Defending the Faith (Orthodox)

This report appeared on Russian Channel One Europe on 7 December. It aired days after Russian television reported that an Orthodox priest and his family were killed in an alleged arson attack. The priest, from the western region of Tver, reportedly had sought help from local police months earlier, saying that "alcoholics" had stolen icons and church plates in order to sell them.

[Presenter] Orthodox Christian volunteer patrols are now guarding churches in Krasnoyarsk. A local detachment comprises young local believers. They are now attending classes in martial arts and are ready to deal with thieves and hooligans. However, the volunteers themselves say that their main weapon is not their fist but the strength of their beliefs. Maksim Maksimov reports from Krasnoyarsk.

[Correspondent] Maksim Mukhametdinov and his brother received their uniforms and their volunteer patrolmen ID cards for the first time today.

[An unidentified priest] You three go this way and turn round that corner, and we will go the other way round and then we will all get together here again.

[Correspondent] They patrol St John's church building which is now being restored, and this is not a coincidence. Every volunteer here is an Orthodox Christian believer and this is why they think it is their duty to protect the church from being looted. The volunteers have no intention to take possible hooligans and those who want to steal construction materials to the police. They say they have their own methods.

[A patrolman captioned as Mikhail Mukhametdinov] No-one will not beat up anyone. After all, we are Orthodox Christian believers and we will work at their moral education above all.

[Correspondent] The Orthodox Christian volunteer detachment named after St George was set up in Krasnoyarsk literally within several days, as there was no shortage of volunteers. The city authorities have decided that it is impossible to have a policeman in every church, so why not give an opportunity to believers themselves to protect their peace and quiet? It is not uncommon that pickpockets operate during services.

Vladimir Zlobin, head of the municipal department for maintaining public order in Krasnoyarsk] We decided that the Orthodox Church will train a detachment as part of the municipal public volunteering scheme for guarding churches because there has been and there is a lot of disorder in churches in Krasnoyarsk.

[Correspondent] In addition to their spiritual training the Orthodox patrolmen will keep up their physical fitness. A special section is being set up to train them in martial arts. Iya Podvoyskaya is one of those who have signed up to be trained. She thinks it will be simpler for her to maintain order during services than for lads because she attracts less attention.

[Podvoyskaya] I have signed up for classes in Russian combat skills. I attend these classes and learn Russian combat skills. God forbid, of course, but if need be I want to be able to use these skills.

[Correspondent] The organizers of the Orthodox Christian detachment say that they are in favour of every religions confession in Krasnoyarsk having similar detachments to maintain order. When the St George detachment finishes its training, the city authorities are ready to entrust it with more responsible tasks than simple patrolling of streets. It is most likely that the detachment will ensure security at religious processions which gather thousands of people and maintain order during New Year public festivities. Maksim Maksimov, Sergey Burkeyev and Aleksandr Tkachenko for Channel One from Krasnoyarsk.

Couple of days ago I've read an article about that Orthodox priest and his family who were killed by their neighbors. They were burnt alive inside their house, when someone set it in fire. That was the second attempt. The first time - some time ago - The priest and his family managed to get outside, and extinguish fire. This time they had no chance, as the perpetrators got "wiser" and blocked the door from outside with an iron bar. Terrible, simply terrible.

Terrible, yes.... for those who abuse Christ's Saints.

Your post reminds me of an old Orthodox tradition, passed down to this day amongst the few remaining thousands of Greek Orthodox in "Istanbul" (ahem): after the armies of Mehmed II (outnumbering the defenders by at least 20-to-1, by conservative estimates) finally conquered Constantinople, he gave his armies a 3-Day Pillage upon the prostrate city -- three days in which to kill any Christian Priest they could find, rape any Christian woman they could find, and steal anything that wasn't nailed down (thus exemplifying Islamic "charity").

Their Emperor dead and their City falling around them, the Priests of the Hagia Sophia gathered together to administer one last Divine Liturgy to the Orthodox faithful.

Their service was interrupted.

It seems the Turks rushed toward them, intent upon rendering them martyrs. But the priests seized their paraphernalia and the remaining Eucharist -- and disappeared into the wall behind the altar.

When Christianity returns to the Hagia Sophia, it is said, they will reemerge from the very walls of the Great Church... and complete their worship. ~~ ("The Shell of the Great Church", http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/1708)

Matthew 11:20-27 teaches us that (here I summarize) there will be a lesser Judgment in Eternity for the pagan homosexual rapists of Sodom compared to the Judgment awaiting those who deliberately reject Christ and assault His Children.

The Moslems must bow their knees to Christ Jesus the Lord, repent their thousand-fold crimes against His Church, accept mass Conversion and Baptism, and return the Hagia Sophia to Christendom. For their own sake (and we are duty-bound to pray for them), I hope they repent before Christ Returns.

But whether the Moslems repent or not, they will bow their knees to Christ, and the Hagia Sophia will be returned to Christendom. This is a Certain Fact.

Next Year in Constantinople.

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