A consequence of the downfall of the Russian Empire was the rise of Russians
Abroad. More than a million Russians had to leave their homeland and were
scattered across the face of the globe. Living in new conditions, among other
peoples, many of the Russians in the course of these years have managed to
almost forget their homeland, their language and their customs and to merge
with the peoples, in whose midst they reside. The overwhelming majority
however, not only preserved their nationality, but even live with the hope of
returning to the fatherland on the fall of the present government. At the
present time Russians live in all corners of the world. There is not one corner
on earth where there are no Russians in greater or smaller quantity. The
important question is "What is the spiritual outlook of the Russians
abroad?"
Significant portions of the
Russians, who have gone abroad, belong to the intelligentsia which in the last
days before the revolution, lived according to the ideals of the West. Although
they were children of the Orthodox Church, confessing themselves to be
Orthodox, the people of that class had in their world outlook strayed far from
Orthodoxy. The main sin of these people was that their beliefs and way of life
were not founded on the teachings of the Orthodox faith. They try to reconcile
the rules and teachings of the Church with their western habits and desires.
For this reason, on one hand they had very little interest in the essence of
Orthodox teaching, often even considering the Church's dogmatic teachings
completely inessential, but on the other hand, they fulfilled the requirements
and duties of the Orthodox Church only in so far as this did not interfere with
their more European than Russian way of life. This gave rise to their disdain
for the feasts, to their going church for only a short time and then only to
satisfy a more aesthetic than religious feeling and to a thorough
misunderstanding of religion as the main foundation of man's spiritual life.
Many, of course, were inwardly otherwise disposed, but they lacked the strength
of spirit and the ability to display this in their way of life.
In the social sphere, this class
also lived by the ideas of the West, without giving any room to the Church's
influence. They strove to rebuild the Russian way of life according to western
models, especially in the field of government. This is why in the last days, a
particularly bitter struggle was waged with the government administration with
the result that liberal reforms and democratic structuring of Russia became a new faith. Not to confess this
new idea meant that you were backward. Seized with a thirst for power and
utilizing the struggle with the monarchy, due to widespread slander against the
Royal Family, the intelligentsia brought imperial Russia to its downfall, making way for a
communist government. Then, unable to reconcile to the thought of losing the
power that they had waited for so long, they declared war on the communists. In
the beginning, it was mainly out of their resistance to ceding power. The
struggle against the Soviets involved large sections of the populace;
especially drawing in the youth in a fervent uprising to reconstruct a
"united indivisible Russia" which was the goal of their lives. There
were many feats of valor displayed by the Christ-loved Russian army, but the
Russian nation proved itself unprepared for liberation, and the communists
turned out to be the victors.
The intelligentsia was partly
annihilated and partly fled abroad to save itself. Meanwhile, once the
communists showed their true colors, besides the intelligentsia, other large
sections of the population left Russia, partly to save their lives and partly
because ideologically they did not want to serve the communists. Finding
themselves abroad, the Russian people experienced great spiritual shocks. A
significant crisis occurred in the souls of the majority that was marked by a
mass return of the intelligentsia to the Church. They filled many churches
abroad. The intelligentsia took an interest in questions of spiritual life and
began to take an active part in church affairs. A multitude of circles and
societies were formed. Having religious enlightenment as their self-imposed
task, their members studied the Holy Scriptures, the works of the Holy Fathers,
general spiritual life and theological questions and many of them became
clergy.
However, all these gratifying
manifestations also had a negative aspect. Far from all of those who returned
to the faith adopted Orthodox teaching in its entirety. The proud mind could
not be reconciled to the fact that, until then, it had stood on a false path.
Many began to attempt to reconcile Christian teaching with their previous views
and ideas. This resulted in the appearance of a series of new religious
philosophical trends, some completely alien to Church teaching. Among them
Sophianism was especially wide spread. It was based on the recognition of man's
worth and expressed the psychology of the intelligentsia.
Sophianism, as a teaching, is
known to a comparatively small group of people and very few openly espoused it.
None the less, a significant part of the immigrant intelligentsia was
spiritually related to it because the psychology of Sophianism is based on
reverence for man, not as the humble servant of God, but rather as a little god
himself, without the need for being blindly obedient to the Lord God. The
feeling of keen pride connected with faith in the possibility of man living by
his own wisdom was quite characteristic of many people cultured by today's
standards, who place their own deductions higher than everything.
These people do not wish to be
obedient to the church’s teaching on all things, since their attitude is one of
condescension. Because of this, the Church Abroad was rocked by a series of
schisms that have harmed it ‘till now and even attracted a part of the
Hierarchy. This consciousness of a feeling of a personal worthiness is
manifested also in social affairs where each person who has advanced a little
among the ranks, or thinks he has, puts his own opinion higher than everyone's
and tries to be a leader. As a result Russian society is split into innumerable
parties and groups irreconcilably at odds with each other, trying to put their
own program forward, which is sometimes a completely worked out system and
sometimes simply an appeal to follow after this or that personality.
With the hope of saving and
resurrecting Russia by the realization of their programs,
these social activists almost always lose sight of the fact that besides the
acts of man in historical events, there moves the hand of God. The Russian
people as a whole have committed great sins which are the reasons for the
present misfortunes, namely oath breaking (disloyalty to the government) and
regicide (allowing the Czar to be murdered). Social and military leaders
renounced their obedience and loyalty to the czar, who did not want internal
bloodshed, even before his abdication forced it from them. The people openly
and noisily greeted this deed, without any loud protest anywhere. This
renunciation of obedience was a breach of the oath taken to the Emperor and his
lawful heirs. On the heads of those who committed this crime fell the curses of
our forefathers, of the Zemsky Sobor of 1613, who imposed a curse on those who
disobeyed their resolutions. The ones guilty of the sin of regicide are not
only those who physically performed the deed, but the whole people who rejoiced
when the Czar was overthrown and allowed his degradation, arrest and exile,
leaving him defenseless in the hands of criminals, which itself foreordained
the end.
Thus, the calamity that befell Russia is the direct result of terrible sins and
her rebirth is possible only when she has been cleansed from them. However,
until now there has been no real repentance, the crimes that were committed
have clearly not been condemned, but many active participants in the revolution
continue to assert that at one time, it was impossible to act otherwise.
By not expressing a direct
condemnation of the February revolution, of the uprising against the Anointed
One of God, the Russian people continue to participate in the sin, especially
when they defend the fruits of the revolution. For in the words of the Apostle
Paul, they are especially sinful, who know, that they who commit such things
are worthy of death and not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do
them (Romans 1:32). While punishing the Russian people, the Lord, at the same time,
is pointing the way to salvation by making them teachers of Orthodoxy
throughout the world. The Russian Diaspora has acquainted the four corners of
the earth with Orthodoxy, for a significant part of the Russian immigration
unconsciously preaches Orthodoxy. Everywhere, wherever Russians live, they
build little refugee churches or even majestic cathedrals or simply serve in
premises adopted for this purpose.
The majority of Russian refugees
are not aware of the religious tendencies of their intelligentsia and they are
nourished on those spiritual reserves that they accumulated in the homeland.
Large masses of refugees attend divine services; some of them actively
participate in them, helping with the singing and reading on kliros and serving
in the altar. Besides churches, church organizations have been established which
take upon themselves the responsibility of maintaining the churches, also
performing charitable work.
If you look at the faithful who
pack the churches on feast days, you can think that in fact the Russian people
have turned to the Church and are repenting their deeds. However, if you
compare the numbers who go to church, with the number of Russians who live in a
given place, then it turns out that about 1 /10 of the Russian population
regularly goes to church. Approximately the same number attends divine services
on great feasts, and the rest very rarely go to church. Others pray at home
from time to time or have completely left the Church. The latter sometimes is a
conscious choice under the influence of sectarian or other anti-religious
influences, but in the majority of cases it is simply because people do not
live in a spiritual manner; they grow hard, their souls become rough and
sometimes they become real nihilists.
The great majority of Russians
have a hard life full of heavy spiritual feelings and material deprivations.
Despite the hospitable attitude towards us in some countries, especially in our
fraternal Yugoslavia whose government and people do everything possible to show
their love for Russia and to ease the grief of the Russian exiles, still
Russians everywhere feel the bitterness of being deprived of their homeland.
Their whole environment reminds them that they are strangers and must adapt to
customs that are often foreign to them, feeding on the crumbs that fall from
the table of their hosts. Even in those countries where there is a benevolent
attitude towards us, it is natural that preference should first be given to the
country's citizens. In the current difficult circumstances of most countries,
often Russians cannot find work. Those who are comparatively well provided for,
nevertheless are constantly made to feel their lack of rights in the absence of
organizations, which could protect them from injustices. Although a
comparatively insignificant number have been completely absorbed into local
society, those who are, consequently, become totally alienated from their own
people and country.
In such a difficult situation in
all respects, the Russian people abroad have shown a remarkably high degree of
patience endurance and self-sacrifice. It is as if they have forgotten about
their formerly wonderful (for many) conditions of life, their service to their
homeland and the countries allied to them during the Great War, their education
and everything else that might make them aim for a comfortable life. In their
exile, they have taken up every kind of work and occupation to guarantee for
them some existence abroad. Former nobles and generals have become simple
workers, artisans and petty merchants, not disdaining any type of work and
remembering that no work is degrading, provided it is not associated with
immorality. In this respect, the Russian intelligentsia has manifested an
ability, to preserve their life's energy, overcome everything in the way of its
realization and development as well as, possessing lofty spiritual qualities,
with capabilities to be humbled and patient. The school of refugee life has
morally regenerated and elevated many people. One has to give honor and credit
to those who bear their refugee cross doing unaccustomed work which is
difficult, living in conditions which they had not known or imagined, but
remaining firm in soul they preserve nobility of spirit and ardent love for
their homeland. Without a murmur they repent over their former sins and endure
their lesson. Truly, many of them, men as well as women are now more glorious
in their dishonor than when they had glory. The spiritual wealth which they
have now obtained is better than the material wealth which they left in the
homeland, and their souls, like gold which has been purified by fire, have been
cleansed in the fire of suffering and burn like glowing lamps.
However, with sorrow I have to
note, that suffering did not have the same affect on everyone. Many proved to
be neither gold nor precious metal, but reed and straw that have perished in
the fire. Many were not cleansed and whitened by suffering, did not endure the
test, and became worse than they had been before. Many were embittered and do
not understand that, being punished by God, we must be consoled, remembering
that there are no children that have not undergone punishment. God in punishing
us, is looking at us as sons and daughters who must be corrected by punishment.
Forgetting about their previous sins, such people compound their sins instead
of repenting, asserting that there is no use being righteous, that God does not
even look at man's affairs since He has turned His face away from them or even
that "there is no God." Considering in their imaginary righteousness
that they are suffering innocently, these people have more pride of heart than
the boastful Pharisee, but often in their sins surpass the publican. In their
bitterness against God, they are in no way inferior to the persecutors of the
faith in our homeland and by their way of thinking have become closely
connected with them.
For this reason, some of their
fervent opponents have become, here in exile, their friends. They have become
their open and secret slaves and try to lure their other brothers into the net.
Others, in general, see no ultimate purpose of existence and consciously give
themselves up to vices, or, finding no joy in anything, end their lives by
suicide. Then, there are others who have not lost faith in God or awareness of
their sinfulness; but their will is completely broken and they have become like
reeds shaken in the wind. Externally they resemble the former group we just
spoke about, though internally they are different in that they recognize the
foulness of their behavior. They cannot find the strength to fight their weaknesses
and sink further and further, incapable of doing anything, becoming the slaves
of intoxicating drink or giving themselves up to drugs. It is truly pitiful to
see how formerly worthy and respectable people have sunk to the level of
beasts. Now, they direct the whole meaning of their existence towards
satisfying their weaknesses, their only occupation being to search for the
means of fulfilling this goal. Once incapable of earning a living, they look
greedily for a hand out, and having received something they immediately set off
to indulge their passions. The faith that seems to be hidden in their souls, if
combined with self-condemnation, gives us the hope that not all of them are
lost for eternity.
Although there are others who
appear better outwardly, but are far from being better inwardly. They keep the
outward rules of pious behavior, but their consciences are dull. Sometimes they
occupy a well-paid position at work and enjoy good standing in the society
where they have relocated. With the loss of their homeland, they have lost the
law of inner moral life. Penetrated through and through with self-love they
will do the worst things to anyone who opposes their success. They are deaf to
the suffering of their compatriots and act as if they have no connection with
them. They are not ashamed to slander or scheme against others (especially
defenseless exiles) in order to lead them astray.
There are some that strive to
deny that they have a homeland in order to gain favor in the eyes of the local
community. As a rule, these spiritually wasted people have no inner law that
controls them and are, therefore, capable of any crime, as long as it is to
their advantage and they are assured of not being caught. We are ashamed to say
that in almost all the countries of the Diaspora people with Russian names
commit many crimes. This is why people have less trust in us and our name is
ruined among the nations. The breakdown of morality is especially noticeable
among families. At one time, no one would have believed what is going on now.
Marriage as something sacred has
ceased to exist and has turned into an everyday transaction. Many notable
couples happily and inseparably married for many years have dissolved their
marriage and entered into a new one. Some have done this because of passions,
others for gain. Every imaginable reason is found to dissolve a marriage, some
even lying under oath to gain their end.
There is no permanency in
marriage among the young or old. It has become quite common to hear of a
divorce only a few months after a marriage. The slightest argument or
disagreement is the basis for a divorce. This occurs because the consciousness
that marriage is holy has been lost. Church authorities have fallen into wide
compromises in relation to the present generation and thus have made it easier
to obtain a divorce. The extent of this unbridled leniency knows no limits,
even avoiding the present rules. After a marriage is dissolved, another is
quickly formed and sometimes a third.
Not able to satisfy all the
demands of their lust by marriage in the Church, some ignore all Church and
moral laws and do not bother to trouble themselves by asking the Church for a
blessing. In countries where the civil law does not demand a church wedding, we
very often see people living together without the blessing of the Church, or
obtaining a divorce without the consent of the Church, even if the marriage was
performed in the Church. One easily forgets that there is no less a sin because
an official, 'proper' name is given to something sinful and that a bond, not
sanctified by the Church, is nonetheless, fornication or adultery. Many openly
live together without the slightest concern about hiding their open
dissipation. Some are joined together out of passion, others for the advantage
gained from the marriage and without the slightest shame appear everywhere in
society together with their "live in" and dare to introduce them as
their spouse. It is especially pathetic that people have begun to look at such
occurrences with indifference, not expressing any negative opinions about them.
Thus, the number of such cases increases, since there is nothing holding them
back. According to Church rules people who fall into this category should be
refused Communion for seven years or more; according to civil laws they should
be restricted in their civil rights. Not long ago, this behavior was despised
by society, now has become commonplace among people who attend church
regularly. They also desire to take part in Church functions, but in such
cases, it is forbidden by Church rules. What can we say of those who are even
less influenced by the Church! How low has the morality fallen among our
countrymen? On one hand, coming to church out of habit and the other hand,
turning into the dwelling place of lower passions. They have given in to a
life-style worse than the animals. They disgrace the name of Russian and bring
down the wrath of God on the present generation.
The future generation of children
and young people will grow up learning immoral ways from their elders. Besides
this, the present generation sins before the future one, by paying so little
attention to the upbringing of their children. Earlier, in Russia, raising
children played a great role in life family, with parental influence an
important part of life. Now, without this influence, children can be raised
well only if they are given special attention by their parents, who are
frequently too preoccupied with their jobs. The entire community abroad is in
the same state. Although, Russian schools have been founded, they do not always
live up to their purpose and the majority of Russian children study without any
Orthodox training or learning the Russian language. They grow up as strangers
to Russia, never knowing her true wealth. In some places, Sunday schools or
other types of Russian school have sprouted up in order to give the children
the knowledge which they cannot receive in native schools. We must admit
sorrowfully that the parents show little interest in sending their children to
these schools. Rich as well as poor parents are guilty of this.
In past years, despite the
difficult conditions for Russians, many have been able to acquire a comfortable
existence. There are also some among us who were able to bring considerable
sums out of Russia or had foreign capital and maintain it to this day. Although
there are many among them who generously help their compatriots and generally
support Russian affairs, most of them are only occupied with their personal
business. They relate coldly to the plight of their compatriots and look upon
them with disdain. They are occupied amusing themselves with their wealth and
free time. Frequently, they amaze the native population by their carefree
attitude. They find it hard to believe that among them, there are Russians
people in need. The rich are annoyed when other Russians turn to them for help.
Truly, if there was a greater national self-awareness and understanding of the
debt to one's homeland, then great things might be accomplished abroad. For
now, we only have a small part of what we could be possible. In fact many of
our benevolent and educational institutions are maintained more through the
gifts of local people, rather than Russians. Because of this, the majority of
our institutions are not cared for, even though there are enough who could
Russians to help. The people are satisfied in using similar native institutions
pouring their money into them. It is a disgrace that the majority of wealthy
Russians frequently raise their children in native schools. These schools can
do nothing for the children’s' Orthodox outlook and appreciation of their
homeland, even in the best of circumstances. The wealthy put no money aside for
Russian schools, which could make up for the lack of national consciousness.
As many parents are completely
indifferent towards the future views of their children, whether poor or
affluent, they send their children to educational institutions, which have a
spirit completely antagonistic to Orthodoxy. Various colleges which have some
sort of religious education as part of their program, though not Orthodox,
education are filled with Russian children, sent by rich parents who are
interested only in the external side of education, or by poor parents who are
gratified by the idea of free education. Therefore, their children’s upbringing
is at the whims of the institution.
It is difficult to say which
children are more unfortunate, the above or the outcast children of the
Diaspora. The outcasts, having never known their father, cast away by their
mothers, wander about the big cities begging for food and finally resort to
theft. In the end, they become professional criminals and fall ever lower
morally. Many of them end up in prison or are executed. These will not have to
answer to God in the manner, as those who have been educated in splendid
colleges and became the worst enemies of Orthodox Russia. One can foresee how
the future Diaspora workers against Orthodox Russia will come and will strive
either to turn her Roman Catholic or to spread sectarianism within her
boundaries. These are the people who remain outside of Orthodoxy and Russia,
and will secretly work against her. A significant part of those who are
educated in native schools will apostatize and betray Orthodox Russia, though
certainly not all. Not only will they be guilty, but their parents even more
so, as they did not guard them from such a path and did not instill in their
souls a firm devotion to Orthodoxy.
Striving to free their children
from the cares of this life and therefore choosing schools which seem to them
will give the children more security in the future, the parents pay no
attention to the souls of their children and thus are guilty for their future
falling away from Orthodoxy and the betrayal of their homeland. Such parents
are greater criminals before Russia than their children are. The children are
won over to a new religion often at an unconscious age and then educated in a
spirit hostile to Orthodoxy. Similar criminal types are those who leave the
Orthodox Faith for another in order to assure themselves of a more comfortable
lifestyle and a more lucrative job. Their sin is like the sin of Judas, their
betrayal of the Faith for a better job or position is counted as the
"thirty pieces of silver." Let not some of them affirm that their
betrayal of Orthodoxy was due to the fact that they discovered Orthodoxy not to
be the true faith and that they are serving Russia by confessing their new faith. Russia was founded and glorified by Orthodoxy
and only Orthodoxy will save Russia. Those who betray Russia should be treated like the traitors
during the hard times in 1612. They should not be permitted to reconstruct Russia or allowed back into her borders...Has
not the Diaspora become the source of a new infection, which will return to the
homeland?
Along with the facts presented,
the moral state of the people in the Diaspora would be hopeless if we did not
observe, a great spirit and sacrifice. Despite the difficult conditions in
which the exiles live, they find the means to build and embellish churches,
support priests [though poorly], and partially support the needy. Though their
hearts are hardened and they offer nothing towards the general good, they
manage to set aside a considerable amount for the upkeep of these projects. There
are still those among us who joyfully make offerings to the church out of their
hard earned labors, others out of their scarcity, what they can; this is
counted as the "widows mite." Offerings are not only in terms of
money but also in the tireless labors for the good of the Church and one's
neighbor. Many bear such labors for various church and philanthropic
organizations with zeal and dedication, or work independently. Burdened by
labors connected with making a living, they give up their free time, rest,
energy and strength for these good deeds. Men bring to these labors their
common sense and women their innate love.
The concerns of Russians abroad
embrace not only Russian needs in the Diaspora but there are courageous
fighters for the homeland preparing for its liberation. Some of these fighters
even risk reentering Russia's frontiers, braving certain death. Love for the
homeland has led many through severe trials which history will record as
heroism.
Much zeal and fortitude has been
shown in the struggle for Church rights. It is heartening to see how some of
the youth are dedicated to the Church and the homeland that they have never
seen, but love wholeheartedly.
Such examples, together with the
insuppressible voice of the conscience, give us the hope that those ten
righteous men for whose sake the Lord was willing to spare Sodom and Gomorra,
still exist and will show the righteous way to the Russian Diaspora.
Russians abroad have been given
the light of Orthodoxy to shine throughout the world so that other nations,
seeing their good works, might glorify our Father in heaven and seek salvation.
By not fulfilling this task and even degrading Orthodoxy by our lives, the
Diaspora has two options: turn to the path of repentance, beseech God’s
forgiveness, renew ourselves spiritually, make ourselves capable of giving
rebirth to our suffering homeland. Or finally be cut off by God, remain in
exile, persecuted by everyone, until we disappear from the face of the earth.
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