The Truth about Abp Victor [Svyatin] of Peking --

[Barbara]

I am searching for more insight and information about this well-known hierarch [among Russians
who had spent time in China].
The former head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Peking abandoned all for the siren call of the
Moscow Patriarchate. He took a Soviet passport well before, but crossed the border on May 26, 1956
to his new diocese of Krasnodar and Kuban seemingly with no qualm.

He reposed relatively recently, in 1966. [Others like Metropolian Philaret's father, Bishop Dmitry, died
very shortly arriving on Soviet territory].

Significantly, Abp Victor's repose came the same year of St John Maximovitch's ! What a contrast between the 2
Russian Archbishops serving in China !
In fact, Abp Victor reposed only 2 months after St John, whom he had persecuted for not obeying his directives
to commemorate the MP false patriarch, on Sept 18, 1966. I am not sure but assume that that is a New Calendar date ?
Many of us have heard the story of how Abp Victor forbade Abp John to serve at his Cathedral in Shanghai.
But Archbishop John fiercely resisted. He stood outside the Church doors, serving, sometimes,
and also proclaimed that he had taken an oath to serve the Synod Of Bishops Abroad, and
if someone could tell him why it is righteous to break an oath, he would obey. Otherwise....
he marched into the closed Cathedral of the Surety of Sinners and kept serving.
Hence, the 2 personalities were quite opposite.

The question is : was this hierarch a Soviet agent during his years in China ?
Wouldn't it be interesting to read the KGB Archives about Abp Victor during those tense years in the
1940s and early 1950s.

What would have caused him and many of his clergy - certainly NOT Archimandrite Philaret, as well know -
to take up their careers in the forbidding Soviet Union after having spent many years in - at that time - free China ?
I have been pondering this mystery for years. But have not arrived at a satisfactory explanation.

Perhaps carrots were dangled before them. For, Abp Victor was rewarded in May 1961 with elevation to the rank of Metropolitan. 2 years later, the loyal Soviet hierarch was awarded with the St Vladimir medal, first degree.

Surely he was a complaisant agent for the Soviets from way back. But is there any proof for this claim ?

If no one here presently has any ideas, at least later arrivals can find it and contribute.

[Alexander Kuzmin]

I looked at materials in Russian about Victor Svyatin. I did not find any direct material about him as an agent of KGB. But remember that all bishops of Moscow Patriarchate had to cooperate with KGB, they had no choice. Even if they were not direct agents, they were tools doing what KGB tells them through the special representative on Soviets (called Upolnomochennyj). There were no exceptions in this rule.

As for his life in China, it seems like the story was very typical. He was not an agent (because his past was very good), but later he was pushed by them for cooperation. They usually push it by two ways, using "the method of whip and gingerbread" as it is called in Russian. The "whip" was the threats. It is usually not the direct threat but indirect - they know how to influence the brain and to make a person to be afraid without any direct threats. A person will feel completely destroyed and ruined after such conversation. The "gingerbread" was love for Russia. Russian people really got tired living in China and they remembered their dear wonderful country and they were told that they can be there and there is freedom there and that they will enjoy their life in their dear Russia. Many people believed it and returned, men were immediately sent to concentration camps and their wives were sent to Kazakhstan or Siberia. But probably Victor Svyatin was needed for the powers because he happend to be a good tool, so he was not killed.

KGB does not open the documents about cooperation of MP hierarchs because they do not want to hurt their colleagues. Only a very small amount of document got out (mostly in Estonia). But if I find anything I will let you know.

[Barbara]

This is FASCINATING, Alexander !
Thank you for such a superb reply.

Now, what were those "representatives" exactly ? Emissaries from the KGB to the MP hierarchs ?
I had never heard about the existence of these.

Gingerbread and whips - that's a striking description of the techniques used by these "pros" [professionals]
at intimidation of their target victims !
I will remember that. Gingerbread sounds SO nice. BUT juxtaposed with the sinister threats, shiver, shiver.

Also, Alexander, does his last name Svyatin mean 'holy" ??

Please DO let me know if you come across any more material about Abp Victor of Peking !
I would very much appreciate any more insight into this unusual character in the awful drama of
Soviet attempted co-option of the Far Eastern hierarchs.

[Was Abp Victor earlier ever affiliated with Rocor ? I know he was St John's superior. But Abp Victor was NOT ever
numbered among Rocor's hierarchs, right ? Maybe someone else here might have an answer.]