Would this be the church, close to the Volga, where I served, in the cellar, with Bp Vinjamin and Fr Innokenti? I remember you all well, and Tutayev remains a happy memory. So much happened since then, especially Covid and the so-called ‘special operation’. We now find ourselves in opposing camps: you and those around you believing that the Russian Church, under its Patriarch, is fighting a battle for traditional family values against a morally corrupt west, whereas me and those around me, while having serious doubts about our own politicians, believe that Kirill has sold out to a band of former KGB men, determined to hold onto wealth and power at whatever cost, including the deaths of more than half a million Russians. Much as I would like to come to Russia, I do not dare, as much for the safety of those whom I visit as for my own. I see no way out: maybe the Russian economy will hold out, maybe it will collapse, maybe your president may survive, maybe there will be a palace revolution. But I have no sense of future, of way forward, either in the church as presently structured or in the politicians. I still believe that God loves Russia and Russians as much as anyone else (though no necessarily more), but may decide to work through other channels and structures than His official church. No, I don’t believe that we are in west are marvellous. Men of power are trying equally to grab everything to themselves, and tell us what to believe. But so far I can still say pretty much openly what I think, get reasonably accurate news, and form my own opinion. In this situation we continue to work, to pray, believing on both sides that there has to be something better, and believing in each other. My love to all of you in Tutayev.
О. Михаил, благодарю за память и добрые слова любви, у которой нет земных границ! Да, это Хопылево, где Вы служили с Владыкой и о. Иннокентием. Теперь, за эти годы, все приведено в полное внешнее благолепие и каждый день совершаются вот такие примерно "пустынные" службы. То, что мы пережили и переживаем, - это очень тяжелые испытания, и дай Бог нам в этом не потерять главное - молитву и спасение, и посильное свидетельство о Христе во враждебном христианству мире, устремившемся к предреченному в Откровении концу. Хочется надеяться, что весь этот ужас кончится, зло не превозможет, а будет посрамлено, и Вы опять сможете навестить нас и увидеть, и почувствовать все своим сердцем... От Вашего посещения осталось очень теплое воспоминание, я, бывает, вспоминаю Вас в своих молитвах, а теперь буду и всегда.
So much happened since then, especially Covid and the so-called ‘special operation’.
We now find ourselves in opposing camps: you and those around you believing that the Russian Church, under its Patriarch, is fighting a battle for traditional family values against a morally corrupt west, whereas me and those around me, while having serious doubts about our own politicians, believe that Kirill has sold out to a band of former KGB men, determined to hold onto wealth and power at whatever cost, including the deaths of more than half a million Russians. Much as I would like to come to Russia, I do not dare, as much for the safety of those whom I visit as for my own.
I see no way out: maybe the Russian economy will hold out, maybe it will collapse, maybe your president may survive, maybe there will be a palace revolution. But I have no sense of future, of way forward, either in the church as presently structured or in the politicians. I still believe that God loves Russia and Russians as much as anyone else (though no necessarily more), but may decide to work through other channels and structures than His official church.
No, I don’t believe that we are in west are marvellous. Men of power are trying equally to grab everything to themselves, and tell us what to believe. But so far I can still say pretty much openly what I think, get reasonably accurate news, and form my own opinion.
In this situation we continue to work, to pray, believing on both sides that there has to be something better, and believing in each other.
My love to all of you in Tutayev.
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То, что мы пережили и переживаем, - это очень тяжелые испытания, и дай Бог нам в этом не потерять главное - молитву и спасение, и посильное свидетельство о Христе во враждебном христианству мире, устремившемся к предреченному в Откровении концу.
Хочется надеяться, что весь этот ужас кончится, зло не превозможет, а будет посрамлено, и Вы опять сможете навестить нас и увидеть, и почувствовать все своим сердцем...
От Вашего посещения осталось очень теплое воспоминание, я, бывает, вспоминаю Вас в своих молитвах, а теперь буду и всегда.
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