Dec 21 2023 60 mins 1
Our Struggle - Class 12
Is the Grace of God Present in the Soviet Church?
Session 6
N. The New Tolstoyism - Teachings of John Shahovskoy, concluded
7. Another ad hominem - That the Anti-Sergianists’ position is caused by their psychological trauma. pp. 42 - 43
8. In the Soviet Union, the Anti-Sergianist confessors unmasked falsehood and force by the MP and Communists. Abroad they unmasked mistakes and thoughtlessness on the part of the Evlogians and Metropolia. pp. 43 - 45
a. Shahovskoy calling the MP “holy and humble”.
b. Sergianist priest claiming that he too “suffered” and therefore his choice was theologically and morally equivalent.
c. But Judas suffered in the same way, and he killed himself. (cf. new teachings of Pope Francis on Judas! https://novusordowatch.org/2017/11/francis-this-pope-heretic-judas-iscariot-saved/).
O. The Lie that Sergius “Saved” the Church - pp. 45 - 46
1. Until 1927, the Church flourished through Her response to persecution.
2. After 1927, the Soviets were able to carry out their mission against Her.
P. The Catacomb Church - pp. 46 - 47
1. Soviet propaganda has convince people that the Catacomb Church does not exist.
2. The Soviet church buildings are crowded because there are so few churches.
3. There are secret bishops and priests, as well as numerous lay communities who gather for prayer when they do not have clergy.
4. Andreyev asserts what ROCOR believed before the “fall of communism,” that the existence and triumph of the Catacomb Church would be confirmed and the Soviet church would “disappear” after the fall of the Soviet power. We now know that this did not happen, but instead a new era of deception began.
Q. “Church Life” in the Soviet Church - pp. 47 - 48
1. Freedom of preaching does not exist.
2. To criticize materialism and atheism is criminalized.
3. Criticizing the Soviet church organization is a political crime.
4. Must pray only for the persecutors, not the persecuted.
5. The Soviet “church” is silent in the face of all this.
6. Moreover, the Soviet “church” officials brand the confessor and martyrs as political criminals.
Next time: So the question arises, “Is the grace of God present in the Soviet church?”
