Christianity In Russia -its Thousandth Anniversary

The headlines were captured this summer by President Reagan's visit to Moscow for his summit meeting with Secretary General Mikhail Gorbachev. Weighty political issues under discussion by the super-powers inevitably commanded world-wide attention.

Less publicized, but of great interest and significance, is the fact that 1988 marks the thousandth anniversary of the missionary advance which first carried the message of Christ to Russia The missionaries belonged to what was then known as the Church of the Byzantine Empire, from which developed the Eastern Orthodox Church. From the ninth century there was increasing tension between church leaders in Rome and Constantinople, leading finally to the eastern churches' renunciation of allegiance to the Bishop of Rome. Instead they acknowledge the honorary primacy of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Although sharing the same faith and in communion with each other, the churches in different national or ethnic groups maintain their independent standing under the headship of a patriarch, metropolitan or bishop: as for example the patriarches of Moscow, Rumania or Serbia. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453 the Church of Russia became the largest and most influential group in the Orthodox communion.

Certain doctrinal features of the Orthodox Church call for brief comment. Their doctrine is based on the Bible and "holy tradition", as determined by various Church Councils. Generally sound in regard to the Godhead, they nevertheless do not accept that the Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. As to Mary, the mother of Jesus, they reject the Roman Catholic doctrines of her immaculate conception and bodily assumption; yet requests are offered to her and to the "saints for their intercession to God. Infants are baptized by immersion and receive "holy communion" as full members of the church from that time. At the eucharist service the officiating priest invokes the Holy Spirit to change the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. Both married and unmarried men may take "holy orders", but only the unmarried can become bishops: but a man who is unmarried when ordained may not afterwards marry, and a married priest if widowed is not allowed to marry again.

From these examples the Spirit-taught believer will recognize the sad effects of making void the Word of God by human tradition within the Orthodox Church. Despite this, when contrasted with the gross spiritual darkness of official atheism, the Church has maintained witness to certain basic truths - that God is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him; that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world; the facts of His crosswork and resurrection. God in His sovereign mercy and grace alone can assess the overall effect of the witness borne.

Under the atheistic regime of the Soviet Union the Orthodox Church has arrived at an accommodation which allows worship under State regulated supervision, but forbids actively seeking new converts. The authorities had hoped that the Christian religion would cease to exist as the older generation died out. In the event many younger people have felt the spiritual bankruptcy of Marxism, with its materialistic concepts, and have shown vigorous interest in such spiritual help as the Orthodox Church has to offer.

Outside the Orthodox Church there have of course been deeply significant movements of God's Spirit among evangelical believers who have received fuller light and formed their own separate groups. It is they who take the brunt of the State's repression when conscience does not allow them to accept unscriptural Orthodox Church tradition or the regulation of worship by the State. Many from the ranks of these noble believers have "had trials of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment" - of them the world is not worthy. (Heb. 11:36,38). How great their coming reward when they are acknowledged by the Lord Jesus before the Father and His holy angels (Luke 9:26).

For a thousand years, then, the knowledge of Christ has been available in varying degrees in Russia. Latterly Satan has done his utmost to stifle that knowledge. Yet the Word of God is not bound. Through radio, literature and personal witness the truth of the gospel has been finding its way through. Let us pray that the new policy of "glasnost" may in due course result in much wider liberty for the spread of the gospel of Christ throughout the Soviet Union.

unknown | Jul 1988
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