Right Worship in Moscow?
by Michael Gallo
With nationalism on the rise in Russia, those who seek reforms in the Russian Orthodox Church face strong opposition from both the Church and groups outside the Church, including death threats from ultranationalist groups. Such was experienced by Fr. George Kochetkov, who earlier this year was removed by the patriarch of Moscow from his post as pastor of a large, successful Moscow parish, known as the “Meeting of the Ikon of the Vladimir Theotokos.” Although Fr. Kochetkov’s situation is now partially resolved because he has been given permission to continue his ministry in another building, his story and that of his parish illustrate the tensions between conservative and progressive elements within the Church and tensions with the Russian nationalist movement.
Fr. Kochetkov began an illegal ministry as a lay catechist in the days before perestroika, reaching thousands of unchurched Russians with the light of the gospel. Out of this he founded an institute now known as the Moscow Higher Orthodox School, which serves 1,000 to 1,500 students and offers instruction from Christian basics to university-level courses. Fr. Kochetkov also founded a fellowship of Christians who lead a common life and help in the work of the institute. In addition to the fellowship, and the institute, a parish was formed, and all three ministries made use of a centuries-old monastic facility that had formerly been confiscated by the Soviet government for secular purposes. The Moscow patriarchate gave its approval to the establishment of Fr. Kochetkov’s work.
THIS ARTICLE ONLY AVAILABLE TO SUBSCRIBERS.
FOR QUICK ACCESS:
Michael F. Gallo , a graduate of Wheaton College, is a public school teacher in Chicago, Illinois.
A Journal of Mere Christianity—Delivered to Your Door
- Essays on theology, culture, and the Church
- Contributors from across the Christian traditions
Six print issues (one year) of Touchstone, plus full online access and PDF downloads for only $39.95.
Get a one-year full-access subscription to the Touchstone online archives for only $19.95.
bulk subscriptions
Order Touchstone subscriptions in bulk and save $10 per sub! Each subscription includes 6 issues of Touchstone plus full online access to touchstonemag.com—including archives, videos, and pdf downloads of recent issues for only $29.95 each! Great for churches or study groups.
Transactions will be processed on a secure server.
more from the online archives
31.5—September/October 2018
on the Congregation as a Wilderness by Paul Gregory Alms
33.3—May/June 2020
Maternal Body: A Theology of Incarnation from the Christian East by Carrie Frederick Frost
Fertile Ground: A Pilgrimage Through Pregnancy by Laura S. Jansson by Agnes R. Howard
22.3—April 2009
Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business by J. Daryl Charles
calling all readers
Please Donate
"There are magazines worth reading but few worth saving . . . Touchstone is just such a magazine."
—Alice von Hildebrand
"Here we do not concede one square millimeter of territory to falsehood, folly, contemporary sentimentality, or fashion. We speak the truth, and let God be our judge. . . . Touchstone is the one committedly Christian conservative journal."
—Anthony Esolen, Touchstone senior editor
