CHURCH WEDDINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 193, 15 August 1936, Page 20

CHURCH WEDDINGS.

PREFERRED BY RUSSIAN

BRIDES.

RELIGIOUS SPIRIT REVIVING. (By DONALD DAY.) "Chicago Tribune" Press Service.) RIGA (Latvia.) June brides in Russia still prefer a church wedding, regretfully reports the Komsomilski Pravda, stating that the 36,000 churches remaining open in Russia are rapidly recovering their old position of prominence in the daily lives of the village. The Communists' persecution of the Christian religion has almost become a thing of the past, according to this newspaper, which complains it is no longer possible to arouse public enthusiasm to the pitch necessary to "liquidate" a church. Even members of the Communist :.par ty no longer fear to attend churCh' services, and the heretical belief is spreading that it: is possible- for a good- Communist alsdsto be a good Christian, ' "Recently in theV collectivized village of Yerishevka ,in the Voronesh district, the tractor driver,-the Communist Peter % Galkin, was married in -the church,", reports the "Pravda." * "The wedding was a splendid affair. After the ceremony, which was attended by the entire village, the invited guests drove around with the communal horses and the best man, another Communist and tractor driver, held the ikon upon his knees.

"The Yerish'evka Church holds services several times each week, all well attended; Villagers come from miles around to participate in worship. The girls with the best voices all sing in the church' choir. The local Communist committee tried to halt this heresy. But the only result of their protest was that the church choir agreed to sing in the local Communist club one evening each week. The Communist committee also reports that when the youth attend church they always put oil their best clothes, whereas they continue to visit the club in their ordinary clothes. They also admit that it could hardly be otherwise, since the church is kept spotlessly clean while the Lenine cultural centre i# very dirty."

The survival and revival of the Christian religion in Russia, according to this newspaper of the militant Communist youth's union, is a sign of decadence of the crusading .spirit of Bolshevism, which once aimed to exterminate the Christian Church. The church in many parts of the country, it admits, lias again obtained a stronghold i*4»n thu lives of the people and religious holidays are being observed. The "Pravda" appeals to the authorities to renew the campaign against religion, but no notice has been taken "of °tha,rapidly ' increasing influence of Christianity ;in''Russia" by any of the leading Communist newspapers such as th" ''Inves'tia'N or- ''Moscow Pravda."