Russian Protestants try to add something to President’s family policy
A Russian conscript bids farewell to his family before he leaves to serve in the army at a railway station. Photo EPA, Stringer
Eastern Europe
Many churches throughout Russia’s Protestant community have dedicated 2024 to be the “Year of the Family.”
Entitled God sem’i,(Год семьи) in Russian, Boris Protasevich from Zaoksk Adventist University said to IRP that the event will discuss the importance of traditional family values and encourage healthy lifestyles. An advisory council of the nation’s Protestant church leaders held a meeting in December to discuss the events at the National Spiritual Meal gathering in Moscow.
Some of the events include a three-day summit for the heads of Protestant churches. The summit will focus on building bridges with authorities and encouraging activities within the leaders’ communities, the IRP report said.
Prayers
Andrey Blinkov, pastor of Holy Trinity Pentecostal Church near Moscow, said that his church is observing the nation’s “year of the family” by holding weekly prayer meetings. “We are involved in the prayers with families during this year,” he stated.
The meetings are held in the evenings via Zoom. Blinkov said that the church sees around 40-50 people, along with nearly 10 families that come through its doors. In response to the national drug and alcohol crisis plaguing many families, the church also runs a rehabilitation centre.
While the nation’s churches generally remain supportive of upholding traditional values, Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin has also become a proponent of protecting the family unit, he said. “His position is very strong on standing for the traditional family. His policy is sincere, but with politics, it’s a different issue,” he said.
Events
In addition to the Pentecostal church, the Seventh-Day Adventist community has become involved by providing a connection event for pastors. “It turned out to be a truly national event thanks to the fact that Adventist pastors came from Khabarovsk, Perm, and Chita. In the near future, we plan to organize similar events in the regions,” Andrei Gaidamaka said in an article posted on the worldwide Seventh-Day Adventist website. He is also head of the National Spiritual Meal Foundation.
Amid the large-scale events happening throughout the year, others are expected to be held for the 80th anniversary of the Victory celebration in 2025. Russia’s Victory Day is held every year on 9 May and commemorates Russia’s victory over the Nazi regime in 1945.
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