Keeping the faith

[B***@gmail.com]

Dear friends,

I am a Christian (Protestant), a Chinese living in Hong Kong. Lately
I have had a couple of Russian language class and on a whim, the idea
of Russian Orthodox believers popped up my head.

Unlike China, North Korea, Cambodia or Vietnam..., which were not
Christian lands before they turned to communism. And therefore, after
the governments loosened their grip on religion, we can see missionary
troops (sadly, also the cults) of all nations marching in in
juggernauts or cruising towards there in aircraft carriers. Yet what
about the pre-Christian states of the former Eastern Bloc and ex-
Soviet Union?

I am not very familiar with the history before they got "reddened". I
just think that there must be Czechs, Russians, Rumanians of Russian
Orthodox faith who have fled successfully. And I thought, assuming
that they keep their faith, if they stay in the USA, Europe or
Americas, how can they exercise their faith? Turn to Catholicism or
Protestant practice, or just dropped it and say hello to Western
culture or consumerism? Jews keep their faith so tight that they
bought land and build synagogues everywhere they stay. Catholic
survives throughout. Greek Orthodox is so quiet and does not seem to
spread to their utmost extent. Well, that's no problem but what about
the Russian Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox? How was it run during the
time of the Cold War between the East and the West? Very curious
about it... very interesting.

If you happen to know any books, journal, websites, reports or
researches on this "faith-keeping" ordeal of the Russians and Eastern
Europeans (inside or outside the states), do write me privately.
Thank you. Spaciba.

Blessed always in His grace,
Yelena

***@artlover.com

[B.G. Kent]

HI there....well there are many Russian and Ukrainian Orthodox churches in
Canada and I even dated an Orthodox Priest once...believe me..they are
here!

Bren

[Matthew Johnson]

Post by B***@gmail.com
Dear friends,
I am a Christian (Protestant), a Chinese living in Hong Kong. Lately
I have had a couple of Russian language class and on a whim, the idea
of Russian Orthodox believers popped up my head.
Unlike China, North Korea, Cambodia or Vietnam..., which were not
Christian lands before they turned to communism. And therefore,
after the governments loosened their grip on religion, we can see
missionary troops (sadly, also the cults) of all nations marching in
in juggernauts or cruising towards there in aircraft carriers. Yet
what about the pre-Christian states of the former Eastern Bloc and
ex- Soviet Union?

I do know from personal experience that the Russians, Ukrainians and
Georgians are getting pretty irritated by these unending streams of
foreign missionaries. They seem particularly bemused at the number of
Korean protestants who get branded 'sectarians' in return for trying
to tell people who have been Christian for so long, how to be
Christian.

Post by B***@gmail.com
I am not very familiar with the history before they got "reddened".

In a nutshell, they were Christian for hundreds of years, in some
cases over a thousand, before they were 'reddened'.

Post by B***@gmail.com
I just think that there must be Czechs, Russians, Rumanians of
Russian Orthodox faith who have fled successfully.

Even more remarkable, many of those who stayed remained faithful --
under conditions that were extremely difficult.

Post by B***@gmail.com
And I thought, assuming that they keep their faith, if they stay in
the USA, Europe or Americas, how can they exercise their faith?

Many of them manage quite well. In both Europe and the US, there are
autonomous Orthodox Churches that welcomed Orthodox believers from any
of these countries (and more besides). There are also the Patriarchal
Exarch churches, and some even found a spiritual home with the Greek
parishes.

Post by B***@gmail.com
Turn to Catholicism or Protestant practice, or just dropped it and
say hello to Western culture or consumerism?

Some made that mistake.

Post by B***@gmail.com
Jews keep their faith so tight that they bought land and build
synagogues everywhere they stay. Catholic survives throughout.
Greek Orthodox is so quiet and does not seem to spread to their
utmost extent.

Well, they have been pretty insistent on keeping Greek for the
liturgical services, which is a pretty high barrier to entry for
non-Greeks. But there have been Greek parishes that use enough English
to accomodate other Orthodox.

Post by B***@gmail.com
Well, that's no problem but what about the Russian Orthodox, Armenian
Orthodox? How was it run during the time of the Cold War between the
East and the West? Very curious about it... very interesting.

Both went through difficult times under Soviet rule, almost as bad as
under the Monothelite Emperors during Byzantine times.

Post by B***@gmail.com
If you happen to know any books, journal, websites, reports or
researches on this "faith-keeping" ordeal of the Russians and Eastern
Europeans (inside or outside the states), do write me privately.

I am puzzled that you write this in a public forum, but ask for the
answer to be emailed privately. I thought I saw the kind of sites you
are looking for listed as links on http://mirror.mospat.ru/, but I
cannot verify this, since the server has been down for two days. When
it comes back up, try that, look for the button that says "English"
and poke around.