Russia and Religion

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 11, Issue 9, 1 August 1945, Page 13

Russia and Religion

Quentin Reynolds, m "The Curtain Rises," tells that on Easter Eve, 1943, he and the other correspondents went to one or other of the Churches m Moscow to see what the attendances were. This is how he describes what he saw: "Anticipating the crowded conditions, we started for the Church a good hour before the ceremonies were to start. But no one got within 50 yards of the entrance doors. Even at that distance the crowds were so tightly packed that devout worshippers were unable to bless themselves . . . The' commandant of Moscow announced on the radio that the curfew would be suspended.

"It was the first intimation that the Government was even unofficially cognisant of the holy season. Nobody can ever call this place Godless Russia. The Government by merely ignoring religion (although not forbidding worship) has most certainly hoped to see it eventually die out. God has been a strict absentee m the educational programme of the youth here is Moscow, but, despite that, parents have never stopped implanting the faith of the Russian Orthodox Church into the hearts and minds' of the young. There are no longer monasteries m Russia where young priests can be trained, but the priests themselves train young men m their own churches. But now the Government probably realises that attempting to kill faith is like trying to punch a hole m a pillow."

In another chapter of the book Reynolds describes what he saw on a certain Sunday m Vyaziva, which was a city the same size as Geelong. "It was 500 years old. Vyaziva was killed by the Germans m March, 1943. At the time of its death only 716 citizens of Vyaziva were left." Reynolds describes that the Cathedral was the only building standing when he visited Vyaziva. The people wanted to hold a service m the Cathedral when the Germans left. But before permission was granted for a service to be held the engineers were ordered to inspect the Cathedral. Buried m it they found a time bomb. After the bomb was removed and exploded m an open field the people were allowed to assemble for the service.

Reynolds came there three months later, and on the Sunday he went to the Cathedral. This is how he describes what he saw: "The Church was crowed, mostly with children arid women, among whom, was a sprinkling of old men. There are no young men left m Vyaziva. We stood on the steps watching them. These people had been through suffering quite comparable to that endured by any martyred saints. Yet no sign of

suffering showed on the faces of any of them. They looked calm and serene. Faith which burned within showed so plainly on their faces.

They looked like people who, for a brief time, had walked with their God and had been granted the inner place that only comes to those who have faith. They streamed down-hill towards the cellars and debris where they would sleep that night. We watched them from the church steps. Strange and peaceful silence settled over the city. The city seemed no longer to be dead and lifeless. Perhaps a miracle might come to pass and Vyaziva might live again." -