Russian Orthodox priest lectures on
Christianity in post-Soviet Russia

By John Slako, The Signature staff

Father Georgy Chistyakov delivered a stirring lecture on "The Ecumenical Witness of the 20th Century Russian Confessors and Martyrs: The Case of Father Alexander Menn" on Feb. 21. Chistyakov depicted Father Menn as "one of those people who was not afraid." "Though it was strictly forbidden by the Soviet regime [Father Menn was] not afraid of preaching and speaking about faith to unbelieving people," Father Chistyakov said.

"He was not afraid [of] speaking about his faith to children, which was considered a crime. He spoke of Christ…in the language of the peasants." Because of his strong witness, Father Menn was brutally murdered in September 1990 on his way to celebrate the Sunday liturgy, becoming the first Christian martyr in the history of post-Soviet Russia. Menn grew up in the 1930s in a Jewish family and developed a strong love of the Holy Scriptures. The words of St. Paul were some of his favorites: "You my brothers are called to be free" (Gal. 5:13). Father Menn took these words to heart and would not let the Soviets or anybody stop him from proclaiming this call to others.

Despite the adversity, Father Menn wrote prolifically about Christ, publishing his books in Brussels and smuggling them back into Russia. Father Menn also visited hospitals, comforting mothers, baptizing children and giving financial assistance. Hoping to bring Christ to the people of Russia, Father Menn approached Christianity as more than a purely intellectual matter. He organized small prayer groups and services in people's apartments, and he believed it was necessary to be active in the world and engage in arts, sciences and university life. In his account of the Russian martyr, Father Chistyakov said Father Menn believed "today each of us can find [Christ]. He is not just a historical figure whom you may remember only to forget later…he is-and this is the whole mystery of Christianity."

Two days after his evening lecture, Father Chistyakov presented a talk entitled, "Christianity in Post-Soviet Russia: Changes and Challenges". He gave a moving account of the difficulties Christianity faces in Russia. After 80 years of suppression, Christianity has been free in Russia for only 15 years. As a result, Russian Christians have not had proper catechesis. "A lot of people believe in some…supreme somebody, but not in Christ," Father Chistyakov said. "The majority of parishioners are attracted to church not by the content of the service," but because of a magical fascination with religious rituals and objects, he said. Many attend church "to take home some holy water…or to take some [sanctified] oil…or to kiss the bones of a saint. What is really important for Russia today is education on religion... people need to know the essence of their faith," Father Chistyakov said.

Source:

The Signature, Newsletter of the Department of Catholic Studies, March 2005.