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| The Entrance to a Monastery of the Russian Orthodox Catacomb Church |
Highly esteemed Vladyka Seraphim and dear brothers in Christ!
Having read Professor I.M. Andreyev’s article on “The Catacomb Church”, I felt the need to send this letter to you for publication, which was prompted on my part by the need to confirm its truth.
I am an Orthodox Christian, who due to circumstances, was unable to migrate overseas. I was a witness and participant in everything written about by the Professor. As one that has undergone countless tribulations inflicted by Satan’s servants for over 24 years, I cannot but extend my hands in gratitude to him. My sons have now suffered 10 years - off in some distant Siberian labour camp for their uncompromising stand for the purity of the Faith. Having no information whatsoever during these years about them, I can think that they have joined the ranks of Martyrs and are with God. Where could I find solace except in prayer? But where do you pray?
After 1927, who of the true faithful could step into a church (referring to Metropolitan Sergius’s Declaration about praying for the authorities) and pray for the success of the servants of the father of lies and of the entire satanic mob that surrounds him? (Rev. 3:9).
It was at this time that the Lord revealed His mercy to the millions of true Church faithful in the form of Metropolitan [Saint] Joseph - who as our earthly father, was a custodian of the Ecclesiastical prayer and gave opportunities for performing the Holy Mysteries. With the blessing of the imprisoned Metropolitan [Saint] Peter Krutitsky, he called for a prayerful unification; in secret rooms, and akin to the ancient Christians, in caves and underground churches where one could spill their sorrows and transfer their griefs into the hands of God.
Just as there are irreconcilable and non-corporeal understandings – such as God and Satan, Christ and Antichrist, good and evil - so it is now in Russia with the two irreconcilable perceptions: there is the Church called Joseph’s in Russia that has gone into the catacombs; and there is the Sergianist, antichristian, godless and sly Church in the USSR.
After the appearance of this article, slanderous and lying attacks began – even insolent claims of certainty declaring that the Catacomb Church was nothing but a myth.
I personally was in those towns in Kazakhstan, where in one instance I saw a 2.8 by 3.5 meters church excavated deep in the ground, with hanging lampadas and icons. These icons were from destroyed churches and previously had been sold by looters or simply thrown away. The Services were performed by a humble man of prayer, the exiled Archimandrite B. and occasionally, by a visiting old and honored Bishop who had served two terms of exile. On two other occasions, the Services were held in secluded dugouts on ground level. I was also in Kavkaz and southern Russia, as well as in Moscow, and her surrounding villages, where the faithful gathered either at night or very early morning with great care in order not to be discovered by the GPU. In cases of betrayal, everybody was subjected to cruel repressions - but not only we sinners had this fear, but so did the Apostles (i.e. of the Jews) who prayed behind closed doors.
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| Inside the above pictured Catacomb Monastery |
In one town M, there was an old Hieromonk who even had the holy fortitude to go into the hospitals, and give Holy Communion to the dying who had refused to accept the “Sergianist” priests. The Service was conducted in whispers and there was no singing, everything was read, and only when circumstances allowed was singing conducted in barely audible tones.
As a country woman from one of the medium-sized villages, I can safely state both what I saw and what I heard in the villages with the arrival of the Germans.
As soon as they occupied a settlement, the Germans declared freedom; allowing, and in fact encouraging (due to political motivations) the opening of churches and the performance of Services and of the Holy Mysteries. The response of the peasants, after suffering persecutions for their Faith was like a spontaneous gust - akin to steam erupting from a closed boiling kettle. Churches that were desecrated and converted for various demeaning functions were being restored and re-consecrated as churches. The people literally rushed to be Baptized, ranging from breast-fed children to willing adults. At times, the Priest was forced to Baptize several dozen people at the same time. On Sundays, horses adorned with beads and ribbons pulled carriages and wagons with people and once again - their were smiling faces: they were called wedding trains.
The deceased were now able to receive a funeral according to the statutes of the Orthodox Church.
Of course, those that donned their Church vestments once again were - through God’s will – able to hide their spiritual position (calling) from the GPU persecutions - these numbered quite a few that were both known and respected by the faithful. Not willing to join the Sergianist Church, they continued their Services in the Catacomb Church. In regions where there were no priests free of any compromises with the Sergianists, the faithful “gathered for a candle” as it was called. Of course, if it was peacetime, they would be a sect; but gathered here were only those committed to the Holy Apostolic Orthodox Church, who had faith in the Saviour’s words that where there were two or three gathered in My name, He would be among them. There were no Church Services: the people gathered and collected money to buy wax, which they formed into a big candle, lit, and then placed before the icons, as they sang Psalms and prayers.
Having attended more than one or two of such prayerful gatherings, that is what I saw and heard.
I am already very old and awaiting my end and asking for a good defense on the Judgment Day of God; that’s why I ask the genuine faithful not to doubt in the veracity of my testimony concerning the Catacomb Church that is shining in Russia.
Orthodox Christian, member in prayer of the Catacomb Church,
M. Turenin
(This article was published in Pravoslavnaya Rus [Orthodox Rus], 1948, Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY. It has been kindly translated by Seraphim Larin.)