Back in June I wrote about how Peter Dudnik’s church in Slavyansk was seized by separatists and then used as a military base and as a firing position on Ukrainian forces.
Thankfully in August Ukrainian troops regained control of Slavyansk and Dudnik’s church building was returned to the congregation.
Recently reports have surface that Russian Orthodox priests worked alongside rebels to seize not only Dudnik’s church but other protestant churches in Eastern Ukraine. This alarming trend reveals the surprising truth that the war in Eastern Ukraine isn’t simply about politics. There are deeper religious currents at work.
Novorossiya is what the rebels have called the breakaway nation that they are trying to establish. If they succeed it will not only encompass Donetsk and Lugansk but also Zaparozhiya, Kharkiv, Kherson, Nickolaev and Odessa.
The recently written constitution of Novorossiya identifies Russian Orthodoxy as its main religion:
“The normative form of spiritual and religious education will be belong to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, which allows for freedom of religion, with the exception of religions that are foreign to Russian cultural and civilization.”
Yes, you read that correctly! They include the words “freedom of religion” but it’s kind of like saying,
“You’re free to worship however you want as long as you choose to worship in the Russian Orthodox Church!”
Unfortunately evangelical Christianity is foreign to Russian culture and for many protestant churches in Eastern Ukraine this means that they no longer have a building to gather in! It also means that they are often labeled “Western spies!”
You may recall that nearly the same scenario that happened in Dudnik’s church also played out in my friends church in Antratsit just a month ago where Orthodox priests also accompanied the separatist when they seized his church.
Here is a list from the Baptist Union of churches that have been seized by rebel forces in the last few months in Donetsk and Lugansk.
1. “House of Prayer for All Nations” -Antratsit, Lugansk region
2. International Union of Churches Evangelical Christian Baptist -Lugansk
3. “Bethany Church” -Donetsk
4. Donetsk Christian University
5. Brotherhood of Independant Churches and Mission -Donetsk
6. “Renewal Church”, Union of Free Churches -Krasny Luch
7. “Word of Life Church” -DonetskAdditionally as a result of fighting the following churches were either damaged or destroyed.
1. “Christ the Savior Church” -Lugansk (damage to walls and roof)
2. “Revival Church” -Pervomaisk, Lugansk region. (burned)
3. Evangelical Christian Baptist Church -Ilovaisk, Donetsk region (destroyed by a rocket)
Please take some time to pray for Evangelical churches in Eastern Ukraine. Don’t be fooled into thinking that everything is better there now because of the cease-fire.
TCAvey
October 3, 2014Reminds me of another time in history…if you haven’ read “Bonhoeffer: Pastor Martyr Prophet Spy by Eric Metaxas I Encourage you to do so…in all your “spare time”.
My prayers are daily with you all.
Phil 4:13
Caleb
October 3, 2014TC, sounds like a great book! I’ll have to add it to my list of books to read! Thank you for the prayers!
TCAvey
October 3, 2014It’s one of my fav’s. But like you, I have a reading list a mile long so getting to new books isn’t always easy…so many great books to read, so little time.
Caleb
October 3, 2014TC, there’s always new book coming out that get a lot of attention but lately I’ve been thinking about how many classics I haven’t read. Good books that have stood the test of time. I really want to take a break from reading the newest and most popular books and instead read some books that have been around for awhile.
TCAvey
October 6, 2014I agree with you. That’s how I even started reading Bonhoeffer books. His book, “The Cost of Discipleship” is one of my all time favorite Christian books, especially when knowing his Bio.
“The Hiding Place” is another all time favorite. But I have so many classics that I haven’t read. Some of them I have even purchased but not found the time to read. It’s something that I’ve been thinking about as well.
Maureen Ray
October 4, 2014Could it be that the Russian Orthodox Church in disallowing churches are Western in origin such as Baptists are seen as agents of pushing a Western/American agenda in Eastern Ukraine? We will continue to pray for you and yours.