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Soiuz Obshin Dukhovnykh
Khristian Molokan v Rossii 35700 Rossiia 13 January 2001 Read the Original Russian Invitation NOTIFICATIONIn the year 1805, His Majesty, the King of All Russias, Aleksandr Pavlovich, decreed freedom of religion to all Molokans. [Aleksander I Romanov (1801-25) removed the religious thought crime, a felony, of Russians holding any belief not Orthodox, but kept the felony of evangelism, spreading any non-Orthodox belief among Russians. So the sectarians could believe what they wanted, as long as they kept it to themselves. This didn't work out well and led to a policy of isolating the sectarians to prevent their crimes of evangelism rather than arresting and punishing them. See Breyfogle for details.] On 13 July, year of our Lord 2001, the Spiritual Committee of the Center, Spiritual Christian Molokans (SCM) decided to conduct a three-day celebration with a prayer at the Center of SCM of Russia at Kochubeevskoe, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Royal edict of freedom for our ancestors. [This is 4 years early.] Today, January l3, 2001, The Action Committee extends an invitation to all SCMs throughout Russia and the world, without regard to the existing differences in services. Our churches originate from the Holy Spirit, they are one, and indivisible in Spirit In this regard, the Action Committee invites all churches to observe the Fast with prayers on 15-16-17 March, year 2001. Despite the four-year lead before the anniversary we have to solve many major organizational, financial and personnel problems. Today we will touch on local conditions: There are 4 SCM churches within a 20 km radius of Kochubeevskoe and will accommodate most of the delegates. You can use rail transportation to the Bogoslovskaya station at Kochubeevskoe or to the Nevinnomyssk station; by air to Stavropol' or the International airport at Mineralnie Vodi -- 120 km from Kochubeevskoe. We are aware that many delegates do not speak Russian. Prayers and sermons will he conducted in a number of languages -- assisted by interpreters as required. Brothers and sisters residing in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and other States [countries], may refer all questions to the Chairman of the Liaison Committee, for the Center SCM in Russia, Shabalin, A.I Telephone: USA 650-878-8526; Fax: 650-754-1316. In Russia it is necessary to address: The senior presbyter, Center of SCM Churches, T.V. Schetinkin, (Fax: 86550-2-26-40), secretary/bookkeeper T.T. Ryzhkova (Telephone: 86550-2-17-54), assistant presbyter, and responsible for the financial/material part of the congress, Mikhailov, I.P. (Telephone: 86550-239-52). SCMR, |
