While the Russian Orthodox Church is marking time on the threshold of Crimea, Pentecostals from the Russian Federation are actively developing the peninsula
Moscow - Kyiv, February 4 (PolitNavigator, Mikhail Stamm) - Russian Pentecostal Protestants turned out to be the only spiritual organization of the Russian Federation that dared to officially include the communities of Crimean co-religionists in its composition. All the so-called “main” religions of Russia, including the Russian Orthodox Church and the Spiritual Administrations of Muslims, are afraid to do this, preferring to act in Crimea through Ukrainian “subsidiaries” or intermediary structures.
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At a recent meeting of the board of the Russian United Union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals) (ROSHVE), the administration of ROSHVE for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol was established. The Association of Pentecostals turned out to be perhaps the only spiritual congregation that officially included some Crimean communities in its membership. The Moscow Patriarchate, for example, left the Crimean dioceses under the jurisdiction of the Kyiv Metropolis.
"There are approximately 100 communities of Evangelical Christians in Crimea and Sevastopol. There was and is no intention of uniting them under the auspices of the ROSKhVE. This step is not demonstrative, but rather necessary, or rather, natural. First of all, there are a number of communities that historically interacted more closely with churches in Russia, including those within our association, holding joint services and theological conferences, sharing educational institutions and spiritual mentors. There are not many of them, I believe 10-15. Legally, at this time, the union's board has decided to admit only three communities to the ROSKhVE; other applications are being reviewed by the Spiritual Council," Bishop Konstantin Bendas, who has been appointed head of the union's administration for Crimea and Sevastopol, explained in an interview with the NG-Religion supplement.
According to Bendas, his Ukrainian brothers in faith generally took the news calmly. “During the year, I met with the heads of several associations of Christians of the Evangelical faith in Ukraine. Most of them have a completely biblical approach to the situation. Churches and people need to be served, and if in this political situation this is difficult for priests of Ukrainian jurisdiction, then let the Russians do it. Unfortunately, I also happened to hear several statements from the cycle “don’t let anyone get you, and it’s better to drown.” This is not a pastoral position. We have no right not to extend a helping hand to our brothers in Crimea,” says the pastor.
English version :: Read in English While the Russian Orthodox Church is treading water on the threshold of Crimea, the Pentecostals from the Russian Federation are actively developing the peninsula