Russian Orthodox church battles for future in N.J.

By REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press Writer
4:24 PM EDT, September 5, 2007

BUENA, N.J. - In this wooded corner of New Jersey under golden onion-shaped domes of a Russian Orthodox church where slender candles light up a wall of religious paintings, the Cold War lives on.

A small group of worshippers gathered Sunday at the Sviato-Pokrovskiy Russian Orthodox Church for what may have been their last service. The tiny congregation is facing eviction because they disagree with their parent church's decision to reconcile with the Moscow Patriarchate in Russia.

Their fate could be determined this week, when a judge is expected to rule on a lawsuit brought by the diocese seeking control of the roughly five-acre church property located halfway between Atlantic City and Philadelphia in an area that was settled by Russian immigrants.

The diocese's decision to reconcile was abhorrent to worshippers like those in Buena, who revile the Moscow Patriarchate for its cooperation with the Soviets years ago and for its close ties with the Russian government today.

"This was seen as just a Soviet church, a man-made arm ...Read the rest here.