Journal of European Baptist Studies, 2017

yakov believed that Protestantism can never exist on Russian soil. 85 Given this openness to Orthodoxy by Russian Baptists in the 1980s, it is little wonder that Russian Orthodox leaders were ready to reciprocate. 69 See B V, no. 2 (1989), p. 56. 70 See fiF, no. 2 (1989), p. 65. 71 See B V, no. 3 (1989), p. 69. 72 See BV, no. 4 (1989), p. 51. 73 See BV, no. 6 (1990), pp. 68-70. 74 SeefiF.no. 1 (1991), p. 56. 75 Ibid., p. 57. 76 Ibid. 77 See fiF, no. 2 (1991), pp. 57-8. 78 See fiF, no. 6(1991), p. 74. 79 See fiF, no. 2 (1992), p. 43. 80 Ibid. 81 See fiF, no. 3 (1992), pp. 50-1. 82 SeefiF.no. 4 (1992), p. 70. 83 See, for instance, F. Dostoevsky, ‘Mirages: Stundism and Radstockists’, in F. Dostoevsky, A Writer’s Diary’, Vol. 2, 1877-1881, trans. by K. Lantz (Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 1994), pp. 816- 20 . 84 See, for instance: Velikiy Knyaz’ Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov [Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich Romanov], ed. by S. Mironenko et al. (SPb.: ART-Palas, 2000). 85 See, for instance: A. Khomyakov, Sochineniya Bogoslovskie [Theological Works] (SPb.: Nauka, 1995). One of the most popular Russian Baptist hymns - The land is trembling- is written by A.S. Khomyakov. 38 Journal of European Baptist Studies 17:1 (2017) There were enthusiastic Orthodox readers of Bratsky Vestnik, such as a head of a monastery, who wrote: Thank you very much for the periodical... It has rich contents and it meets the manifold demands of believers... God help you in such a difficult ministry! With thanks, Hegumen Eleazar. 86 The same issue of Bratsky Vestnik, in 1980, contained this letter: When I received some issues of the periodical, I was pleasantly surprised to know how many people loving the Lord live in all parts of our country... I wish you much success, welfare, and divine help in your highly demanding work. Archpriest Konstantin. 87 In the 1970s and 1980s there were joint divine services in various Russian Baptist churches involving the participation of Russian Orthodox priests and also Baptist presbyters taking part in services at Orthodox churches. Bratsky Vestnik repeatedly informed readers about this. Not denying that these events were partly stimulated by Soviet power, one should pay attention to the fact that the joint services with the participation of representatives of the Baptist communities and the Russian Orthodox Church did not cease in the period of religious freedom in the country, starting from the second half of 1980s. Therefore it would be wrong to blame only the Communists for the ‘Christian ecumenism’ in the Soviet Union. [At Leningrad Baptist Church], after congregational singing... Metropolitan Nikodim said, ‘Beloved brothers and sisters! Your brother in Christ, a Russian Orthodox bishop, is now before you... I feel as a Christian among Christians here’. 88 On Russian Orthodox Bishop Anthony’s invitation, [Baptist] senior presbyter