PRESIDENTIAL CHRISTMAS; THIS YEAR--SUZDAL
http://www.stetson.edu/~psteeves/relnews/0401a.html#01
7 January 2004
President Vladimir Putin, who is famous for his habit of going away somewhere far from the capital on the great Orthodox holidays, traveled to greet the current Christmas in Suzdal. For a relatively well informed Orthodox Russian the name of this city evokes associations not only with ancient Russian history or the tourist and museum business, but also with division in the church. As is known, in Suzdal is located the ecclesiastical administrative center of one of the "alternative" Orthodox churches, probably the most famous after the schism of ROCOR, the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (RPATs). Probably for many on either side of the line of the church division there is a temptation to link the visit of the "Orthodox president" to Suzdal with this situation. How well based are such presuppositions?
Much already has been said and written about why the head of the Russian state prefers to travel far into the countryside on the most important days for the Orthodox Christian, the feasts of the Nativity of Christ and Pascha. Several analysts think that in this way he shows his vital religious sense, as a sincere Orthodox Christian, who is trying to escape from the spotlights and the official protocol to some place where it is easier to get into the "hidden cell of one's heart." Others suggest that the president is demonstratively distancing himself from the present leadership of RPTsMP, avoiding participation in services conducted by Patriarch Alexis II. Whatever the case, departure from Moscow on Christmas and Easter has become for the president the rule that he did not violate this year also.
However just why was it Suzdal, an ordinary burg with a population of 12,000, on which the choice of his majesty fell? From a crude point of view one wants to explain the act of the president as his attempt to bury himself in the "native Russian" atmosphere of the "chief winter holiday." And the fabled Suzdal creates the most appropriate setting for this. Besides, a picture showing Vladimir Putin against the background of dozens of church domes, snow-covered fields, and a Russian troika is very effective from the PR point of view; it creates a solid association of the president with the national culture and national spiritual values. It is also noted that some of the president's relatives live in Suzdal. From an economic point of view, the choice of Suzdal as the object of the head of state's visit could be explained by his concern for the development of the tourist business. Suzdal, which attracted every year the attention of tens of thousands of foreign tourists even back in soviet times but has in recent times gone into decline, should by rights become the center of such business.
In addition, the president's inner circle contains several persons who want to turn Putin's attention to the church problems that have become synonymous with the word "Suzdal." And even the president himself, who already has taken an active part in overcoming the division between RPTsMP and ROCOR, is surely not unaware of these problems. The visit to Suzdal began with a meeting of the president with city Mayor Andrei Ryzhov, who gained office almost two years ago thanks to the active support of the militarized extremist organization "Our Business" [Nashe delo], which is based in Suzdal for the specific purpose of "fighting schism." Andrei Ryzhov, who has considerable experience of working in the KGB-FSB ranks, from the very beginning of leading the city has actively involved himself in church affairs, supporting RPTsMP in every way and restricting the activity of RPATs. During his tenure as mayor the notorious trial of the head of the "alternative church," Metropolitan Valentin, has been going on, which was supposed to put an end to RPATs but turned out to fall flat. Vladimir Putin is being accompanied by numerous clerics of RPTsMP who, one should not doubt, will "immerse" the president in the "problem of schism." Finally, the head of state is visiting churches in the village of Kideksha where a former archpriest of RPATs and aged secretary of its synod, Andrei Osetrov, serves, who was later again consecrated a priest in RPTsMP. The church in which he serves is the object of a judicial investigation since, according to all documents, it belongs to the Suzdal diocese of RPATs.
Nevertheless, the president's visit to Suzdal most likely will cool down the fervor of those who, while singing Hosanna to the "devout Orthodox president," in reality try to defend their corporate or personal interests by means of the state, including those that are concealed by ecclesiastical rhetoric. (tr. by PDS, posted 7 January 2004)