Forum in Velikiy Novgorod - The Phenomenon of Russian Protestantism

The idea of ​​organizing the conference and its practical implementation belonged to pastor Anatoly Korabel. Anatoly is a long-term Christian minister with diverse interests. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he plays the trumpet in the church brass band. But his main hobby is researching the history of the evangelical movement in the Novgorod region.

The recent, 11th conference was timed to coincide with the 160th anniversary of the beginning of the formation of evangelical churches in this region. Anatoly presented a report on peasant migrants from Latvia, who were attracted there by cheap land. Among the Latvian peasants there were many Baptists who set out and founded Evangelical Baptist churches in the early 1860s.

As is known, more than 600 years ago powerful waves of zealous God-seeking swept across the land of Novgorod and large spiritual reform movements arose. The most prominent and influential were the Strigolniki. Of course, it would be an artificial stretch to completely identify the Strigolniki of the 14th century with modern Evangelical Christians and Baptists. But in their doctrinal treatises and spiritual practice, there were grains of evangelical truths and evangelical spirituality. For example, statements of this kind: God does not live in temples made by hands, only the apostolic writings are the source of the Christian faith, every believer should have the right to personal testimony and preaching, all believers should participate in the worship and glorification of God. The Strigolniki sought to escape the dominance of rituals and traditions that entered the church in the post-apostolic era.

The flowing Volkhov River still reminds us of the martyrs of faith, Karp and Mikita Strigolnik, who were attacked by a maddened and ignorant crowd, thrown from a bridge in 1375 and drowned in the river. Nowadays, the pedestrian bridge over the Volkhov River is a favorite walking place for citizens, tourists and just numerous guests. This is a picturesque part of the huge complex of the Museum-Reserve of one of the oldest cities in Russia.

It is noteworthy that it is here, on the Novgorod land, which gave birth to martyrs and God-seekers with independent thinking, with a living faith, that from year to year a forum of modern enthusiasts of various Christian circles, theologians, philosophers, religious scholars, historians, philologists gather. Here on a common platform, representatives of different Christian denominations and scientists of different profiles feel quite comfortable with one another. Everyone is interested in sharing their experiences and knowledge. Thick collections of conference materials are periodically published, from which church and non-church people can glean useful information for life and ministry.

The format of the conference is similar to the educational “Christmas readings” that are regularly held by the Moscow branch of the Russian Orthodox Church. However, the Novgorod conference is distinguished by a wide range of topics and the multi-confessional composition of participants.

The musical program of the conference was aimed at glorifying God, the Organizer of the Universe, and introducing those present to Christian musical art and poetry. The musical evening usually takes place in the historical Butuzov house, where Baptists held services at the beginning of the 1900’s.

In the evening, an ensemble of young violinists from the community of the International UECB Churches, a married couple, Yuri and Liya Larionov from Riga, performed, poems by Elizaveta Kuteinikova, a poetess from the times of I.S. Prokhanov. The name of this evangelical worker and her heritage were discovered by Anatoly Korabel in the process of his research. Anatoly spoke to students and teachers of the local university about the life and work of Kuteinikova.

The third day of the conference ended with a worship service in the church. A joyful, jubilant mood was created by the large brass band, victory hymns were performed by the choir and lively inspiring sermons were delivered.

At such conferences, those present have the opportunity to get acquainted with the depth and versatility of Christianity and see with their own eyes the living, dynamic, creative face of its essential part - Protestantism.

Vladimir Popov