The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-08-09

article in Readers Scope, Raymond
Arthur Davies, noted foreign CORES
pondent, describes religious life in
Russia.
In Czarist days the Orthodo
church in Russia was a lighted feas
at which the poor man looked 1t wa
a bright contrast to his own life, which
was passed chiefly in darkness, cold
and repression.
At midnight on May 9, 1915,
stood in the yard of Saint Pimen's
church in Moscow. In the crowd which
pressed about me and filled every
corner of the edifice were old men
women and children. There were sol
diers and a few officers. A naval cap
tain and his wife watched the service
Nearby, little yellow-haired boy
holding a taper, looked about eagerly
1t was his first service His mother
stood beside him, speaking to hel
neighbor:
been to church for a very long time
My husband wouldn't let me go before
Now he says, Go, if you want to-.
When he first said that, it was as
though heavy stone had fallen from
my heart"
Suddenly, throughout the crowd,
there was silence and the tension of
expectancy. All faces turned with
fixed eagerness toward the golden
screens of the altar, which were open
ing to admit the high priests and
other servants of the church. Candles
burned and wavered, winking as
jewels in the ceremonial dimness. Ex-
ultant hymns rose in increasing
volume Led by an ancient priest, with
the full hair and beard of a patriarch
the Easter procession emerged from
the church and moved among the be-
levers.
This happened in the capital of the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
1t happened on the Street of the Red
Proletarians in the year of victory.
New Era Opened in 1871
The new era for the churches in
Russia opened when the Germns in
vaded the country in June, 1941. The
Orthodox Church, led by Patriarch
Sergius, Immediately threw it's support
behind the Red army. Priests who
gave comfort to the enemy were ex-
communicated. The churches col
lected more than five million rubles
for the Red army tank column. They
blessed those going away and called,
in the name of Christ and the Mother
land and Stain, for a victory over the
enemy; in the names of Allah and of
Jehovah the other faiths joined with
the Orthodox church and with the
Roman Catholic church in the same
prayer.
During the grim days of the German
advance toward Moscow, with the
enemy only 16 niles away, priests raj
lied their congregations to dig trench
es for the defense of the capital The
younger priests themselves handled
picks and shovels
In the war years the conviction grew
that the State need no longer fear the |
hostile influence of the church. This |
feeling did not end with mere cordial |
ity. Marshal Stain took full cogniz-
ance of these acts of positive loyalty
and thanked the church for it's eff
forts Soon after, the Holy Synod was
Sergius being elected Pal
.riarch and, after his death, Alexius.
IN mid 1943 the Council of Peoples
Jommissars appointed a State Coun-
Ill for Orthodox Church Affairs and
alter State Council for the affairs
If other religious faiths.
Sought Foundations of
Relationship
| was curious about their establish
nent and | sought to interview Mr..
karpov, whose position was the more
of the two. He received
ne with cordially and answered with
complete candor any questions which
he very foundation of relations be- !
ween church and state in Russia.
"Gospodin Karpov," l said, "our
american people have only the haziest |
otion of the relationship of church J
nd state in Russia. Could you explain :
Thy the Soviet Union found it neces-
ary-to establish your Council?"
VERY easily" Karpov replied. "Our {
,ouncll was established to maintain
Alison between the government and
he church Since its establishment in I
october, 1943, we have met no ques- ]
ion which we could not and did not 6
olive amicably."
"But, Gospodin Karpov," I inter t
lpted, Gin our country the church 7
-orks without any liaison with the i
tate" t
He explained that in large coun- Z
y in which all the property r
.rge buildings, and natural resources a
were owned by the people as SYM o
olized in the state, there would in F
vitality be unforeseen problems The |
lurch wishing to open new areas, 3
uild new buildings, establish new {
would find itself at A
mes confronted with regulations on c
ousing, building, land development,
hich would need Qualification and n
hich might require the aid of his
ouncil with the government 1t might r
: said that the Councils acted as the II
lvisors and agents for the church Il
its worldly contacts. Mr.. Karpoy II
1t that perhaps an example would Il
clip to make their work more under O
andable to us. O
Theological Seminary Established Il
"The outstanding example, he ex- =
aimed, was the establishing of the !
seminary for the training =
priests The church had wished to