R U S S I A
PATRIARCH ALEXY II RIDIGER
For the death penalty,
2001
Whether Patriarch Alexy really is married?
Alexy II was married. No one denies this fact, although some people state the the marriage was fictitious.
He had no children. You can read about this in previous materials: krotov.info/engl/2001/myannik.html.
The case is not in itself violation of canons, because they don't live together. The rude violation of
canons is that his wife was married the second time. But this is the part of one of the most essential characteristics
of the Russian life; in Russian I call this "anti-pravo": open and demonstrative violating of
law to demonstrate the force of the government. In the West legitimate government must confirm it legitimacy
through observing the law, in Russia it is just the opposite: the power is measured by amount of laws which
one may violate without punishment. I'll be grateful for the English equivalent of "anti-pravo"(is
there is any.)
Details: Patriarch's wife found with three children - May, 2001
Anti-American reaction of Patriarch on September 11.
Patriarch obtained prohibition of corrida, September,
2001;
August 2001, meeting Putin on Solovky and
supporting him;
March 1, 2002, Moscow, 8.54 AM
Most interesting interview of the Patriarch in "Izvestiya" (February
26, 2002). He repeated the usual Bolshevistic slogan: "Freedom of speech
doesn't equal to all-permissiveness" (Russian word "vsedozvolennost'"
is much more rude and insulting than simply "permissiveness". Patriarch
wondered: how can media criticize candidates for election? "After a person
will be elected people will not hold him in respect!"
Election campaign without criticism! Certainly this means that Patriarch think
that there must be only onle real candidate (like Putin) and media must criticize
only those who want to compete with a person supported by the nomenclature of
all sorts.
July 18, 2001, Patriarch against private property on land
Patriarch Alexy issued statement dedicated to the private property
on land (Duma discussed this question ardently, Communist definitely
against it.) Patriarch supported Communist, stating, that it
is improper to sell the agricultural land to foreigners etc.
Actually, some of his arguments are quite reasonable, but not
in the Russian context, which is the concentration of land in
the hand of the government. Above all, the Church denies others
what she possess, because the government had already returned
to the Church many lands which it owned before Revolution. Media
reacted with most anti-Clerical remarks: Patriarch as the supporter
of Communists...
May 17, 2001, 22.35 PM, Moscow
Patriarch Alexy invested Vladimir Lisin with the
order of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Lisin is the director of the
metallurgical industial complex in Lipetsk. His PR informed the
press that this plant donated to the patriarchy in 2000 120 millions
of rubles and for 2001 the plan of donations is 200 millions rubles,
This makes 320 millions rubles, i.e. 1 103 000 dollars. 26 churches
have been built due to these money ( NG,
5/17/2001.) Only one plant donated 1 million dollars.This plant
is one of the largerst in Russia, still it looks ass is the budget
of Moscow patriarchy is not as tiny as it is sometimes stated.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized in Moscow,
in its Diplomatic Academy a conference, dedicated to the history
of Russian Orthodox Church. Patriarch Alexy during his introductory
speech (April 24, 2001; quoted in Izvestiya, 28 Apr. 2001)
said that "it is necessary to restore the institute of the
embassy chaplains. This is in accordance to the world practice."
Actually, even under Bolshevism, from 1943 meeting
of Stalin with the leaders of Moscow Patriarchat, Russian Orthodox
Church recieved from the government money to support its foreign
parishes. In 1990-s it became common practice for the Ministry
of foreign Affairs to help to the Moscow Patriarchy with money
and influence. But this was done "under table," and
now patriarch decided it is high time to make one more step towards
his ideal: to have all priviliges of the established Church without
any of its obligations.
In his Easter address Patriarch Alexy Ridiger declared
that the problem of agression of foreign missionaries has been
solved, they've been stopped due to the efforts of "the people."
He called for the "getting things put in order" ("navedeniye
poryadka") but stressed that this must be done not too quickly,
smoothly. He said that "the time has come to discuss"
the assignment of some part of the income tax to the Moscow Patriarchy
("Izvestiya," 14.4.2001).
During the Easter service in 2001 Patriarch gave
Communion only to VIP, reported Nissen.
April 9, 2001, 23.45 PM, Moscow
On the eve of the Judas's betrayal it is not out of place to reproduce
the photo of the file dated by February 28, 1958. This day in Tallin
(then part of the USSR, now independent Estonia) priest Alexy Ridiger
was enlisted among "helpers" of KGB. File was found in
the KGB archive in Tallinn in 1997. The text mentions that
Ridiger helps to KGB voluntarily and can be useful as a bishop.
By 1963 Ridiger became one of the key figures in the Moscow Patriarchy.
He didn't asked for any investigation concerning this file nor appealed
to the court or rejected the fact.
He was married (no children) and left his wife to become a bishop.
Where she is now is unknown. It was supposed that this marriage
was fictitious, only to help young Ridiger to become a priest (in
Eastern Orthodox tradition priest can marry only before ordination.)
This is possible if he didn't want to become a monk.
I am cruel man and I think that the difference between apostle
Peter and apostle Judas is not very large. Both betrayed their Savior.
Peter repented. But later Peter betrayed apostle Paul.
There is famous saying (in Dostoyevsky) that it is better with
Jesus in hell that to be in the paradise without Jesus. Well, to
be in the Church means sometimes to be in the hell with Judas of
all sorts -- but with Christ. And to be "non-denomination Christian"
all too often means to be in a paradise, and may be even with Christ,
but with Christ wistful for those whom we rejected.
Easter and Arms
"Izvestiya" (6.4.2001) gives the large interview with
Patriarch Alexy dedicated to one theme: Russian citizens must help
to the Russian Army. This is their sacred duty. "Izvestiya"
now are semi-governmental newspaper.
Other papers from this category ("Trud" etc.) during
the last week published the collective appeal of Patriarch Alexy
and leaders of "traditional" confessions (Buddhism, Islam,
Judaism - Roman Catholics and Protestants absent). The idea is the
same: let us donate to the Foundation for the Help to Army. Foundation
was organized by direct order of President Poutine.
In the same interview Patriarchy bitterly criticizes NATO for bombing
Yugoslavia. And not a word about much more cruel activities of Russian
"army" in Chechnya! Trademark of Bolshevism: double standard
at its best.
I think this is the answer to the question about how it will be
in the Paradise: whether saints will contact those who are in hell.
"It is better to be with Christ in the Hell that without Christ
in Paradise..." And it is better to be with Christ in the Church
with militarists, traitors etc. than to think that you can be with
Christ outside the community of His followers, however unworthy
we are...
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