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| Archimandrite Constantine Zaitsev of Jordanville (on the left) |
The following is excerpted from the writings of Archimandrite Constantine Zaitsev of Jordanville:
"The significance of the emergence of the Catacomb Church is indescribable. If the Tsar's Family became the justification of Imperial Russia at the time of its fall, for they confidently and calmly accepted the lot of martyrdom, then in the darkest time, when it seemed that the forces of hell were already flooding our Fatherland without a vestige - it was the Catacomb Church that served as her justification. But, both the Royal Martyrs and the New Martyrs of the Catacomb Church are our protectors - not only in Heaven, and not only in our personal earthly destiny as we seek the salvation of our souls, but they also appear as our guides. They are our hope and are in the plan of our common earthly future [as a nation] - if its path is extended by the Lord.
The Catacomb Church is that grain, that core, that source of living water from which alone - new life can grow. In emerging into the open at some point in time, She, and only She - the Catacomb Church, will be able to become the basis of Russia being restored to its true spiritual nature; being again capable in revealing Herself to the world in the image of the Orthodox Kingdom. If the Orthodox Kingdom, in its spiritual power, is personified by our last Tsar, then the Orthodox Church is personified by our Last Patriarch [Tikhon], whose succession in Russia, under the Bolsheviks, is treasured precisely and solely in the Catacomb Church, within the territory of our genuine Motherland.
It is impossible to imagine the rebirth of Russia other than in the image of the Catacomb Church, revealing Herself anew to the world, heading all of Russian ecclesiasticism which will rush to Her in repentance. The Catacomb Church is not a symbol. She is a reality. This reality may be physical, leading to something more than modest. But perhaps the significance of the Catacomb Church will be reduced to the blessing given to the living forces, which will constitute the rebirth of Russia, by some lonely old Starets (Elder) - a follower of the Catacomb Church. But outside of such a blessing, it’s unimaginable that Historical Russia will return to life...
If the Catacomb Church appears as the ray of salvation for Russia, then, opposite to this, the Soviet Church is burning in hellish fire. It is the spawn of hell. It appears as the spiritual antipode [opposite] of the Catacomb Church. It signifies the mark of the beast which was imposed on our unfortunate Motherland. It appears as a terrible threat to the entire free world, covering it with the false light of the satanic authority. It is instilling into the world, which is distanced from the frightening Soviet reality, the lying perception that the existence of godless Communism is combined with the existence of the Church of God that has recognized it!
The evil malignancy of the Soviet Church cannot be overestimated. The Soviet Church closes the path to the salvation of Russia! Russia is spiritually alive, inasmuch as it confessionally rejects the Soviet Church. If however, in Her weakness, the Russian people accepts it, seeking solace in its churches and neglecting the terrible blasphemous lie that rests at its foundation, then they should feel in themselves that, having called upon God in those temples which have defiled by the Lie, they have fallen so low in their sins and are now unworthy to pray in the true temples. They should then cry out to the Lord for mercy!
Inasmuch as a person is reconciled with the Soviet Church, perceiving it as a true Church and being satisfied with the opportunity to have fellowship with Christ in her, then such a person lays upon himself the seal of Falsehood, which is embodied in it. After all, the evil essence of this church is not only the sin of recognizing the Satanic authority, as being allegedly established by God, not only the sin of shedding the blood of the New Martyrs, but also the terrible sin of replacing the Church. This is the sin of the antichrist. It is necessary to delve deeper into the understanding of the Soviet Church in order to fully comprehend Her godlessness.
The Soviet Church is canonically unholy..."
(Translated by Seraphim Larin)