If only. Still one cannot imagine a leading Canadian federal politician in such a picture:
Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, his wife Svetlana Medvedeva, and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at an Orthodox Easter celebration at Christ the Savior Cathedral, Moscow, April 4, 2010
Much earlier and all too, er, Soviet:
Mark
Ottawa
Ironically, this picture is politically acceptable, even popular, in a land where a generation ago the official position was that religion was evil, while it would be political suicide for our allegedly “theoconservative” Prime Minister of a (formerly Christian) country to display his religion openly.
I’m an atheist, but I have nothing against Christians. I send my kids to an Anglican private school because the public system is so empty.
The evolving hatred towards Christianity in this country is sickening and saddening. Meanwhile all other sects, cults, and ideologies are appeased.
It’s beautiful to see the return of Christianity to Mother Russia, even if it is only for political correctness. They are now beginning to understand that this defined the Russian peasant and gave them succor during the dark days of official atheism. Unfortunately there is a whole generation who were brought up without it. And the true believers have mostly died off. It will take time.
Odd how the Christ child looks so…..so….Russian!
I don’t think PM Harper particularly hides his Christianity..he also does not push it in anybodies face either..
In another era, Putin’s KGB goons would have been helping the state apparatus to suppress religion. How many millions lay in unmarked graves because of his beloved Communism?
I think it’s an insult to Christians everywhere in Russia that this man even shows his face in a place of worship.
“Still one cannot imagine a leading Canadian federal politician in such a picture”
After Wafergate, what Canadian politician would want to?
Agree Completely. Also, I am convinced that Patriach Kirill is an FSB officer (Colonel Gundyayev). His loyalties, evidenced by his pronouncements and his actions, are as follows: The FSB, Vladimir Putin, The Russian State, The Russian Nation, the Russification of the former Soviet Union, money and the various commercial monopolies that the ROC (MP) control, Christians & Christianity. I personally don’t believe he even believes in God.
Catholic’s are not really christian.
Catholic’s are not really Christians.
What do Catholics have to do with it? Russians are Orthodox, separated from Rome since 1054:
http://www.lasvegasorthodox.com/library/history/articles/Schism-The_Great_Schism_of_1054.htm
Mark
Ottawa
Catholics are not only Christian, their faith is recognizable as that of the earliest Christians. Read the writings of Ignatius of Antioch from the 100′s, or the Didache from even earlier, and you will find belief and practice that is fully compatible with (what had not yet then been canonized as) New Testament Scripture, and fully Catholic besides. Don’t take my word for it; read for yourself.
Regardless of your uninformed opinion, what does your comment have to do with anything in this post? Russia’s historical background (at least for the last 600-700 years) is Eastern Orthodox, and contains a recurring virulent strain of anti-Catholic hatred.