Putin honours Protestant leaders with unity award

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On National Unity Day, November 4, most people in Russia are not entirely sure what the nation is celebrating exactly. For years, this date has been a remembrance of the bloody Russian Revolution that took place in October according to the old Russian calendar.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian government has officially reinstated the holiday, commemorating the liberation of Moscow from Polish-Lithuanian occupation in 1612. It has become the Day of National Unity, and this year, the Kremlin decided to use this day to honour religious leaders for their contribution to national unity.

A ceremony took place in the Moscow Kremlin’s historic Catherine Hall, where Russian President Vladimir Putin presented state awards to prominent religious figures and representatives of various traditionally established confessions that have been in Russia for many centuries. The Order of Honour was received by spiritual leaders of Russia’s traditional religions, amongst them Chief Rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar, Mufti Ravil Gainutdin, Buddhist leader Damba Ayusheev, and others.

The Putin regime is notorious for its policy of winning the support of religious leaders. The Russian Orthodox Church, in particular, works closely with the Kremlin, and Putin seeks to be seen with Patriarch Kirill. However, he now also presents an award to Protestant leaders.

Fascism

Of particular interest to the Christian world was the medal given to the Presiding Bishop of the Russian United Union of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals), Sergey Ryakhovsky. In Protestant Russia, Mr Ryakhovsky is known for his Russian patriotism, which, for example, led to the breakup within the Pentecostal Word of Life church between Russian and Ukrainian churches. Ukraine has sanctioned Sergey Ryakhovsky for his stance in the Russo-Ukrainian war, stating that he is against “fascism and Nazism in the 21st century”.

Ryakhovsky is known for his loyalty to the Kremlin regime. Many Protestants in the Russian regions would not acknowledge his respect for President Putin and his policies.

In his address, Bishop Ryakhovsky noted that he considers this high state award a recognition of the work of all Christians of evangelical faith and Protestants in Russia. He emphasised the practical ministry of believers: “We work for the good of our nation, we are one nation in joy and in sorrow. We have hundreds of centres where people are rehabilitated, as well as hundreds of public organisations. This is part of our contribution to the well-being of the nation.”

Speaking about family values, the bishop added, “We have many large families. I myself am a father of many children. For us, it is important not only the development of the demography of the Russian Federation, but also that Russia be filled with people who love their country and serve their people.” As in many European countries, the issues of demography and the preservation of traditional values are equally important in Russia.

Adventists

Less well-known in Russia is Pastor Oleg Goncharov, one of the leading pastors of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination in Russia, who received the Medal of the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland”. The fact that Goncharev received a medal for his contribution to the nation’s unity is notable: Adventists are often seen as a sect, and members have had administrative issues for “unlawful missionary activity”, according to Forum18.

The reaction of Goncharev was full of joy: “Vladimir Vladimirovich, today’s award is a historic event for all Seventh-day Adventist Christians in Russia.” Goncharev emphasised that for the first time in almost 140 years of Adventist service in Russia, the head of state has honoured a representative of their church with such a high award. Goncharov stressed that the medal would serve as an incentive for further “serving of our neighbours in our country.”

Meaning

Russian media emphasises the importance of harmonious leaders from different faiths cooperating and engaging in dialogue. For many years, religious leaders from Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Buddhist backgrounds have met together to maintain good relationships. Some Christians have critiqued this growing cooperation, stating that a one-world religion is not what the gospel of Christ is about. Others say that shared values important to the Russian people can definitely strengthen the nation’s unity.

As Ryakhovski states: “We, probably, are the only country where all religions and confessions are friends with each other”. After his speech, bishop Ryakhovski shook hands with the Russian president and thanked him for the medal. And later, some laughter erupted in Catherine Hall when the president did not immediately succeed in placing a medal on Oleg Goncharov’s pastor’s cloak.

Orthodoxy

The ceremony ended with the laying of flowers at the memorial for Kuzma Minin and Dmitri Pozharski, who played a vital role in the liberation of Moscow in 1612. While a group of thirty religious leaders watched, President Putin, together with the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Kirill (Gundayev), honoured Minin and Pozharski with flowers. This gently showed that the Russian state does have a preference when it comes to which religion in Russia’s eyes is the most significant.