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Patriarchal spokesman supports Putin's political position

CHURCH HOPES THAT SOCIETY'S OPINION WILL BE CONSIDERED IN PREPARATION OF PUTIN'S CAMPAIGN
Interfax-Religiia, 17 January 2012

A spokesman for the Moscow patriarchate called society to a broad discussion of the campaign article published yesterday by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

"I am pleased that the prime minister offered his campaign points for general discussion. I hope that it will be active and that people's suggestions will be heard," the head of the synodal Department for Relations of Church and Society, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, told Interfax-Religiia on Tuesday.

He said that it was no coincidence that V. Putin proposed in his article to strengthen the role of civil society in the country. The priest thinks that today in Russia "many people are ready to express themselves constructively," and he stated the hope that these people's opinions "will be taken into account in finalizing the election campaign program."  

At the same time he thinks it important that these opinions are not only proclaimed on the Internet but also "are picked up by someone for consideration in the process of a dialogue of the campaign staff with representatives of various public associations and various social strata."

As the news agency's interlocutor noted, the article says much about economics, "in particular about the undoubted achievements of the economic and social policies of Russia in recent years." In his view it is no coincidence that the prime minister speaks of the sphere of values and morality. Economics are important but it is the psychological state of society "that determines whether the country will be successful in various areas of its life, including economics."

"The idea that unites Marxists and ultraliberals and comes down to the simplification that economic relations determine everything else is false, as is demonstrated by the state of the contemporary West where the idea of the freedom of the market from ethical and social restrictions has gradually led to total economic collapse, which only the blind do not see today," the church's representative declared.

Thus, he continued, one cannot but agree with Putin's words that "personal freedom is productive if you recall and think about others. Freedom without a moral foundation turns into tyranny."

The priest also considers important the article's accent on the development of civil initiative, including in the activity of socially oriented noncommercial organizations. "Today it is necessary to provide for public associations the systematic opportunity of participating in implementing social, educational, cultural, and health care policies and in combating corruption, crime, drug addiction, drunkenness, and the immorality of some of the news media," Fr Vsevold is convinced.

He hopes that the ideas that have been proclaimed will lead to "specific suggestions of how to increase the systematic role of the nongovernmental sector and local communities in the administration of the state and implementation of its policies, which of course must be joined with greater delegation of budgetary resources and authority from governmental structures to public ones."

The priest considers it necessary to revive a serious dialogue about the place of Russia in the world and about the picture of the world that Russia would want to bring about along with other countries "who aim for sincere dialogue and cooperation with it."

He agreed with V. Putin's thought that "the former single 'pole of power' is now incapable of maintaining global stability and new centers of influence are still not ready to do this," and with the idea that "an impasse has been reached with the model built on unrestrained borrowing capacity and living in debt and mortgaging the future with virtual but not real values and assets."

"In such conditions Russia must state and defend in a deliberate way its own vision of international relations and of the reestablishment of a just and balanced world economy. I hope that our society will also take a most active part in the discussion of these aspects of future Russian policies," Fr Vsevolod added. (tr. by PDS, posted 17 January 2012)

Related article:  "Russia in Focus--the Challenges We Must Face," by Vladimir Putin

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Debate about Orthodox political parties

RUSSIAN CHURCH APPROVES IDEA OF CREATION OF "ORTHODOX" PARTIES BUT WILL NOT GIVE THEM ITS BLESSING
Interfax-Religiia, 12 January 2012

The head of the synodal Department for Relations of Church and Society, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, called for thinking about whether an "Orthodox" party would be possible in Russia.

"The church views positively the prospect of the creation of Christian or Orthodox parties or intra-party groups, but it will not show them exclusive support or grant its blessing. The church is for everybody, and not for the supporters of one political force," Fr Vsevolod writes in a recent open collective blog, "Orthodox politics," of which he is one of the authors.

In a note under the heading "Is an "Orthodox"/"Christian" party needed or possible?" he reaches the conclusion that "it seems a time of stormy party construction has begun."

"The creation of parties on religious bases is not permitted by law, but nobody forbids forming an 'Orthodox' or 'Christian' party without a formal mention of it in the name; let's recall that Christian Democrats in the European Parliament call themselves the European People's Party and the moderate political Muslims in Turkey, the Party of Justice and Development," the writer mentions.

He said that there are no impediments to the creation of such parties on the part of the church. Its "Bases of a Social Doctrine" says that the existence of such political organizations is viewed by the church "as a positive phenomenon that enables laity to work together to conduct political and governmental activity on the basis of Christian spiritual and moral principles."

As the priest recalled, the same document says that such organizations, being free in their activity, are at the same time called "to consult with the church hierarchy and to coordinate activities in the area of implementation of the church's position on social matters." At the same time, organizations that participate in the political process "cannot have the blessing of the church hierarchy and act in the name of the church."

"The main question, whose answer I still do not know is whether an 'Orthodox'/'Christian' party is possible in contemporary Russia. The experiences of the 1990s that I observed closely were most often unsuccessful, although they were started by good and sincere people (I am not thinking of one group whose name concealed its purely commercial interests and which did not conduct any political activity at all)" the church's representative writes.  He noted that the main problems were "fragmentation, petty ambition, and mutual alienation if not hatred."

Fr Vsevolod thinks that today Orthodox and generally Christian ideas are proclaimed by a whole number of organizations "who, it seems, are ready to try to become parties."  "But will it turn out again that there is fragmentation and in the end obtain support of a tenth of a percent or one percent of the voters? There is another question: would it be possible to create (form) Orthodox/Christian groups within the framework of large existing parties? I would be happy to hear quite different responses," the blog says. (tr. by PDS, posted 16 January 2012)

CREATION OF ORTHODOX POLITICAL PARTY IS ROAD TO SOCIAL DIVISION.
Orthodox Religious Studies Expert Valery Otstavnikh on Fr Vsevolod Chaplin's unconstitutional initiative
"Echo of Moscow" blog, 13 January 2012

Fr. Vsevolod Chaplin has again "shaken" the Internet with original suggestions. This time he has proposed trying again the create an "Orthodox political party." More precisely, "to think about it." It seems to me personally, a priori, that this latest "suggestion" of the esteemed speaker is contradictory and dangerous. Fr Vservolod proposes approving the creation of the party but not giving a blessing to its creation (the canons do not permit that). The sense of the formula is striking. Could the opposite really exist: not approving (something) but blessing it? Everything is possible. Although why "not giving blessing"? I have already written in one of my old posts that taken together apostolic rules 6 and 81, that forbid clergy from participating in political activity, are superceded by an appropriate amendment in the relevant document. So that priests and bishops with a special synodal blessing may run for parliament and occupy any posts there except that of speaker. So why "not giving blessing"?

Hypothetically, what can come from this? Nothing good, I think. Only divisions. The creation of such a party supported by the church will put the Orthodox members of other parties in a ridiculous position.  Will they have to give up their own organizations and join the new party? The next stage will be the attempt of representatives of other traditional religions and confessions (as well as totalitarian sects and cults) to create theis own political parties and party blocks: Muslim, Adventist, Neo-protestant, Neo-pagan, New Age, etc. etc. Finally,  in the Orthodox milieu itself there exist differences of political opinion  (which is normal), so that it is possible there will appear extremely diverse "Orthodox parties": left-radical, right-monarchist, Orthodox Socialistic, and the like.

Do I believe that all of this will happen? Not very much. Why? Because Fr Vsevolod has again suggested not to create but "to think about." As he has suggested "to think about" something numerous times already. I have the feeling that the esteemed Fr Vsevolod is simply distracting society's attention from the really substantive questions and that society and Orthodox speakers are continuing the endless "conversation of the blind with the deaf."

--"Please unmask the falsehood of the elections."

--"Let's think about creating an Orthodox party."

--"Please unmask the falsehood of the elections."

--"And let's "begin military actions" abroad and dispatch the "Internet hamsters;" those who survive will become men."

--"Please unmask the falsehood of the election."

--"One must begin with the individual."

Correct. With the individual. And we know this "individual's" surname.  (tr. by PDS, posted 16 Janary 2012)

Russian original posted on Portal-credo.ru site, 13 January 2012

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Anti-Putin oligarch prods patriarch with blog

OPEN LETTER TO PATRIARCH KIRILL

Your Holiness!

Not hope, but Faith dies last.

One can talk as much as one wants about the resurrection of Faith and about the revival of Orthodoxy and can restore old churches and build thousands of new ones, but there is no ritual that can substitute for Faith. It is a deficit of Faith that is Russia's chief misfortune.

Russia has lost faith in truth, faith in justice, faith in itself. The people have lost faith in the authorities and may lose faith in the church. The government does not trust its own citizens. Could it be possible for the church to lose trust in its parishioners?

[tr. note: use of capital or lower case letters on word "faith" preserves style of original]

Your Holiness!

Behind you are 1,000 years of Orthodoxy, but the most difficult trials lie ahead. This year you will have to enter history. You may enter history as one who peacefully occupied your throne as primate of all Orthodox believers of Russia.  Peacefully occupying it at a time when the authorities' reluctance to listen to the will of the people grew into the rupture of relations between the people and the government. Peacefully occupying at a time when noisy rallies of protest grew into the rumble of gunshots and when the waves of mutual accusations turned into the blood of innocents.

If blood flows, Putin will answer for it before the people, before his own conscience, and before history.  But you will answer before God.

You may enter history as the head of the Russian Orthodox Church who took upon himself the historic mission of the salvation of Russia from its time of troubles as your great predecessors did. It is within your powers today to guarantee a bloodless transfer of power in Russia.

No matter how transparent and honest the elections the government conducts, no matter who wins them--society will not accept their results.

You are in a unique position--you do not aspire to secular power.

Your Holiness!

From a pastor today one does not await a sermon but action.

Help Putin come to his senses.

Convey to him the voice of the people. And when Putin listens to you, take power from his hands and peacefully and wisely transfer it in a Christian fashion to the people.

Boris Berezovskii
London, 15 January 2012

Russian original posted on web site of Echo of Moscow, 16 January 2012

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Putin's "gray cardinal" will direct religion policy

SURKOV TO OVERSEE GOVERNMENT DIALOGUE WITH RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS
Interfax-Religiia, 12 January 2012

Russian Vice-Premier Vladislav Surkov will be in charge in the government of a nmber of national projects and polity in the sphere of modernization and innovation, culture, demography, tourism, and relations with religious associations.

According to the new distribution of responsibilities confirmed by Premier Vladimir Putin and posted on the government website, V. Surkov will coordinate the work of federal agencies of the executive branch and give to them instructions on matters of implementation of priority national projects (except for the national projects in agriculture) and modernization in the spheres of education, health care, social security, and affordable and comfortable housing.

He also will coordinate the work of government agencies on matters of culture and art, science, and innovation activity, including the development and use of the GLONASS [GPS] system.

In addition, V. Surkov is authorized to coordinate matters of state regulations in the sphere of youth policies, demography policies, development of tourism, and relations with religious organizations.  (tr. by PDS, posted 15 January 2012)


ARCHITECT OF RUSSIA’S POLITICAL SYSTEM UNDER PUTIN IS REASSIGNED
by Ellen Barry
New York Times, 27 December 2011   (excerpts)

The Kremlin on Tuesday announced the reassignment of Vladislav Y. Surkov, the architect of the highly centralized political system that has come under waves of protest from middle-class Muscovites over the last month. . . .

Aleksei L. Kudrin, a former finance minister, called Mr. Surkov’s transfer a “serious bid to renew the political system,” and said it had been agreed upon by both President Dmitri A. Medvedev and Mr. Putin, the prime minister.

“I consider him one of the designers of the system,” Mr. Kudrin said of Mr. Surkov in an interview with the Kommersant-FM radio station. “Now the system is being reconsidered. Other organizers are needed, with other views on the political system. . .  .”

Mr. Surkov’s low profile and extraordinary clout have earned him the title “gray cardinal,” an object of fascination and occasional loathing in the capital. . . .

“I was among the people who helped President Yeltsin realize a peaceful transfer of power,” [Surkov] said. “I was among those who helped President Putin stabilize the political system. I was among those who helped President Medvedev liberalize it.” He added, “I hope I did not undermine my employers and my colleagues.”

The news prompted discussion among an array of political players who have all found themselves dealing with Mr. Surkov over the years. Many said he was serving as a symbolic sacrifice to the growing ranks of protesters. . . .

Mr. Surkov has said that centralizing power in the Kremlin was a matter of survival after the chaotic pluralism of the 1990s, but acknowledged more recently that “centralization has reached the limits of its capacity.” Early this month, reacting to the first of several large protests, he said a new party was urgently needed to accommodate the demands of “annoyed urban communities. . . .”

IVANOV REPLACES NARYSHKIN IN KREMLIN
by Alexey Eremenko
Moscow Times, 23 December 2011 (excerpts)

Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov became the Kremlin chief of staff on Thursday in what analysts called a reward for one of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's closest allies and part of preparations for Putin's expected return to the Kremlin next year. . . .

Former Kremlin chief of staff Sergei Naryshkin traded his job for the speaker's seat in the State Duma, which held its first session Wednesday. . . .

Vladislav Surkov, the Kremlin's first deputy chief of staff, had served as Naryshkin's temporary replacement before Ivanov's appointment. Surkov, the Kremlin's spin doctor par excellence, had been tipped in some media reports as a candidate to take the job full-time. . .

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Patriarch's new politics?

POLITICS AND CHURCH
by Nikolai Konkov,
Zavtra, 12 January 1202

The Christmas interview by the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, shown on the "Rossiia-1" television channel, was perceived by many as a kind of reversal in the political position of the Moscow patriarchate.

First of all because it touched upon critical political topics and this is hard to square not only with the traditional thesis to the effect that "the church is outside politics," but also with the very traditional thesis of the "symphonia of secular and ecclesiastical authorities"--a "symphonia in which the chief party by default is always the Kremlin, and the entire church hierarchy has played the role of "accompanist."

The most recent exception to this rule was the events of the autumn of 1993 when Patriarch Alexis II tried to act in the role of mediator between the two warring sides: President Yeltsin and the Russian Supreme Soviet. One must say that this peacemaking mission ended in failure since "the elect of the whole nation" paid no attention to the patriarch's calls not to engage in bloodshed and he shelled the Supreme Soviet, killing almost 500 of its defenders, after which he "reigned" successfully a little more than six years. It seems that Alexis II did not forget this snub and he was not about to conduct the funeral of the "first Russian president," and he assigned this ritual to metropolitans Yuvenaly, Kirill (the current patriarch), and Kliment.

But this was a clear "historical fork in the road," where the issue is not politics as such but a greater matter, the future path that Russian civilization will take for many years. And what now? What drove Patriarch Kirill to begin talking politics? What drove Russia's chief television channel to broadcast his words to the whole country? Is the winter of 2011-2012 really equivalent to the "black autumn" of 1993 in its significance and level of threat?

It does not seem so, and Patriarch Kirill himself spoke about this quite definitely:  "In terms of the flame of passions it is impossible to compare this with the pre-revolutionary months and years leading up to the 1917 revolution or with what happened at the end of perestroika." However, he justly noted that "sometimes something big grows out of something small," and therefore the patriarch's call to the powers that be "to learn to adjust course" and to the public "to learn to express your disagreement in a way that does not destroy the country" gives evidence that it is not now obvious and undoubted to either the one or the other. That is the way it really is.

"Therefore here's my words for our nation today: remember that we have exhausted the limit of confrontation, we have exhausted all possibility of achieving the revolutionary restructuring of the life of our society. Our path is that of peaceful, evolutionary development, including through a realistic dialogue with the government that entails when necessary the outward expression of protest, but in such a way that the foundations of the life of the state are not shaken, the economy is not halted, and culture, art, education, sports, and sciences are not destroyed as we destroyed them in the 1990s--and let's also add to this the army," Patriarch Kirill said.  At the same time he called both the government and the public "to learn to live in accordance with God's truth, that is, we must not lie to one another." "Falsehood must depart from our life, from political, economic, and social life."

In other words, the Russian Orthodox Church through the mouth of its primate is not just proposing some positive social and political program for our government and our society; it has thereby declared its readiness in current circumstances to become a key state-forming and state-determining structure. One can think about this in various ways, but it is obvious that in such a system, the patriarch who is elected by the bishops' council for life will have a priority, that is extremely substantial and growing with time, over the president who is elected for a definite and rather short term by a nationwide vote.

So then the question arises of itself: how prepared are the church itself and Patriarch Kirill personally for such a role?  After all, his words--to the effect that in soviet times the people had no real right to express their opinion, including disagreement with the actions of the government (as an example he cited the bloody events of 1962 in Novocherkassk), or to the effect that in the aftermath of the 1917 revolution the slogan "Steal what has been stolen" was put into effect and the new elite got something but the people did not begin living better--evoke doubts in many people regarding their truth. And it is possible that it is like the actions of the famous writer, Nobel laureate Alexander Isaevich Solzhenitsyn, who also called for "not living in accordance with the lie" while at the same time maintaining that 110 million Russian people fell victim to socialism. Of course, if one considers all who died and perished on the territory of USSR in the years of soviet rule, the number of "victims of socialism" might seem to be even more impressive, but you will agree that this would not have anything in common with historic truth.

This is just like the patriarch's assumption that if it had not been for the "bloody revolution" of 1917 and the fratricidal civil war Russia today would have a population of more than 300 million and "its economic development would be equal to that of USA or even surpassing that country," which completely ignores the fact that in 1989 USSR had a population of 294 million, with an annual growth rate of more than a million, and its economy was almost 60% of the economy of USA with a growth of real GNP of 3.5% annually. Thus the catastrophic "failure" for our country happened not at all in 1917 but in 1991. Thus "speaking the whole truth" is not always achieved even by those who call others to do so.  (tr. by PDS, posted 14 January 2012)

Russian original posted on Religiopolis site, 12 January 2012

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Criticism of patriarchate grows

CHRIST IS NOT AMONG THEM
One of the most important results of the 2011 political years is the moral collapse of RPTsMP
by Stanislav Belkovskii
Moskovskii komsomolets, 13 January 2012

Recently the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow patriarchate (RPTsMP) has sharply increased its social and political activism. It is evident that the comrades--also known as the "hierarchy of RPTsMP"--feel a need not to stand aside from the changes that are hanging over the country of Russia.

RPTsMP has already determined its principled position: it has decided to finally distance itself from the vital portion of Russian society and to turn itself into an appendage of the executive authority, that is, "the party of crooks and thieves." No doubt a church of crooks and thieves is a piquant thing although not completely novel in history. Even our own history, although the Borgia family is more significant in this sense.

Well, okay. Let's get specific.

So long as there were rallies on Bolotnaia Square and Sakharov Prospect, where educated Russian citizens assembled representing, incidentally, the most promising basis of a new Orthodox flock, RPTsMP carefully fulfilled the mandate of the executive authority to divert Russians from defense of their civil rights and political freedoms. To be sure, the primate of RPTsMP Kirill (secular name, Gundiaev) behaved rather cautiously. He sent into the fray his own titular spiritual advisor, a certain ascetic monk Ilia Nozdrin. Who passes for some kind of saint--well, the Lord will decide. We will not jump the gun. We will just hope that non-stick technology is sufficiently advanced so that nobody will have to smell burnt ascetic.

So now what. Nozdrin said the following regarding the rallies about the falsification of duma elections:  "What is the essence of the current situation and many discussions in our country? It is nothing other than a provocation by people who have been trying to create troubles in Russia, to arrange disorders, and who serve those who so hate our country and wish to undermine its stability, prosperity, and peaceful life. The actions of the enemies of our country are summoning dark forces from the abyss to create chaos that is more dangerous than the period of the so-called Orange Revolution in Ukraine. This scenario thoroughly accounts for the events and actions that we have seen in Moscow and St. Petersburg this week. These cries which rang out on Bolotnaya Square, according to the reports of eyewitnesses, often bought by the organizers of these incidents, are a manifestation of the passions and hatred for our fatherland, which has embarked on a path of peaceful life."

Proceeding on the preparation of this powerful elder, Mr. Gundiaev again let be known what has long been obvious: RPTsMP is not at all interested in its flock. It is interested only in state financing. But the Moscow patriarchate does not live by Nozdrin alone. There are more powerful types, although they are not so bearded. For example, the head of the Department for Relations of Church and Society (OVTsO), Fr Vsevolod Chaplin. He developed his generally inhumane political activity. In particular, he called for the creation of an Orthodox political party. Apparently the RPTsMP is not able to cope with the problem of garnering budget funds; it needs its own party. Fr. Chaplin himself said that the protests of educated Russian citizens were provoked by immoral people and added that the main values of Orthodox parties should be "rejection of corruption" and "struggle with immorality in the news media."

This all seems quite logical and consistent if one considers the morality sermon that Fr Vsevolod--may God grant him health and long life--delivered in one of Moscow's restaurants at the end of December of last year. It happened that several of my acquaintances were at the sermon, who not only shared with me their impressions but also left the event in protest--the holy father's conduct seemed to them too cynical and obscene.

After drinking a good dose of khrenovuka (for the uninitiated, a liquid that is somewhat similar in composition to the wine of the New Testament, poured out for many for the remission of sins), Father Chaplin put on a real show. One must quote the account of one participant in the event that was published on the Internet. "Father Chaplin said: people of the swamp (obviously the subject is participants in the rally on the Bolotnaya [i.e. "Swamp"] Square), you should know that within I am a liberal! But as a padre and civil servant I am forced to support the Putin-Gundiaev gang. I can do none else."

"Churov is a parishioner in my church," the holy father continued, called not only to transmit the official point of view of RPTsMP but also to persuade society of the true sanctity of the hierarchy.  "He makes his confession to me. I have not seen him since the elections, but I know for sure that he is suffering. And in time he will repent." After this, according to the statement of eyewitnesses, he screamed:  "Try Putin's gang! Exile Gundiaev."

I do not know whether Gundiaev is preparing for exile. I think a monastery would be more appropriate for him, even if it is VIP accommodations. But his entourage has forces no less powerful than Fr Chaplin. For example, there is Kirill Frolov who presents himself as the head of the Association of Orthodox Experts. He promotes the true faith on his blog (although the other day Mr. Gundiaev denounced  the ascetic Nozdrin's invective and called for not trusting the social nets). Mainly there they discuss questions of geopolitics and geoeconomics, especially Russia's influence on Ukraine. As well as the role of RPTsMP in constructing the "Russian world."

A typical quotation from Kirill Frolov:  "CSCE does not like elections in Russia. The 2011 December elections and any others where 'their' candidates do not win. Who could doubt it. I recall that CSCE smuggled into the 2004 unconstitutional 'second-round elections' for president in Ukraine which just brought Yushchenko to power. Who doesn't see that behind 'Bolota' and the 4 February 'MacFaul Show' stand the Washington Central Committee and the Brussels City Commission? Since they are not even hiding this."

At the same time all these people maintain that they are engaged in an "Orthodox mission" and they are drawing prodigal souls into the church. It is true, whom the Lord wills, perishes.

One of the most important (negative, in my view) results of the 2011 political year is the moral collapse of RPTsMP. Just 3 years ago, when Kirill Gundiaev became primate, it seemed that the Russian church could become the spiritual leader of the Russian nation and agent of change. Today it turns out that the hierarchy of RPTsMP is some kind of gang of evil clowns seemingly specifically designated to discredit the Moscow patriarchate as such. They talk about such unimportant things as "Orthodox night clubs," "Temporary neighborhood churches," etc. But the only phrase that is, as a rule, absent from their discussion is "Jesus Christ."  Still he remains head of the church and nobody has removed him from this office. . . .

[The article concludes with a quotation of the gospel story of the rich man (Dives) and Lazarus--tr.]

(tr. by PDS, posted 13 January 2012

Russian original posted on Portal-credo.ru, 13 January 2012

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Orthodox church activity lagging

ONLY 1% OF ORTHODOX RUSSIANS PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN PARISH LIFE--SURVEY
Portal-credo.ru, 11 January 2012

During an all-Russian survey by the "Sreda" research service, Russians were asked:  "Please tell us whether you participate in parish life," "Orthodoxy and the World" reports. The question was posed only to respondents who identified themselves as Orthodox.

Almost half (44%) of Orthodox Russians questioned do not participate and do not want to participate in parish life. Only one percent of those questioned do participate actively.

Women more often than men take part in the life of a parish. The greatest involvement in parish life is displayed by residents of the Central District of Russia and by Muscovites.  White-collar workers and respondents aged 55 to 64 years are somewhat more likely than average to participate in parish life.

A bit fewer than a third of Orthodox respondents (28%) would like to participate in parish life but for some reason they are not able to. Most often these include residents of small cities with population between 50,000 and 250,000, parents of two children, retirees and respondents who think of themselves as happy. They also include respondents who support the "A Just Russia" party (32%) and who have a high opinion of the patriarch's activity (18%).

Those who do not want to participate in parish life are more often people older than 65 years (27%), residents of large cities with the exception of Moscow (29%), single-child families (26%) and respondents who have health problems. (tr. by PDS, posted 12 January 2012)


NEW "ANTI-RECORD" ATTENDANCE AT CHRISTMAS SERVICES IN MOSCOW
Portal-credo.ru, 7 January 2012

On the order of 90 thousand Muscovites participated in Christmas worship services in churches of the capital on the night of 6-7 January, RIA Novosti was told by a representative of the press service of the State Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"Around 90 thousand persons participated in night-time holiday services. They attended 282 Moscow churches," the agency's source said.

As previously reported, during the celebration of the Nativity of Christ 8,500 police officers and internal security troops and militiamen provided security for churches of Moscow.

Despite Patriarch Kirill's proclaimed goal of building 600 new churches in Moscow, the attendance at already existing churches has fallen every year. The previous "anti-record" was established last year when 105 thousand persons attended Christmas services in Moscow. This was substantially less than the number who attended Moscow mosques for the Kurban-Bayram holy day this year, a Portal-credo.ru correspondent notes. (tr. by PDS, posted 12 January 2012)


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