[Campion]

The Russian Orthodox Church has always been an arm of the state, since long before communism. Under the tsars, the church was controlled by a state ministry called the "Holy Synod" which was led by a layman, appointed by the Tsar, of course.

Religious non-conformists were viewed as dangerous to the state and treated as such. The closer they were to Orthodoxy theologically, (often) the worse the treatment. Read up on the treatment of the "Old Believers" and the Byzantine Catholics under tsarism.

[daniel1212]

Thanks for the info. Most of both likely need salvation.