the village, the Baptist church is prohibited from doing so. In the summer of 2006 when the ÒYouth against drugsÓ bicycle race was held, which was permitted by the administration of Smolensk province, about 200 people gathered in Kasplia, but this event was opposed by the Orthodox priest and the head of the administration of the village prohibited holding the planned event.
The pastor called attention to the social service that the church brought to the village: ÒFor four years our church cooperated with the local technical school. We provided enormous help to children without parents, we bought shoes, things, supplies, New YearÕs gifts, and we bought food for 6 to 8 persons every month, we conducted concerts and joint athletic competitions, and we often took whole busloads to museums and shows, etc., etc. But a bureaucrat from Smolensk, T.P. Dovgii, the assistant director of the Department of Education, Science, and Youth Policy, learned from the report of the assistant director of the School for Educational Work, E.M. Grishaenkovaia, that we are Baptists and ordered that we be banished as sectarians. At the same time the Orthodox opened a chapel there. Where is equality? After all, we showed religious films and gave lectures about the harm of smoking, alcohol, and drug prevention, extramarital relations, abortions, and we wanted to assist the moral establishment of children and in no case did we recruit them for our faith. They banished us and we left. Where is freedom of conscience?
ÒWhy am I, an officer who defended his motherland, the vanished Soviet Union, for about thirty yearsÑCentral Asia, the Baltics, and Russia, who often faced danger and who won dozens of expressions of gratitude, citations, valuable gifts, and various medals, including from the Soviet Union President M.S. Gorbachev, and who for several years in a row was the best aviation commander of the Moscow Military District, forced to prove my correctness, while resisting the anticonstitutional actions on the part of the secular authorities, who according to the Russian constitution must protect the rights of people equally, regardless of views. I love my country and I am ready to defend her in the event of danger. I am a law-abiding citizen and I want to serve my country, but now as a clergyman.
ÒOur church is seven years old,Ó the pastor continues. ÒWe want to help the local authorities in the moral, ethical, patriotic and spiritual training of children, youth, and adults. But how can we do this if they do not admit us into the schools and the assistant director of the school declares that in our country the traditional state religion is Orthodoxy. I want peace and calm; I want good relations; I want to help people to find another life, honest, orderly, loving family, loving country, and helping it get onto its feet. But how can we do this when in our democratic country only one confession is promoted. I have often visited the office of the head of the administration, trying to help him understand who we are and why we are here. I suggested that he attend our worship service and I asked him to invite me to the council of local deputies, and I suggested joint cooperation.
ÒIs there no place for us in the center of Russia?Ó Pastor Kalinin concludes his letter. ÒAfter all, our Evangelical Christians-Baptists confession has been in Russia, officially, 140 years. Appealing to biblical truths, we have always done everything so that people change their way of life for the better. They have broken down our fences, smashed our windows, and threatened to shoot down the cross on our prayer house, and destroy our prayer house and commit other outrages. WhatÕs next?Ó (tr. by PDS, posted 15 August 2007)
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