A Focus OF THE SOVIET ATTACK -HOW RELIGIONS SURVIVED

BY THE  time Nazi Germany invaded Russia in 1941, the Soviets has practically annihilated the Russian Orthodox Church. But after the Nazi invasion, the Soviets began to change their attitude toward religion. What prompted this? 

Richard Overy, professor of modern history at King's College, London, explained in his book Russian's War-Blood Upon the Snow:   "Metropolitan Sergei [Sergius], head of the Church appealed  to the faithful on the very day of the German invasion to do everything to bring about victory.  He published no fewer than twenty-three epistles in the next two years, calling on his flock to fight for the godless state they lived in."  So, as Overy continued , "Stalin allowed religion to flourish again. '

In 1943, Stalin finally agreed to recognize the Orthodox Church by appointing Sergius as its new patriarch.   "The  Church authorities  responded by raising money from the faithful to fund a Soviet armored column," Overy noted.  "Priests and bishops exhorted their congregations to observe the faith, God's and Stalin's." 

Describing this period of Russian history, the Russian religions scholar Sergei Ivanenko wrote: 'The official publication of the Russian Orthodox Church, The Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate, praised Stalin as the greatest leader and teacher of all times and nations, sent by God to save the nation from oppression, landowners, and capitalists. It called upon believers to give their last drop of blood in defending the USSR from it's enemies and to give their all to build  Communism.'

Next time: A Focus OF THE SOVIET ATTACK - "Highly Valued by the KGB" 

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