Metropolitan Pavel: Our Church Is Always With Its Flock

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One hundred years ago, the Russian Orthodox Church followed its flock into exile, becoming the strongest support for the Russian diaspora, says Metropolitan Pavel of Khanty-Mansi and Surgut.

“In any continent and any country where our compatriots eventually settled, our Church was always there for them, sharing their grief and hardships,” the Metropolitan said, addressing an International conference in Yugra, themed “Developing educational, cultural, and academic ties with compatriots living abroad, helping preserve Russian spiritual and cultural traditions”.

"Church parishes outside Russia became the natural centers of Russian communities. Our compatriots came to the Church to find consolation and to restore their spiritual strength. For our brothers and sisters, our Church provided staunch support, helping them preserve their cultural and historic identity. During the Russian Exodus it was the Church which became the only consolidating force in the Russian diasporas.”    

The Metropolitan reminded the audience that after the 1917 October revolt, Russia lost millions of its compatriots from all walks of life. The number of those who had to leave the country is roughly estimated at 3 million people. The civil war triggered massive emigration from Russia. The first wave of emigrants settled mostly in Sophia, Prague, Belgrade, Paris, and Berlin. Later on, Russians went to the US, Canada, and Latin America.

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