Such is the position of the chairman of the Department on Youth Affairs of the Russian Orthodox church, Archbishop Alexander of Kostroma and Galich.
Tomorrow in Moscow the Congress of Orthodox Youth finishes its work. It became a serious and significant event in the church and public life of Russia. There were 1500 delegates participating in the congress' work representing all dioceses of the Russian Orthodox church as well as delegates from Belorussia, Ukraine, the Baltics, and Transdnestria; and even from America and the Czech republic.
The congress opened on 13 May with a patriarchal liturgy in the church of Christ the Savior. A representative of the Greek Orthodox church, Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, also participated in the service. During the congress a very great Russian sacred object, the Fedorov icon of the Mother of God, a significant spiritual symbol, arrived from Kostroma. It was with this icon that the young Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov, the first tsar of the Romanov dynasty, was blessed for coronation in the Ipatiev monastery in 1613 by his mother, the nun Marfa. From ancient times this icon was honored as the protector of the family hearth and of youth.
A very important decision was made at the congress for the organization of a public association of Orthodox youth. Why such an association is needed and what tasks it faces are discussed by the director of the synodal Department of Youth Affairs of the Russian Orthodox church, Archbishop Alexander of Kostroma and Galich.
--Let's recall the past twentieth century. This was a time of extremely many difficulties not only for Russia but also for the Orthodox church which endured much. From being the state church it became a persecuted church. A policy for its complete destruction was conducted, which dealt with the clergy and with Orthodoxy. In the period from 1917 to 1937, 130,000 priests were arrested and 95,000 were shot. Thousands of Orthodox churches were destroyed. But the main thing was that as a result of this policy a blow was delivered to the human soul.
Relations between church and state began changing only in 1988 when the millennium of the baptism of Rus was celebrated. After several decades of persecution the possibility of a return to active life appeared. You know, despite the fact that the church was cast out of public life, interest in the Orthodox faith did not expire. It was understood in society that the fates of Russia and the Orthodox church are inseparable. The stage of regeneration began.
In 2000 at the jubilee bishops' council the decision was made to activate the mission in the sphere of youth. The need for the creation of a department on youth affairs came to a head. The most holy patriarch also has given very serious attention to the theme of youth. He has called for more active work with those who represent Russia's future. His Holiness talks about how we are entering a new century. And at the beginning of the century the voice of the church should resound addressed to the rising generation. Young people should not forget that the church is a mother who always awaits her children.
--The majority of young people now are baptized and wear crosses. But as a rule they go to church only when there are some problems, in order to light a candle. It turns out that all this is rather superficial. Perhaps the point is that Orthodoxy represents to today's young person something unmodern?
--Today the young generation--people who grew up in the years of perestroika--often is called the lost generation. It seems to me that this is incorrect. On the contrary, one should speak of a discovered, a found generation. A vacuum cannot exist in a person's soul. In the course of 70 years they tried to fill it with whatever they could. But today people understand that they are not a rolling stone, not ordinary folk who do not remember their kinfolk. We have a great history behind our backs, a thousand-year history of Christians with its eternal values. An inward interest in this subject exists in the greater portion of youth.
Indeed there are enormous moral problems today among youth: the onslaught of drug addiction, immorality, emptiness. But after all we know a different youth. Youth who succeed in athletics, who occupy a high public position in politics, youth who do very well in business. And the idea that religion, that Orthodoxy is out of date and that it does not let a person develop creative energies, that the Orthodox person is immersed in himself and cannot be socially useful, that is a completely false principle pushed by atheism. The Orthodox person can be a superior student, politician, remarkable businessman, or athlete. The main thing is that a person have morality, service to the highest, and have a desire to bring good to one's neighbor.
Orthodoxy is needed. Today very many people are searching for the road to the church. They pose to themselves questions which bother the soul of every person: why am I in this world? what is the meaning of my existence? Am I really something ephemeral that lives and then that's all? A person chooses between meaninglessness and meaning. Surveys of public opinion show that 75 percent of high schoolers consider themselves Orthodox and have an interest in the faith of the fathers. That means that the church must respond to this search for truth among youth. And here it is very important that the church find the possibility to speak with the young generation not in the language of the nineteenth century but with the language that is understood by the modern person. And thus, of course, we must seek nonstandard forms and new approaches to work with youth. . . .
--Surely it should be remembered that there is a problem: today on the territory of Russia dozens of different sects are actively operating--both Scientologists and Moonies. They are fine psychologists, they know how to talk, they know how to pluck the finest strings, and you know sectarians specifically work mainly with youth. The Orthodox church must not forget about this and must not abandon its positions.
--Do you know that the total budget of foreign sectarian organizations in Russia is 150 million dollars? The budget of the Russian Orthodox church is several times less. Today our country has been deluged by those sects that are forbidden in the West, totalitarian, dangerous for the spiritual, moral, and even physical health of young people. The only thing to do is to talk about national spiritual security. A real expansion of totalitarian sects is going on and intentional activity for the destruction of holy Orthodox is being conducted. Therefore we face very great work so that the false religious teachings will not seize the soul of a person and that the beauty and magnificence of Orthodoxy will penetrate his heart.
Today we say that the church should become more open. Of course, not everything can be done at once. We cannot avoid the burden of that time when the church was artificially separated from the people. But the process of regeneration is going on. And today the church again is seeking forms of relations with a person. It must learn to speak with people in their language and to be maximally open and accessible. We understand that one must strive to bring the word of truth in that language which will be understood by the modern person. And of course a special approach is needed for such a specific group as the youth. After all this is a special time in a person's life, a time of searching for one's self in this world, a formative period.
The church is trying to organize its mission in such as way as to bring the gospel's message about love, faith, and salvation to every person's heart. People must understand that the native Orthodox faith is what nurtured the nation over the course of many centuries. A person lived with God in his soul and thanks to that the state also achieved heights such that neighbors took off their hats in respect. (tr. by PDS, posted 23 May 2001)
Russian Religion News Current News Items
The Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs definitively refused registration for the Estonian Orthodox church of the Moscow patriarchate on 21 May. As the basis for the refusal Estonian authorities asserted that the name Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (EPTsMP) "is not sufficiently distinguished from the name of the other Orthodox church registered in Estonia, the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church." In the opinion of the Estonian MVD, impediments to registration also include the possibility "of an ambiguous interpretation" of EPTsMP's representations of the factual evidence of its autonomy and the continuity of its activity and inconsistency between the protocols of councils attached to the registration application and the requirements of the rules on registration.
The press secretary of Metropolitan Kornily, the head of EPTsMP, Archpriest Leonty Morozkin, commented on the latest events associated with the denial of registration for strana.ru.
--Father Leonty, how would you comment on the Estonian MVD's claim regarding the name of the Estonian Orthodox church?
--This is unacceptable for us. The name was established by our last council; it is within the competence of a council. We do not agree with the objections regarding the name. Recently, about a month ago, in Estonian papers the head of the Department on Religious Affairs of the Estonian MVD answered this question directly. He confirmed that our name does not violate the law and it is strange that the MVD minister did not heed this opinion. The claim regarding the name comes directly from the union between the Constantinopole jurisdiction and the highest Estonian officials, and the Constantinople jurisdiction has engaged in a lot of propaganda of late, that the name does not fit us and that they are against this name. But we do not agree with this in the least.
--What would you comment about the Estonian MVD's opinion that the factual evidence presented by EPTsMP as to its autonomy and continuity of its activity is insufficient?
--I think that the question of evidence needs to be decided in court. We are thinking this over right now. Judging by everything it seems a court discussion is inescapable. Although the synod still has not made a decision regarding a judicial resolution of this question. It is strange that the ministry has returned to these topics and is following Constantinople on this and intensifying the unfriendly tendencies on the Constantinople jurisdiction's part toward us.
--Father Leonty, what are your comments on the statement of the head of EAPTs, Metropolitan Stefan, which he made in an interview with the "Kommersant" newspaper: "--What is the essence of the current schism? --Excuse me for what I am going to say, but the problem is that somebody in Russia cannot accept the realities of the present day. They do not recognize the independence of Estonia and they continue to consider the country a part of the empire and the Estonian Orthodox church a part of the Russian church. --What do you propose for a remedy of the situation? --Personally I have made a very clear and concrete suggestion. There are two versions. First (I consider it the better) to recognize the existence of a single autonomous Orthodox church in Estonia and for everyone to work together. The second version is to create on the territory of Estonia a diocese of the Moscow patriarchate and register it in accordance with the law. After this I am prepared to seek a resolution of all questions connected with property. More than that, I am prepare to give to the Russian church some of the churches for a purely symbolic payment. But only after it has been registered and only after the Moscow patriarchate recognizes our autonomy."
--These are threats which he constantly addresses to us; he is hostile toward us. I can comment in this way: we are not at all interested in Metropolitan Stefan; our life is completely independent of Metropolitan Stefan. An enormous majority of believers belong to our church and we are engaged in ministry in our churches and we do not deal in politics. But Metropolitan Stefan is engaged in politics. He has strengthened the political union with the Estonian officials and, of course, there cannot be any accord between us and him. He is involved in political intrigues against us. (tr. by PDS, posted 23 May 2001)
Russian Religion News Current News Items
The Communist party of Ukraine fraction views the papal visit to Ukraine planned for June to be untimely and very undesirable, and it suggests that the head of the Vatican cancel it. This was the subject of a declaration distributed in the Supreme Soviet of Ukraine by the fraction of communist deputies.
In particular, the KPU fraction states that the main purpose of the pope's visit is strengthening the position and activization of Catholic proselytism which, in their opinion, in multiconfessional Ukraine will lead to aggravation of interchurch relations and separatist tendencies; yesterday's fighters against religion consider the visit "a deliberate and calculated political provocation."
The authors of the statement consider that as a result the religious feelings of Orthodox believers, who constitute the majority of believers in Ukraine, will be crudely violated and they consider the meeting of the pope planned by the State Committee on Religions with "schismatics" to be a crude interference in the internal affairs of the Orthodox church in Ukraine.
In the communists' opinion, the organization by the supreme leadership of the country of the papal visit is a violation of the principle of separation of church and state. "The unprecedented financial and informational support of John Paul II's visit is taking place against the backdrop of a profound political and socio-economic crisis, public instability, and irregular relations among Orthodox and Catholics in western Ukraine, which makes the visit conflict-ridden and consciously provocational," the communist deputies think. (tr by PDS, posted 22 May 2001)
Russian Religion News Current News Items
A new youth organization similar to the Komsomol that has disappeared into oblivion, the "All-Russian Public Orthodox Youth Association," will appear in Russia by the end of the current year. The synodal Department on Youth Affairs was instructed to prepare the necessary documentation and to conduct a founding conference in October.
The decision regarding the necessity of creating the new union was adopted at the Congress of Orthodox Youth that was held in Moscow. As MK was told at the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow patriarchate, the new association will cooperate with all public and state organizations for the purpose of training youth in "the spiritual and moral values of Orthodoxy." In addition, just as there once existed a network of district committees and city committees in the structure of VLKSM [Communist Youth League], so there will be created in every diocese special departments on youth affairs.
Besides this the Orthodox youth that assembled at the congress issued a call to Pope John Paul II to postpone his visit to Ukraine. The Orthodox fear a strengthening of the influence of Catholics in Ukraine, especially western Ukraine, and "intensification of the sufferings of the Orthodox people." As an example of the infringement of the rights of Ukrainian Orthodox believers, congress participants cited the real threat of the destruction of an Orthodox church in Lvov built in honor of holy Prince Vladimir. The church is "guilty" of being located on a square through which the pope of Rome is supposed to proceed. (tr. by PDS, posted 22 May 2001)
POPE IS ENEMY OF YOUTH
by Evgeny Komarov,
Novye izvestiia, 19 May 2001
There once was an anecdote. Women assembled at a world congress and they were unable to work out a concluding document. Finally after long attempts they "conceived" a resolution about two topics: "1. All men are vile. 2. They have nothing to wear."
So what would you think that Congress of Orthodox Youth, held this week by the Russian Orthodox church, finished up with? A resolution condemning the pope of Rome and calling him not to go to Ukraine. Now every Russian homeless child, every young resident of a refugee camp somewhere in Ingushetiia, every young drug addict, and every life inmate of a colony for juvenile criminals should know: it is not his bitter fate but the visit of the pope to far-off Galicia that is the main concern of young Russian Christians.
As is known, the ageing pontiff will visit Ukraine 23-27 June. This informational bit has already often been used by Orthodox activists of the fundamentalist wing. The only politician supporting them is Vladimir Zhirinovsky. The basic claim of the young Orthodox to the pope consists of their saying that his visit to Ukraine does not meet with the approval of the church leadership of a neighboring state, the Moscow patriarchate. They are offended at the Vatican because the Uniate parishes of Galicia, which were turned into "Orthodox" parishes on Stalin's orders in 1946, 45 years later at the dawn of perestroika were returned to the bosom of Catholicism.
Most likely, the militant "papal" resolution of the youth congress was simply devised to conceal the absence of achievements of RPTs in work with youth; despite the fact that the first such congress was held back in 1991 and then the Churchwide Orthodox Youth Movement was created, in all these years it worked so actively that the majority of journalists today with a clear conscience called the current forum the "first" and spoke, as if it were a sensation, about plans to create a "church Komsomol." So condemning "aggression from Guadeloupe to Luluganda" was much simpler than disclosing the reasons for its own fiasco. (tr. by PDS, posted 22 May 2001)
Russian Religion News Current News Items
Father Georgi Kochetkov responded to questions of strana.ru connected with the statement by the administration of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Institute
--What comment do you have regarding the statement by the administration of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Institute with regard to your press secretary's statements?
--It should be noted that the document of the first working group that worked in the Synodal Theological Commission (SBK) with my books was prepared exclusively by members of the so-called "Moscow Commission," which was almost entirely composed of teachers of St. Tikhon's, who are not members of the presidium of SBK or even ordinary members of the commission. The second working group that now has been created also consists exclusively of those same teachers from St. Tikhon's. But the materials which they have prepared were almost entirely received by SBK, although, as far as I know, at the session quite different and much more solid and authoritative opinions were presented. Members of the "Moscow Commission," it seems, actually consider us enemies of the church and think that any means are okay for getting us out of the Russian Orthodox church. This position in its extreme form has already been sounded, for example, by Fr Konstantin Bufeev. He did not hesitate to write in "Blagodatnyi ogon" that we "should be driven into schism."
--To what extent is it possible to speak of direct pressure on the part of St. Tikhon's Institute?
--As far as I recall, the text of Dmitry Hasak (who, incidentally, is not my press secretary) did not contain the words that St. Tikhon's Institute directly cites. But representatives of St. Tikhon's, figuring that they are supported by some more powerful forces, although, perhaps, not fully consciously, still press the Synodal Theological Commission, which is evident from the very course of the matter; they stoke the fire with pleasure because they are not inclined to take into account other opinions and positions in the church.
At the start there was on the part of SBK an attempt at dialogue and they even suggested to me first to compose a response document and present it officially. But they not only stopped paying attention to my arguments but they even called them illogically "an apology for wrong thinking." The conclusion of the "Moscow Commission" suddenly was taken not just "for information," but "as the basis." This cannot mean anything other than that dialogue has gradually yielded to other forms of work that are inevitably more ideologized and, consequently, politicized.
It is not hard to surmise that such tendencies are coming from the group representing St. Tikhon's Institute, the administration and several teachers of which have often demonstrated their engagement in this question; we recall the conference on the "Unity of the Church" in 1994 and the infamous collection "Judgment was prepared long ago" of 2000, as well as the inadequacy and aggressive tone of the conclusion of the "Moscow Commission" itself. (tr. by PDS, posted 22 May 2001)
Russian Religion News Current News Items
The day of opening of the doors and consecration of a new house of prayer of the "Avtovo" parish of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) has been held, the "Blagovest-info" news agency reports. According to tradition the evening began with the congregational singing of the hymn "High on the mountain" and a prayer of invocation.
The president of the "Avtovo" parish, Nikolai Patrushev, described the formation of the Mormons' organization and enumerated its basic principles. A speech also was made by the president of the Mormon mission in St. Petersburg, Roland Detweiler, who appealed to the parishioners for prayer for the creation of new houses of prayer and meeting places for adherents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
"All buildings of the church are built in order to be able to gather and study together, and this teaching comes from the Lord," Detweiler noted. At the end of his talk the president of the mission read a prayer of consecration of the house of prayer.
At the end of the ceremony the parish choir sang a hymn. (tr. by PDS, posted 22 May 2001)
CONGRESS OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES HELD IN ALMA-ATA
Mir religii, 22 May 2001
The organization of Jehovah's Witnesses in Alma-Ata comprising around 5,000 persons conducted two concluding sessions of the district congress that opened on 9 December of last year in the Palace of Students of Kazakh State University, the "Blagovest-info" agency reports.
The extension of the work of the congress of Jehovists nearly a half year is explained by the organizers as the result of difficulties with acquiring the premises. The last meetings of Jehovah's Witnesses attended by 1700 persons were held in the Great Hall of the Center of International Cooperation of the republic of Kazakhstan. They were followed by the water baptism of 102 new members of the Jehovist organization in the pool of one of the city's public baths. Three quarters of the newly baptized were women. (tr. by PDS, posted 22 May 2001)
ESTONIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE DENIED REGISTRATION
Mir religii, 22
May 2001
The Estonian MVD declared that it does not have a juridical basis for registering the Estonian Orthodox church of the Moscow patriarchate (EPTsMP), "Echo of Moscow" reports, citing "Interfax." As the MVD press secretary stated to BNS agency, the ministry cannot register this church inasmuch as the name indicated in its charter does not conform with the requirements of the law. The name "Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate" is not clearly distinguished from the name of the other Orthodox church that is already registered in Estonia, the "Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church" (in the jurisdiction of the patriarchate of Constantinople).
According to the press secretary, problems for registration also include the possibility of an ambiguous reading of the evidence presented by EPTsMP of its autonomy and the continuity of its activity and inconsistency between the protocols of councils attached to the registration application and the requirements of the instructions regarding registration. The documents presented by EPTsMP could not be used by the Department of Religious Affairs of MVD as a juridical basis for registration of the charters of EPTsMP and its parishes, the press secretary reported.
Along with this Estonian Ministery of Internal Affairs Tarmo Loodus expressed in a letter to the leadership of EPTsMP the desire of the government to provide the church "all possible help in resolving questions connected with registration."
The ministry suggested that the church register under a "name that clearly distinguishes it from the name of the other Orthodox church, specify and change several points of the charter, and append to the registration application protocols of councils in accordance with the requirements of the instructions on registration." (tr. by PDS, posted 22 May 2001)
GENNADY SELEZNEV MEETS WITH DUKHOBORS
strana.ru,
21 May 2001
The chairman of the State Duma, Gennady Seleznev, met today in the village of Mirnoe in Briansk province, with a community of Dukhobors who had resettled here from Georgia and he held in Briansk a session of the Council of Resettled Associations, ITAR-TASS reports.
Addressing local deputies, Seleznev reported that now around four million persons would like to move into Russia from countries of CIS and the Baltics, but, as a rule, problems arise for them in housing and work in the new location. In connection with this the law on migration which the State Duma has adopted already on first reading includes an understanding of the state recommendation on resettlement. As Seleznev said, special coefficients will be used which will permit making a transfer to the far eastern territory or depressed provinces in central Russia more inexpensively in comparision, for example, with settlement in the area around Moscow. (tr. by PDS, posted 22 May 2001)
VATICAN GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THAT POPE NOT AWAITED IN RUSSIA
by Filipp Taratorkin
strana.ru,
21 May 2001
The secretary of the Vatican for relations with foreign states, Archbishop Jean-Louis Toran, will visit Moscow briefly from 25-27 May. Pope John Paul II named the head of Vatican diplomacy his personal representative for the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the reorganization of Catholic parishes in the Russian federation. Monsignor Toran will serve a solemn mass and conduct conversations on the meaning of holy scripture to which are invited "Orthodox and protestant brothers and other followers of Christ's teaching," ITAR-TASS reports, citing the Vatican press service. At the same time, one might think that the appearance of Toran in Moscow is connected with new attempts by the Vatican to persuade the Russian church of the benefits of a meeting between Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and all-Rus and the pope of Rome, who is persistently trying to go down in history as the pontificate that healed the rift with the Orthodox East.
It is difficult to say to what extent the past decade has been productive for Catholics in Russia. On one hand, the number of Catholic parishes has increased markedly, while the activity of these parishes has reached from Moscow and St. Petersburg beyond the Urals, where in Novosibirsk, Tomsk, and even southern Sakhalin Catholic parishes with a predominance of youth and some numerical growth are operating. On the other hand, the 1990s have shown that the arrival of Catholics in Russia will never become massive. The religious situation is not favorable for them. Moreover, Archbishop Toran, like Archbishop Kondrusiewicz and any other Catholic hierarch, cannot but understand that there is no path for the pope of Rome into Russia, inasmuch as there is not one even in Greece, where the Orthodox population could make some noise and quiet down, nor in Ukraine, where the pope has a much more numerous flock. Russia is a country without a Catholic future and there is no possibility of doing anything to make a Catholic future suddenly appear. Thus Archbishop Toran's visit to Russia will turn out to be purely ceremonial. (tr. by PDS, posted 22 May 2001)
Russian Religion News Current News Items
Two institutions of higher learning in Tula have simultaneously received licences to the right to train theology specialists--the state university (formerly the polytechnical institute) and the L.N. Tolstoy Pedagogical University. Theology has been included in the list of subjects and specialties of higher professional education. The Interagency Council on State Standards confirmed the new subject in the system of higher education on the initiative of Patriarch Alexis of Moscow and all-Rus, who, as is reported unofficially, was supported by President Putin. The decision is unprecedented inasmuch as permission for establishing a new specialty has been received by only six institutions in the country, but it is not accidental, in the opinion of the initiator of the creation of the new department, a philosophy professor of Tula State Pedagogical University , Vladimir Nazarov. "We will train not priests but secular specialists for work in academic institutions, administrative bodies, and the social sphere," he noted. In Tula, which is famed as a weapons and samovar manufacturing capital, a school of Russian religious ethics has been formed. The local institutions occupy a leading position in the rankings of Russian classical and pedagogical universities. This was stated in the conclusion of the Department of Academic Methodology of the Ministry of Education; experts consider that there exist sufficiently qualified personnel for opening the new department. Alrady this year the Tula university has gathered fifty students. (tr. by PDS, posted 21 May 2001)
Russian Religion News Current News Items
A Moscow court has dismissed an appeal by prosecutors seeking to shut down a Russian office of the Los Angeles-based Church of Scientology, the group's lawyer said Friday.
Prosecutors had accused the group of conducting illegal business activities, the Interfax news agency reported.
Moscow's northeastern circuit court rejected the charges against the Humanitarian Hubbard Center in a ruling Tuesday, but prosecutors appealed, said lawyer Galina Krylova. The appeal was turned down Thursday.
The case was among several filed against foreign-based religious groups in Russia in recent years, including a lengthy procedure against the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Bowing to pressure from the Russian Orthodox Church, Russia's parliament in 1997 passed a law restricting activities of religious groups not considered traditional for Russia. The law guarantees the rights of Jewish, Muslim and Orthodox churches as representing the main religious faiths of the country, and requires strict registration rules for others.
"Freedom of conscience should be a higher value, regardless of whether you like a religion or not. Our government apparently thinks differently,'' Krylova said.
Prosecutors first moved against the Hubbard Center in 1998 on accusations the group caused psychological harm to its members, but the case was dismissed when no victims could be found, Krylova said.
Authorities later filed tax evasion charges that were also dismissed, she said. In 1999, prosecutors alleged names that appeared on the group's registration documents were found to have no relation to the center. The center said it corrected the documents..
The Church of Scientology was founded in 1954 by L. Ron Hubbard and teaches that technology can expand the mind and help solve problems. (posted 21 May 2001)
SCIENTOLOGY AGAIN WITHIN LAW
by Marina Lepina
Kommersant-Daily, 19 May 2001
A Moscow city court has confirmed the decision of the Ostankino circuit court of the capital dismissing the criminal case against directors of the Humanitarian Hubbard Center and the Scientology church of Moscow. Moscow Scientologists may continue their activity in practice.
In April 1998 the Ostankino procuracy of Moscow opened a criminal case against members of the Humanitarian Hubbard Center. While the investigation was in progress the Ostankino court declared the registration of the Humanitarian Hubbard Center inactive, satisfying a suit by Moscow Prosecutor Sergei Gerasimov. The decision went into effect on 14 February 2000. By that time the procuracy has ended its investigation and in November 2000 the case was sent to the Ostankino court.
The procuracy accused Natalia Dvoriadkina and Gennady Kudinov of refusing
to pay taxes and of illegal business activity: according to information
from the investigation, the followers of Hubbard were engaged in medical
and educational activity under the guise of religious activity. The Scientologists
categorically denied all charges. The Ostankino court reviewed the case
twice (it first sent it for investigation). On 13 March it dismissed it
because of absence of the substance of a crime. Representatives of the
prosecution appealed to the Moscow city court, which yesterday left in
force the decision of the Ostankino court. "The accusation was fabricated;
it is a political matter," representatives of the Scientology church think.
"We consider the court's verdict a restoration of justice." To continue
its activity Scientology now only has to get the registration of the Humanitarian
Hubbard Center restored. A decision regarding its liquidation is still
be argued in court. (tr. by PDS, posted 22 May 2001)
Russian Religion News Current News Items
The chairman of the Rogozhskoe Old Believers society of the capital, Aleksei Riabtsev, sharply criticized current Russian legislation on religious organizations and expressed dissatisfaction with the state of relations between the Russian Orthodox Old Ritualist church (RPSTs) and state bodies of Russia. In Riabtsev's words, the adoption of the federal law "On freedom of conscience and religious associations" in 1997 "complicated relations between church and state." Despite RPSTs's consistent opposition to this law, in official documents and publications of the mass media "the issue was presented as if all traditional confessions supported the law."
The chairman of the Rogozhskoe Old Believers society is convinced that the law "reflects the interests of the Moscow patriarchate," and not even the whole of RPTs but just its leadership, the Moscow patriarchate. After the adoption of the law, Riabtsev stressed, the Moscow patriarchate became "a religious political organization" that actively exerts influence on the adoption by bodies of the government of a different kind of regulatory acts that express the interests of that organization.
"The RPSTs has always tried to be outside of politics," Riabtsev said. According to his observations, the "degree of hypocrisy" in contemporary Russian society is growing because the non-Christian state is trying to appear "Orthodox," which, Aleksei Riabtsev added, inflicts great damage on the reputation of the church itself, which in public consciousness bears responsibility for the lawlessness of the state.
Aleksei Riabtsev spoke against the method adopted by the authorities for struggle with "totalitarian sects," who are being hindered by all means in acquiring the status of legal entity. "Why drive them underground? Can't they see that the more fiercely a religious organization is persecuted, the stronger it becomes?"
Besides this, the departure of youth "into the sects" Riabtsev considers to be not a religious but a social problem, produced by the breakup of the institution of the family. "For Old Belief," he stressed, "toleration is an absolute value. We consider religious persecution to be a sign of weakness." (tr. by PDS, posted 21 May 2001)
Russian
Religion News Current News Items
On 17 May in Kiev there was a march of Orthodox Christians against the visit to Ukraine by the pope of Rome. Participants representing the Kiev, Odessa, Nikolaevsk, Vinnitsa, Chernigov, Tulchin, and other dioceses proceeded from the Kiev caves lavra to the Supreme Soviet and then on to the building of the presidential administration and the Catholic nunciature in Kiev.
The march was organized by the Union of Orthodox Brotherhoods of Ukraine and the Union of Orthodox Citizens of Ukraine. Members of the inter-fractional deputies' association "ZUBR" (For Union of Ukraine, Belorussia, and Russia) and the public organization "United Fatherland" participated in the march.
Participants in the procession of the cross declared their protest against the pope's arrival in Ukraine as well as the destructive activity of schismatic groupings calling themselves the "Kievan patriarchate" and "Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox church."
An appeal to Ukrainian President L.D. Kuchma was adopted which says: "The Vatican and schismatic groupings directly and openly act on the side of those forces that a trying to drive you, the legally elected president, from power. In this regard it is necessary to cite the words of the rector of the Chernigov Catholic parish, Fr Genrikh Kaminsky, that he said in an interview with the Catholic 'Parish Gazette': 'Experience has shown that in countries that the pope has visited, internal political and social relations turn for the better; for example after the pope's visit to Chile, Pinochet resigned his office, and in other countries, totalitarian regimes have fallen like houses of cards.' What could be more obvious than such statements?" March participants reminded the president of the numerous instances of the use by Greek Catholics of massive violence, beatings, and torment of priests and believers of the Ukrainian Orthodox church in western Ukraine, where three Orthodox dioceses have been broken up and thousands of churches have been seized.
Besides this, an appeal was adopted to agencies of authority of Ukraine called for opening a criminal case against the head of the so-called "Kievan patriarchate," Filaret Denisenko, whom march participants accuse of participation in an attempt to overthrow the government in Kiev on 9 March and recruiting Ukrainians for international terrorist formations in Chechnia, as well as other violations of law. (tr. by PDS, posted 21 May 2001)
UKRAINE RELIGIOUS GROUPS STAGE MASSIVE AIDS MARCH
Reuters, 20 May 2001
Thousands of religious activists paraded through Kiev on Sunday, urging
bystanders to turn to God and fight AIDS in the biggest demonstration yet
seen in the Ukrainian capital.
Upwards of 15,000 people from churches and religious organisations across Ukraine marched, cheered and sang their way through the city centre in a demonstration which dwarfed recent protests against President Leonid Kuchma.
"AIDS is not a problem for God," marchers chanted as they walked, clapped and danced down the main Kreshchatyk street in a well-orchestrated action that must have been the envy of organisers of this year's often ragged political protests.
The demonstrators, of all ages and mostly well-dressed in disciplined ranks, carried national flags and banners proclaiming "Turn to God, he will help" and "You have a chance."
Families, Orthodox priests, Jewish and lesser-known religious groups walked together in the peaceful demonstration, organised under the slogan "Love against AIDS." Police estimated that at least 15,000 took part.
Onlookers stood quietly, many bemused by the scale of the spectacle. Kiev has seen a string of demonstrations this year, but they were focused on the scandal of a murdered reporter and have now petered out.
Post-Communist era Ukraine has seen a flowering of mainstream and minority religious movements as its citizens embraced the greater freedom to worship in the decade following independence from Moscow in 1991.
Kiev has seen frantic rebuilding and renovation work of churches and religious sites, helped by an influx of funds from Ukrainians abroad.
EXPLOSIVE SPREAD OF AIDS
But that newfound freedom has also seen an explosion in drug abuse, the sex trade, and the spread of AIDS. Poverty, unemployment and ignorance are fuelling the fire -- AIDS is spreading faster among Ukraine's 49 million people than anywhere else in Europe, official figures show.
There are more than 37,000 people registered as having the HIV virus which causes AIDS, chiefly drug users, but the World Health Organisation said recently it believed the figure could be 10 times higher.
A study by the Economics Institute of the Ukrainian Academy of Science said the AIDS epidemic in Ukraine could kill between 900,000 and 2.1 million people, with health experts predicting a peak between 2007-2016.
The demonstrators urged Ukrainians to embrace religion and stiffer morals.
"I've come here today to affirm my love of God and protest against AIDS. I want young people to realise they have a chance with Jesus," Vitaly, a student from Kiev, said.
Others were not so convinced.
"They can sing all they like. It's not going to help," grumbled a taxi driver whose car had been trapped by the unexpectedly large march.
"They'd have done better handing out condoms." (Copyright 1999 Reuters.All rights reserved, posted 21 May 2001)
Russian Religion News Current News Items
Patriarch Catholicos Garegin II of the Armenian Apostolic church announced his decision to unfrock Archbishop Tiran Kiuregian of Russia and Novo-Nakhichevansk, who has headed the diocese for twenty-five years. Eight months ago Archbishop Tiran was removed from the office of head of the diocese of Russia and Novo-Nakhichevansk by a unilateral decision made by Catholicos Garegin II without an explanation for the reasons lying behind this decision. In his place was appointed the natural brother of the catholicos, Archimandrite Ezras, who had served for many years under Archbishop Tiran.
Archbishop Tiran, who is supported by the Moscow community of the Armenian Apostolic church (AATs), asked the catholicos to leave him in Moscow as rector of the church and spiritual pastor of the Moscow community. However, last Sunday, 13 May, after the liturgy in the church of the Resurrection of the Lord in Vagankovo, Archbishop Tiran announced the creation of a new organization within the bounds of AATs--the Association of Armenian Apostolic Holy Churches of Moscow (OAASTsM), which had been registered in the Russian Ministry of Justice.
The head of this association is the archbishop himself, who declared that he acknowledges the supreme church authority of the National Church Council, which is the supreme legislative body of AATs, and he also acknowledges Holy Echmiadzin and all the canons and traditions of the church. But at the administrative level OAASTsM is an organization that is independent of the catholicos. The charter of this organization states that the catholicos and his decisions will not have further effect in OAASTsM. Consequently, the unfrocking of Archbishop Tiran and other measures on the part of the ruling catholicos are considered to be without basis. The decision for the creation of OAASTsM and its charter were made by a substantial portion of the Moscow community.
"The unilateral decision by the catholicos for the dismissal of the old synod and the creation of a new one, made more than six months ago, as well as the unfrocking of the archbishop violate centuries-old tradition of AATs, in which decisions always have been made together with the National Church Council," Archbishop Tiran stated in response to the news of his unfrocking. (tr. by PDS, posted 20 May 2001)
Russian
Religion News Current News Items
On the night of 16-17 May in the city of Lvov a regular, outrageous provocation of a fascist kind was committed: the doors of the building of the Russian Cultural Center were torn up and set on fire, glass of the windows was broken, and the phrase "place of Galicians" appeared on the facade. With regard to this the director of the Russian Movement of Ukraine, A Svistunov, sent to Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma an appeal in which, in particular, is said: "Such actions of vandalism, whose goal is to sow fear and uncertainty among Russians, are repeated year after year. The ultra-rightist nationalists, confident in their impunity, encouraged by local authorities, openly call for the deportation of Russians and for prohibition of broadcasts of Russian language television shows, Russian songs and books, and the Russian language.
"In these explosive circumstances legislative and administrative structures of the state have chosen a tactic of noninterference. State officials unanimously declare: in Lvov everything is calm, there have been no pogroms, arson, physical assault of Russians, total closing of schools with Russian language instruction, or destruction of monuments honoring Russian culture and Russian history. This audacious pack of lies intensifies the situation, incites hostility among nationalities, and moves society toward new, dangerous contradictions.
"In connection with this the Russian Movement of Ukraine demands that the president of Ukraine take the most decisive and effective measures. The organizers of the provocation should be discovered and punished in accordance with law. The time has come for all ministries and departments, representatives of the Supreme Soviet, law enforcement agencies, and the power structures to put an end to interethnic madness.
"It is necessary, even though overdue, finally to think over the urgent problems of the state, the destroyed economy, and the social inequality of citizens. In an impoverished and starving society any such action with an interethnic subtext threatens unforeseen consequences.
"Otherwise the Russians of the western region of Ukraine will seek adequate solutions to provide security for themselves and their families."
Today the Union of Orthodox Citizens (SPG) distributed a statement which says in particular: "SPG views this incident as a regular provocation of Galician fascists who are conducting a war against Orthodoxy and Russian culture. Galicia has been turned into an epicenter of fascism, religious and ethnic intolerance, and political terror. The presence of this center is dangerous for democratic forces in Europe. It is impossible to ignore the threat of Galician fascism any longer. It is the responsibility of Russian diplomacy and community to tell the truth about this totalitarian, fascist enclave to everybody for him freedom, democracy, and European Christian values are dear." (tr. by PDS, posted 20 May 2001)
Russian Religion News Current News Items
Statement of the administration of the Orthodox St. Tikhon's Theological Institute with regard to the statement by Dmitry Hasak, press secretary for Fr Georgi Kochetkov
On 14 May 2001 on the Internet site stphilaret.ru, belonging to the St. Filaret's school, was published information containing excerpts of a statement by Dmitry Hasak, press secretary for Fr Georgi Kochetkov. It this statement it is asserted that the work of the Synodal Theological Commission devoted to an examination of the works of Fr Georgi Kochetkov "has assumed ever more a political character." At the same time "politicization," by which it seems is meant some kind of engagement of members of the commission, lack of independence of the commission's decisions, and its ideological dependence upon one or another external structures, seems to be applied directly by Dmitry Hasak to "what has been done on the part of St. Tikhon's Theological Institute."
In connection with this the administration of St. Tikhon's Theological Institute (PSTBI) considers it necessary to recall that the theological commission is a churchwide synodal body that is completely independent from any other institutions within the bounds of the Russian Orthodox church. The Synodal Theological Commission includes representatives of the teaching staff of PSTBI, although the majority of the members of the commission are representatives of other church institutions and higher ecclesiastical schools. All members without exception of the Synodal Theological Commission under the chairmanship of Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk are generally recognized and respected specialists in the area of Orthodox dogmatics, church history, canon law, and other disciplines of theology, completely free and indepement in their opinions and judgments.
On the basis of what has been said, the administration of the Orthodox St. Tikhon's Theological Institute expresses its perplexity with regard to the irresponsible words of Fr Georgi Kochetkov's press secretary quoted above and declares that such unsubstantiated statements regarding pressure by PSTBI on the Synodal Theological Commission do not have any factual basis. (tr. by PDS, posted 18 May 2001)
Russian Religion News Current News Items
On 26 April the parliament of the Kabardino-Balkaria republic (KBR) adopted on third reading the law "On prohibition of extremist religious activity and administrative responsibility for violations of law associated with religious activity." Despite "good intentions," the adoption of the law was the logical development of the policy of discrimination against Jehovah's Witnesses and other religious minorities.
According to reports in the local press, members of parliament did not conceal that "everything from the very beginning in this law does not conform to federal legislation." Nevertheless the document was adopted on third reading and sent to the president of KBR for signature.
The law prohibits "gathering for religious purposes without written notification of the local administrative office," "repudiation of another confession or considering it false," and "teaching others the fundamentals of religious belief without a professional pedagogical or ecclesiastical education." Persons guilty of such "offenses" will be fined and organizations banned.
Members of parliament acknowledge that several of the law's articles "could be extended to any religious leader." It has already become clear that the implementation of the punitive articles will be controlled by a kind of "black list" that includes Jehovah's Witnesses and other religious minorities. While in deputies' opinion, wahhabism should not be the main target. "For some reason now the stress is put on only one of the branches of Islam. This is incorrect," says deputy Gumar Murzakanov. One of the lobbyists for the law, Madina Dyshekova, clearly indicated the existence of hidden motives: "Not everything can be orchestrated, but the law must be applied today."
Actually it is the Jehovah's Witnesses who over the course of the past few years have suffered in KBR both from extremist forays and from discrimination on the part of local authorities, including the recent formal liquidation of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious society in the city of Prokhladnoe. In this sense the new KBR law has become not an obstacle to extremism but a regular step up in the escalation of religious intolerance in the region. In essence the law unties the hands of those who often have threatened Jehovah's Witnesses with harsh treatment and realized it in practice.
The adoption of the law is especially disturbing in the year of the fiftieth anniversary of "Operation North," the stalinist action of repression during which thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses were exiled from the western USSR to Siberia for "permanent settlement." After being rehabilitated as victims of political repression, several of them now reside in the territory of KBR and are again being subjected to discrimination.
Expressing its extreme concern over the adoption of the new law, the Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia has sent letters to appropriate official persons in the federal and local government as well as to the plenipotentiary for human rights in the Russian federation, with the request for protecting freedom of conscience on the territory of KBR, which is guaranteed by the constitution. (tr. by PDS, posted 18 May 2001)
Russian
Religion News Current News Items
If material is quoted, please give credit to the publication
from which it came.
It is not necessary to credit this Web page. If material
is transmitted electronically, please include reference to the URL, http://www.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relnews/.