RELIGION IN RUSSIA

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27709, 13 July 1955, Page 13

RELIGION IN RUSSIA

Changed Policy Reported

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, July 12. Between 85 and 90 per cent, of Russia’s millions are now “faithful to the Church,” Metropolitan Pitirim, of the Russian Orthodox Church, said at a press conference at Lambeth Palace, London, today. He said he could not say it was due to State encouragement; it was due to a new spirit, a change of policy. The “Daily Herald” said high dignitaries of the Russian Church, who are in London with Metropolitan Pitirim. said the churches of Russia were packed. There were big church rebuilding schemes, and the last anti-re-ligious museum had disappeared. “There has been anti-religious propaganda.” Metropolitan Pitirim said. "Between the two wars it was on a very large scale. But now it is different. Now no-one is allowed to hurt the feelings of anyone else—the atheist of the Christian or the Christian of the atheist. The individual must be allowed to have his own beliefs, which must not be disturbed by other people.”

He said the Church now has 20,000 places of worship, and is building more. City churches have services every day.

“Young men over 18 clamour to join Russia’s two theological academies and eight seminaries, which room 2000 theology students.” he added. “Pensions for the clergy and their widows and children are very generous. Monev for this comes not from Statesubsidies but from the faithful, who are very generous. They provide priests’ cars.”

As Metropolitan Pitirim said Christian love could mean saving the world from the “terrible catastrophe of war.” an English parson at the conference tugged a reporter’s sleeve and commented: “His only son died fighting on the first day of the war.”