"There could not be such growth in the
Church if there were no demand. That is why we feel so special when we place
the foundations of new churches..."
Patriarch
Kirill of Moscow and All Russia believes that increasing number of Orthodox
churches in Russia is testimony that the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church
is something the people want.
"Over the last six years our Church
increased by 5,000 churches and 10,000 clergymen, which means that people need
the Church’s mission. There could not be such growth in the Church if there
were no demand. That is why we feel so special when we place the foundations of
new churches," the patriarch said at the ceremony of laying the
first stone in the foundation of the Assumption Cathedral of the Sarov
Hermitage, where St. Seraphim of Sarov lived.
According
to Patriarch Kirill, this is a testimony to "the faith of our people,
their spiritual power, to the vector of spiritual and even social development
that connects material prosperity with spiritual growth."
The
patriarch has recently said that churches in Russia are built because people
have the need, and not by command from the hierarchy.
"This is not because someone ordered to
build [a church], but because of enormous strength of the faith of our people,
who support the authorities’ wish," the Church primate said on July
28 after consecrating the restored Church of Smolensk icon of the Mother of God
in Oryol.
Source: http://russian-faith.com/trends/russia-builds-5000-churches-adds-10000-clergy-six-years-n963
CONVERSATION