Russian Orthodox Church ready to support all orthodox believers at Beijing Olympiad

Written on August 10, 2008 – 10:23 am by admin

In an interview with the Voice of Russia radio station a spokesman for the Moscow Patriarchate Bishop Mark of Yegorevsk said that the Russian Orthodox Church was prepared to support all Orthodox believers at the Beijing Olympic Games. As is known, the Olympiad will be held from August 8 to 24.

At present Beijing’s Olympic Village seems to be a strange site for the country: a synagogue, a Catholic church, a Muslim mosque, an Orthodox church and a Buddhist temple have been erected in close proximity to each other. For China where religion is strictly controlled by the state this looks most unusual. The country’s authorities made an exception to the rule by allowing several dozens of priests of various confessions to support believers among athletes and guests during the Olympiad.

Russian Orthodox Church will be presented by two priests in Beijing. The permission of the Chinese authorities to support athletes during the Games is most important for the Russian Orthodox Church. Bishop Mark of Yegorevsk says that today there are many Orthodox believers among Russia’s athletes who need church support. He is convinced that prayers for success of the Russian team can help it to overcome all difficulties and to win. Here is more from him:

“During previous Olympiad Leonid Tyagachev issued a call to pray for success of the Russian national team. What is noteworthy is that prior to this, in the beginning of the Games, Russians did not win any awards. This is what actually prompted Leonid Tyagachev to ask for prayers. To surprise of many Russian athletes began to win medals in several days after the call.”

True, representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church will support not only Russian athletes but also Orthodox believers from other countries attending the Games. The thing is that there are no local Orthodox priests in China in recent years.

The history of Orthodoxy in China can be traced back to the late 17th century: in 1684 Cossacks of the Russian Albazin fortress were taken prisoner by Chinese Army and forwarded to Beijing where led by priest Maxim Leontiev they founded a Russian community and religious mission. In 1954 the mission was dissolved owing to political reasons, its property was handed over to the Chinese People’s Republic. Several years later the Chinese Orthodox Church got autonomy from the Moscow Patriarchate and became independent. From that time on there is rule in China that only a Chinese national can be a priest. Here is more from Bishop Mark:

“Nationals of China cannot get spiritual support from priests of other countries. Yet at present there are no Orthodox bishops and priests in the country. The Russian Orthodox Church currently possesses only one church and a community in Hong Kong. And there is also one priest who visits Beijing and conducts services on the territory of Russian embassy for Russian nationals and nationals of other countries, that is, for all Orthodox believers residing in China.”

In conclusion the spokesman for the Moscow Patriarchate says there is hope that the Olympic Games will show how important for people are spiritual support and an opportunity of attending church services and praying. This can open up a new chapter in the history of Russian Orthodox Church in China.

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