Under the Soviet regime, acute problems arose among Christian Baptists in their relations with the authorities. The lively dynamics of baptism, the free spirit of open confession of their Christian beliefs, often encountered a deaf and hard fence of laws that allow believers only ” the exercise of religious worship.” As an instrument of the totalitarian state, replete with countless prohibitions, the laws on religion, adopted in 1929 and existed almost unchanged until 1989, extinguished any spark of kindness, shackling the spiritual and creative life of believers. Without outside control, it was impossible to take a step. Children were strictly forbidden to attend services. If you want to elect Ministers, you need the “blessing” of the authorities. Well, if a young man or a girl declared their desire to become Christians, they were taken to ” educate” at the place of work, in every possible way trying to drown out the attraction to the Christian faith.

In 1961, a special instruction was issued on how to apply the law on religion, and then commissions were formed to monitor compliance with the law at the Executive committees of local Councils. The situation of the faithful was further aggravated. Presbyters were forced to submit lists of newly converted Christians to the authorities, to baptize young people under 30 years of age was not allowed, talented preachers were tried to prevent the guardians of the law from reaching the Church pulpit, all manifestations of living faith outside the houses of worship were strictly suppressed. The policy of the authorities, aimed at gross infringement of the rights of believers, caused a powerful protest movement in the bowels of the Baptist churches. Right there, everywhere, the state repressive machine which with small interruptions worked till 1989 was started up. Over active believers organized trials, sent recalcitrant in camps and exile. Praying for their persecutors, not holding them in the heart of evil, believers asked God for patience and fortitude to protect the right to free confession of Christ.

The era of global change that has come to our country over the past decade has changed the position of Christian Baptists in society. Fulfilling the command of Christ, the Baptists of Russia to the best of their abilities and capabilities launched spiritual and educational and charitable activities in medical, correctional labor and educational institutions. Baptists believe that the establishment of Evangelical ideals in the souls of people will lead to a comprehensive improvement of society. The very composition of the faithful has changed now, in many churches it has become younger, and the educational level has increased. Every year, 8 – 9 thousand new followers of Jesus Christ join the Christian Baptist Church.

The originally pious Russian people have always been characterized by a cosmic, universal consciousness and breadth of soul. Russian Baptist communities have long been open to Christian cooperation with co-religionists from abroad. Bridges to the Christians of Europe were built by prominent preachers I. S. Prokhanov, V. G. Pavlov, V. A. Fetler. Fraternal international contacts expanded the spiritual horizon of believers without losing their own original face.

In General, Russian baptism is a peculiar phenomenon in the history of world Christianity. This is a multidimensional fusion of Russian and Western spirituality, an organic combination of Christianity of the West and the East.

30 / Mormons, Jehovah’s witnesses, Church of Christ, charismatics, new age in Russia

The history of Mormonism in Russia goes back more than a decade, although it was interrupted in Soviet times. In 1843, just 13 years after the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, President Joseph Smith called two men to preach in Russia. This appointment was revoked after the death of Joseph Smith in 1844. In 1895, a native of Sweden was sent to St. Petersburg to baptize the family of Johan M. Lindelof. This family was then visited from time to time by the leaders of the organization in the early 1900s. [1] In 1959, Ezra Taft Benson, then us Secretary of agriculture, visited the Central Baptist Church in Moscow, where he prayed for the creation of a parish. [2]