Vladimir Tretyakov. Liturgy for the Little Ones. 2009

Liturgy for the Little Ones (Vladimir Tretyakov, 2009)

The scene depicted is at a chapel attached to a works site in Russia. The children are from the works kindergarten, which, in Russia, is something of a combination day-care centre and early-grades school for kids up to seven years of age (when they go to regular school). Although all concerned know that there is a great deal of work to be still done in the restoration of the Church, a goodly amount has been done already, as this photo indicates. In other words, a very good start has been made, all that remains is for us to keep it up! Also, it indicates how deeply Orthodox Russia is at base, in obvious contradiction to America, which is deeply secular at its heart (as a society, I am not speaking of individuals here). The Church in Russia does not need any help from us in America. Indeed, WE need their assistance in putting things right. Shall we have the humility and wisdom to do so? One hopes so… may we not let crack-brained pseudo-intellectual notions such as “autocephaly” stop us.

Konstantin Zvezdochetov. Mother and Motherland: Equal in Honour! no date (2000s?)

Mother and Motherland: Equal in Honour! (Konstantin Zvezdochetov, no date (2000s?))

This work is indicitive of the creative synthesis taking part in Russia today. Russians are not merely rejecting Communism, rather, they are taking what was good from the Soviet period and combining it with the best of the Tsarist and Old Russian traditions. In short, it is not merely a slavish imitation of American-style “democracy” (which has disappointed many in the West), but, it is a unique construct suited to the particular history, culture, and weltanshauung of Russia. That is to say, it stands in opposition to many of the accepted verities of “modernity”… thank God for that!

Pyotr Brazhanov. A Portrait of Admiral St Fyodor Ushakov. 1912

A Portrait of Admiral St Fyodor Ushakov (Pyotr Brazhanov, 1912)

Admiral St Fyodor Ushakov (1744-1817) was one of the most illustrious Russian naval commanders of all time. He was not only a daring fighting sea-dog, he was a competent administrator and a serious Orthodox Christian. The port facilities in Sevastopol and Kherson were originally built by him, and he worked on the establishment of the towns surrounding the naval bases. Admiral Ushakov never lost a battle, but, that is not why he was canonised. He took good care of his officers and sailors, and he ended his life in one of the monasteries of the Church (he never became a monk, but, he lived in a monastery and led a pious lay life).

He was canonised in 2000, and is the patron saint of the navy and of the Dalnaya Aviatsiya (“Long-range Aviation”, the strategic bomber force).

Ivan Eggink. Grand Prince St Vladimir Examines the Faith. undated (first quarter of the 19th century?)

Grand Prince St Vladimir Examines the Faith (Ivan Eggink, undated (first quarter of the 19th century?))

Of course, this depiction is highly stylised, but, it does symbolise the fact that Grand Prince St Vladimir chose Orthodoxy over Roman Catholicism in 988. Do not forget that St Vladimir consciously rejected both Islam and Roman Catholicism… he was not merely ignorant of them. The former he considered too fanatical (for it forbade liquor) and the latter he found confusing (for his emissaries were not impressed with RC liturgy, finding it irreverent). Orthodoxy both he and his ambassadors found “just right” (“We did not know if we were in heaven or on earth”, in regards to the liturgy at Agia Sofia).

Russia is deeply Orthodox to this day… and shall remain so until the Last Trump, I am sure (Am I Orthodox? Well… I’m Russian… does that answer your question?).

Valery Busygin. The Heavens. 2006

The Heavens (Valery Busygin, 2006)

Aleksandr Matrekhin. With God’s Help. 1997

With God’s Help (Aleksandr Matrekhin, 1997)

This is how the Church in Russia has risen from the ashes. It has risen again due to the self-sacrificial giving of the Russian Orthodox people, an openheartedness that led them to give their money, their labour, their time, and their talents. There are some in the OCA who claim that they gave a major portion of the money used in this effort. That is pure moonshine and puffery of the worst sort. What came from that source was a literal drop in the bucket.

No, the rebuilding is not yet complete. In a sense, the workmen are still on the roof, fixing all the leaks. However, in Russia, the problem is recognised and is being addressed. As for America…. I think that there is not only much to be done, there is a need to drop all pretence… however, time shall tell.

Valery Busygin. Evening in the Village. 2005

Evening in the Village (Valery Busygin, 2005)

Yevgeni Demakov. The Nativity. 2005

The Nativity (Yevgeni Demakov, 2005)

If you look carefully at the left of the painting, you shall be able to discern the shepherds in the darkness of the cave.

Of course, this is the real Christmas season, it is not XMAS or the Holiday Season as the world has it, it is the time for all good Orthodox people to sing Christmas carols and feast about the tree. Too many of our prople have succumbed to the American “holiday season”. Hey… let’s keep things the churchly way as our ancestors did. Oh, yes… I am NOT going to quote this or that Father to bolster my stance. I am going to stand with all the dedes and babas, who trump any Father-quoting sort in my book! You’d best watch out… baba has a cane and she knows how to use it! If you behave, dede just might give you a snort of his homemade apple brandy (nectar of the gods, if it ever existed).

Viktor Safronov. At Christmas. 2000

At Christmas (Viktor Safronov, 2000)

Between 7 and 19 January, from Christmas to Epiphany on the Orthodox calendar, come the Svyatki, or “Holy Days”. We have all kinds of fun and feast away to our heart’s content. Orthodox Christians are HAPPY people! We don’t have long faces and have hearts three times too small in Grinch-like grimness.

Yes, there is a time for remembering one’s sins and there is a season to eat boiled potatoes and stewed prunes… but, not all the time! God created a wonderful world for people and all the other creatures in it, so, there is a time to ENJOY as well.

A blessed and merry sesaon of the “Holy Days” to all my Orthodox friends! Do get ready to jump into that ice-hole on Epiphany! Yes… I’ve done it… no, I am not a “walrus” (Russian slang equivalent to the American “polar bear”)… do have a warm blanket and a slug of good hooch ready after I get out of the water. BRRR!

Boris Olshansky. Jesus and the Money-Changers. 2006

Jesus and the Money-Changers (Boris Olshansky, 2006)

Now, this IS something different! The scene of Christ chasing the money-changers out of the temple is updated to the present day. Many Americans are not aware that Russians take a different view of capitalism and the rich than they do. Most Russians view the exploitation of others for filthy lucre as sinful, and the existence of robber-barons has only deepened that impulse. Indeed, we must realise that greed and imposture is at the root of the present economic crisis, and we must act accordingly.

This is not only an allegory of clearing out the affluent effluent (you KNOW what I mean) from the Church, I see in it a rejection of all those who have tried to inject Protestant and Catholic practises in the Church, especially here in America. It’s time for us to pick up the cat o’ nine tails and the crowbars, chase those rascals out (both varieties), and CLEAN HOUSE. Then, we’ll have a safe place not only for us and our kids (and their kids, in the proper time), but, for all who would care to join us! As the painting shows, Our Lord Christ was not (and is not) a weak and impotent wimp lisping, “We have to move on”. Rather, He said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. Amen!

Where did Nicky put that tire-iron?