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Russia (MNN) — Persecution of believers in Russia has intensified in recent months. Those who refuse to register their activities or conform to the State’s agenda face increasing oppression.

In today’s Russia, the Russian Orthodox Church speaks with a powerful voice — one that has grown quieter for the Gospel, yet louder in the realm of politics.

Rev. Mykhailo Brytsyn, Director of the Religious Freedom Initiative for Mission, a Voice of the Martyrs Canada partner, says, “We really have big concern about situation in Russia, because during last couple years, persecution of believers there arise, like in times.”

Many churches have been closed or confiscated. Some of the pastors are arrested for refusing to register their churches, which would give the government full control over what’s preached and believed.

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Representative photo of Russian Baptist church, Vsevolozhsk (courtesy of Steven Pavlor via Wikimedia Commons)

“[Russian government] wants to use religion as their leverage for their political system. The regime needs to control everything. The dictatorship rises, controlling every part of life, every part of society. They already use the Russian Orthodox Church just as their tool,” Brytsyn adds.

The Russian Orthodox Church amplifies the state’s voice, using Scripture to justify war and persecution. Those who disagree are shunned.

“Not all Orthodox priests in [the] Russian Orthodox Church are happy about this war, so they say some antiwar statements, and they are expelled from [the] Russian Orthodox Church,” Brytsyn adds, noting that this includes prominent, well-known priests.

Now, unregistered Baptist congregations are becoming targets. Brytsyn explains that unlike registered churches, these independent fellowships fall outside state oversight — something the authorities increasingly view as a problem, especially when absolute loyalty to the war is demanded.

“They’d like to put all churches — Protestant churches and Catholic churches — in the same sphere of their interests. And as far as registered churches are easier to control, they put their attention just on non-registered movements.”

This raises a deeper question: what is Christ’s Church called to be? A community rooted in Scripture, unafraid to call war what it is and peace what it is — faithful to truth and to the Lord, even when that faithfulness brings cost.

Human rights organizations have identified hundreds of prisoners in Russian custody imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief — and their number is growing.

Pray that truth prevails in Russia over the fog of disinformation. Pray also for the integrity of church leaders not to compromise their faith under the State’s control. Pray for Russian Christians to remain faithful to Jesus.

Visit Voice of the Martyrs Canada to learn more. And if you’d like to hear the full conversation with Pastor Brytsyn about the current state of the Russian church, you can listen at this link.

 

Header photo: Priest in Russia (photo courtesy of Alexey Wineman via Pexels).