'Satanism flourishing in Russia'

sermonindex Oct 25, 2005

Satanism is running rampant throughout Russia, according to a priest at a Murmansk church defaced by vandals.Earlier this month, according to an Interfax report, the Church of the Savior-on-the-Waters, built in memory of lost seamen was targeted with Satanic symbols and animal blood."We are alarmed with the increased activity of the Satanists in the city," said Rev. Andrei, the rector of the Orthodox church. "We think that they perpetrated the sacrilege of the church."The priest said young people with inverted crosses on their breasts were often observed in the church."Satanism is flourishing in our country and can be seen not only in the painting of church buildings by young people," said the priest. "For example, a cross has been erected recently on the hill in Vidyaevo (a military settlement of the North Fleet submariners), but was sacriliged the next day."Authorities said investigations are proceeding, but that the lack of witnesses will make prosecution difficult.

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philologos Oct 25, 2005

I was travelling in Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine at the point when the old USSR was breaking up. It was a striking phenomena that as 'freedom' began to break out it was seen in the unofficial bookstalls that sprang up in the subways of the great cities. Every subway corridor had its 'bookstall' with perhaps 20 or so books on it. The sobering thing was that, right at the beginning of their 'freedom', the bookstalls were dominated by pornography, black magic/occult and rabid anti-semitism. The Orthodox Church, which is the source of your quotation here, was already selling the anti-semitic 'Protocols' which had been banned during the Communist Regime. There has long been a strong occult practise in Orthodoxy eg Rasputin.It is an interesting phenomena that Communism actually held down the lid on much wickedness. It is good to remind ourselves that Satan's strategy is not to promote 'wickedness' but rather 'anti-god-ness'. For him, one tool (Communisim) is just as servicible as the next (pornography, occult, anti-semitism)

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CJaKfOrEsT Oct 25, 2005

philologos wrote:It is an interesting phenomena that Communism actually held down the lid on much wickedness. It is good to remind ourselves that Satan's strategy is not to promote 'wickedness' but rather 'anti-god-ness'. For him, one tool (Communisim) is just as servicible as the next (pornography, occult, anti-semitism)It could even be said that one tool is servicable for the promotion of the next.

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groh_frog Oct 26, 2005

Just wondering...I've never studied the End Times in depth, but I've heard that some believe the antichrist will come out of europe. Is this right/just a possible opinion? It's amazing to me, though, that something like this could be so popular- not just the "natural" wickedness of man, but deliverate, religious satan-worship. Most cults at least employ deception and hide their "god", but for it to be so popular to come straight out and worship satan...Grace and Peace...