Why did God allow the trials of the 20th century to befall the Orthodox state (godless rule, execution of clergy, destruction of churches)? For what sins? What needed to be corrected? #

“For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.”
(Hebrews 12:6)

When we are ill, we go to a doctor who begins to treat us. The treatment can vary. If the illness is advanced, the treatment may need to be radical, even involving surgery or the removal of certain organs to save the entire body. If in the 20th century, religious organizations and segments of the population closely tied to power suffered the most, then the root of the problem should be sought in these areas. What happened in the Church that could have provoked God’s wrath? If the state had truly been Orthodox, no healing would have been necessary. Therefore, we must look for the moment when the once-Orthodox state deviated from the right path.

If we examine the history of the Church in Russia, we see, on the one hand, external adornment of churches and the designation of rulers with Orthodox titles, but on the other hand, the total subjugation of the Church to state structures and the personal authority of the tsar, along with severe persecution of those who disagreed with the official Church line. The killing of clergy and destruction of churches did not begin in the 20th century. As a result of Church reforms in the mid-17th century, a new church organization was created, designed to be entirely subordinate to the tsar. The destruction of the ancient Russian Church began, and a new one was established based on the modern Greek and Ukrainian models.

Those who disagreed faced severe repression, executions, and economic discrimination. Many were forced to flee to remote regions or abroad. Executions targeted, first and foremost, priests, monks, and active preachers who did not accept the new faith. Many ancient churches were destroyed, and monasteries were closed. Old Believer churches, chapels, and prayer houses were demolished. In the few functioning churches, altars were sealed, as was the case at the Rogozhskoye Cemetery in Moscow. Ancient icons and frescoes were destroyed or rewritten in the new style.

At the same time, social stratification increased. While nobles were freed from obligatory state service, peasants were almost entirely enslaved. The official state Church had no patriarch and could not convene Councils. Acting as an arm of the state, church structures initiated persecution of dissenters, which inevitably provoked a backlash. The Lord said:

“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.”
(Hosea 8:7)

In the 20th century, we see the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Thus, today, we must not replicate pre-revolutionary practices but instead ensure that we follow God’s commandments.

— Priest Evgeny Gureev