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Mitred Archpriest Georgi Polyakov is rector of the St Nicholas Memorial Church in Sevastopol. For a long time, Fr Georgi did a great job in taking care of the spiritual needs of the Black Sea Fleet and in keeping the memory of the Eastern War alive. Since 1991, he led pastoral work in the Black Sea Fleet, including eight voyages on warships to the Mediterranean Sea. In 1999, he participated in the landing of VDV troops in Kosovo; he was a chaplain to the Naval Infantry in Dagestan and Chechnya. He wrote Russian Military Clergy and For Faith and Fatherland. St Nicholas Memorial Church is in the military cemetery of the heroes who fought to defend Sevastopol in the Eastern War (1854-55), where tens of thousands of glorious defenders of the motherland lie buried. We talked with Fr Georgi on the importance that the recent return of Sevastopol and the Crimea has for Russia and the role the people of Sevastopol played in these events.
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Icon of the Mother of God “Stand for Christ with the Martyr’s Cross”
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Interviewer
Before the all-Crimea referendum, many icons of the Mother of God streamed myrrh, and the Crimea rejoined Russia on the day of the finding of the relics of St Luka Voino-Yasenetsky. Do you think that these miracles were just lucky coincidence? Could we say that the Lord blessed this event?
Fr Georgi Polyakov
The uncovering of the relics of St Luka Voino-Yasenetsky the Confessor was a great spiritual event, not only for our diocese here in the Crimea, but for the entire Orthodox world. However, Metropolitan Lazar Shvets of Simferopol and all the Crimea was the one who did it, so, it’s best to ask this question to His Eminence. However, certainly, these earthly events had a heavenly cause. After all, we have many new saints and martyrs, not all of them Russian, and the Lord still has more to show us! The events in the Crimea were a vivid milestone; it saw the Crimean and Russian peoples reunite, yet, not all these people were Orthodox believers. It really was a miracle; yesterday, they were ready to kill each other, but today they’re united, they forgot their feuds, and they shouted “Hosanna” in unison. One can’t do such through human effort alone, so these events reflect a great change in the inner human condition. When our people defeated the Nazis in the Great Patriotic War, many who lost loved ones forgot their grief, now, the same thing happened in the Crimea.
Interviewer
In the Ukraine, one sees persecution of the MP . They’re forcing priests from canonical church to join the schismatics. What do you think will happen to the UOC/MP?
Fr Georgi
We had something like it in the 90s, when the schismatics beat MP priests and stole our churches, so, people remember that, and won’t allow such events again. Then, after the collapse of the USSR, people were still confused, there were few believers, but now, many people are believers, strengthened in faith.
Interviewer
Can you say what happened in the Crimea was a spiritual event?
Fr Georgi
Look at the happy faces in the Crimea, and look at those who spew blasphemy! Undoubtedly, there’s a struggle of the forces of light and darkness in the Crimea. Above all, this is a spiritual struggle and our prayers to the Lord give us strength in this struggle.
Interviewer
Did you experience anything like this before?
Fr Georgi
We’ve had lesser events, but all of them added up into one big victory. For example, the opening of churches in Sevastopol created Orthodox communities, which led to more believers. All of these small victories led up to the present large victory now celebrated in the Crimea; it awakened something good in the soul of everyone.
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Interviewer
Do you think that the Russian revival has begun?
Fr Georgi
Revival is already underway, but it’s not always easy. In Sevastopol, historical memory is alive, passed on from grandparents and parents. Even if modern Ukrainian textbooks blotted out the first defence of Sevastopol in the Patriotic War of 1812, they know about it, because they live amongst the heroes who defended the city; at every turn, you see their monuments. For example, St Nicholas Church is in a unique military cemetery, with the graves of many soldiers of all ranks… admirals and generals, officers, common soldiers and sailors. This is holy ground, as these men carried out Christ’s Commandment… there is no greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. When people ask me about the cemetery, I always send them to look at the soldiers’ graves. Then, when they come back, they’re changed; they’re wiser, they lose controversy and wickedness, because those graves put them in contact with eternity. It’s the largest military cemetery in Sevastopol, immediately after the end of the siege, they buried over 60,000 soldiers here, but when there was urban development in Sevastopol, they brought the remains of soldiers from other cemeteries here, so, no one knows exactly how many soldiers’ graves are here now.
Interviewer
What helped Sevastopol become the vanguard of the struggle for the Crimea? Did the memory of these soldiers buried here in mass graves have anything to do with it?
Fr Georgi
Sevastopol people grow up and live amongst heroes, in Sevastopol you bump into them wherever you go, starting with Primorsky Boulevard, and ending up on any hill, you’ll find some monument dedicated to our hero warriors. Sevastopol people aren’t like other people; they’re no better or no worse, but they’re different. People who come here are sure to soak up Sevastopol’s élan. In Sevastopol, almost everyone has sailors in the family or sailors in past generations or relatives who served the Russian fleet in different ways. This is what grounds us, our history reflects this; our sailors fought for the faith and for our motherland, they were the glory of Holy Rus. From time immemorial, we turned to the words of the Righteous Admiral St Fyodor Ushakov, “Don’t despair! These terrible storms will turn to the glory of Russia”.
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Interviewer
What can you say to our brothers, the Orthodox in Kiev and in the south-east of Ukraine?
Fr Georgi
Firstly, we need to unite, because if the forces of evil unite, then, the forces of good need to do likewise. If we unite, it’d be hard to crush us; if we joined forces, if we were with the Lord, the Lord wouldn’t allow disaster to befall us. For example, we must pray for the repose of the souls of those who died on the Maidan; they died for a brighter future, they didn’t die for the junta in power now. They wanted a better life, for all people, for their loved ones.
Interviewer
How can deal with the junta in Kiev?
Fr Georgi
You can see that the Lord has a purpose. A month ago, who thought that the Crimea would rejoin Russia, but the Lord so arranged it so that everything was as it should have been. Prayer is an enormous spiritual power, it is as the Lord told us… pray in all faith and it shall be done unto to you.
Interviewer
Will this be a permanent recovery and will we keep this winning spirit?
Fr Georgi
Everything depends on us, on how we behave, because if we all now stopped doing what’s right, the angels would turn away from us, but if we pray for one another and help each other, if we call for love, not for murder and violence, then, we’d have prosperity, both in our households and in the state. Only love can create, but hatred only brings the gnashing of teeth, sadness, and desolation. Let’s find the word of love, let’s learn to forgive… Lent is a great time for this.
Interviewer
How is the national spirit that we see now the Crimea different from the nationalistic spirit of the Maidan?
Fr Georgi
The basis of the nationalist spirit is pride, not love. Pride is the root of sin. No other sin is equal to pride. It turns men into demons… into brazen blaspheming liars. A proud man strikes for base reasons, not for higher ones, from contempt of the poor, from love of money, from ambition and lust. For example, when heard the speeches of [President Putin] and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all the Russias, I didn’t hear any hatred, only words of love and respect to the Ukrainians and Tatars, to Belarusians, Russians, and Chechens. Without love, you are nothing. Remember the words of the Apostle St John, “People love on another, this is a great mystery”. These are not mere words. Let’s learn to love each other… it seems so easy, but it’s so hard. He who loves knows how to forgive. We must learn to forgive, to love, and to suffer, and we have Lent as a time to learn.
Interviewer
Can Banderovtsy and other carriers of nationalist evil repent and become Christians?
Fr Georgi
With God, nothing is impossible.
Interviewer
Why isn’t this happening?
Fr Georgi
Why not?! You see, miracles happen. I wouldn’t be surprised if they repent. St Ioann Kronshtadtsky taught us, “Fight against every evil with the weapons given you by God… the holy faith, divine wisdom, truth, prayer, piety, the cross, and courage”.
Editor:
Here are the most important takeaways:
Everything depends on us, on how we behave, because if we all now stopped doing what’s right, the angels would turn away from us, but if we pray for one another and help each other, if we call for love, not for murder and violence, then, we’d have prosperity, both in our households and in the state. Only love can create, but hatred only brings the gnashing of teeth, sadness, and desolation. Let’s find the word of love, let’s learn to forgive… Lent is a great time for this.
Pride is the root of sin. No other sin is equal to pride. It turns men into demons… into brazen blaspheming liars. A proud man strikes for base reasons, not for higher ones, from contempt of the poor, from love of money, from ambition and lust. … Let’s learn to love each other… it seems so easy, but it’s so hard. He who loves knows how to forgive. We must learn to forgive, to love, and to suffer, and we have Lent as a time to learn. You see, miracles happen.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they repent. St Ioann Kronshtadtsky taught us, “Fight against every evil with the weapons given you by God… the holy faith, divine wisdom, truth, prayer, piety, the cross, and courage”.
This is why Russia will prevail… God wills it, but will only grant it if Russia stays faithful and doesn’t succumb to the amorality and greed of the West (both feed on the other… “conservative” greed reinforces “liberal” licentiousness, and vice versa). Reflect on this… the worst sorts in the West spout religious rhetoric (and “praise Jayzuss”) as they smash their boot into the faces of the poor, promiscuously impose the death penalty, and call for aggressive war in foreign parts. They call themselves “Christians”… compare them to real Christians like Tsar Aleksandr Aleksandrovich, who routinely commuted all death sentences (save for crimes against the state). There’s no comparison, is there? Trust no one who praises biznessmeni and their covetous money-centred mindset (such as “Liberty University”… the name’s oxymoronic, isn’t it?).
Keep that in mind when you vote this November. None dare call it blasphemy…
BMD
3 April 2014
Pravoslavny Vzglyad
http://interfax-religion.ru/?act=radio&div=2105
Voices from Russia 
VVP Appoints Former Ukie Navy Big as Black Sea Fleet Big… Biden Sticks His Nose in Business NOT His Own… Russia Tells USA to “Get it Right”
Tags: Black Sea Fleet, diplomacy, diplomatic relations, Joe Biden, Kiev, political commentary, politics, Russia, Russian, Russian diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, Sergey Lavrov, Ukraine, Ukrainian Navy, United States, USA, Vladimir Putin
Admiral Denis Berezovsky… he rallied to Russia… he chose freedom!
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On Monday, government media sources said that President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Rear Admiral Denis Berezovsky, the former commander of the Ukrainian Navy, as a Deputy Commander of the Black Sea Fleet (ChF-VMF) and Rear Admiral Igor Smolyak as the commander of the Nakhimov Higher Naval Institute in Sevastopol. Previously, Smolyak commanded Surface Ship Division 36 of the Pacific Fleet (TF-VMF).
Editor:
By this, VVP’s telling all present-serving Ukrainian officers, “Come on down, brothers! There’s a place at table for you… in your present rank, with no strings attached”. Trust me; professional Ukrainian officers will jump at this. The Nakhimov Order of the Red Star Higher Naval Institute (to use its formal title) is the former professional school of the Ukrainian Navy. That is, the Ukie armed forces not only lack a formed fleet, they’ve lost the necessary logistics/admin/training base to sustain one. Biden can do nothing to remedy this. All that he can do is to hand out lifejackets as the ship sinks. This is yet more proof that the so-called “Ukrainian” state isn’t long for this world.
BMD
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On Monday, US Vice President Joe Biden will begin a two-day visit to the Ukraine, hours after Right Sector terrorists shattered a fragile Easter truce and patriots in the Donetsk People’s Republic appealed for help from Russia. Biden’s arrival in Kiev comes after a deadly gunfight killed at least two opolchenie fighters in Slavyansk, an incident that sparked “outrage” in Moscow. However, the Western-backed junta in Kiev denied responsibility and claimed that the violence was a Russian provocation. The attack, near the flash point of Slavyansk, undermined an accord worked out in Geneva between Russia, the Ukraine, and Western powers on Thursday under which “illegal armed groups” backed by the junta were to surrender their weapons. The deal, aimed at easing the worst crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War, now appears stalled.
Vladimir, a 20-year-old opolchenie fighter, said that Sunday’s shootout erupted when four cars pulled up to a roadblock in the early hours, saying, “We wanted to conduct a check, then, they opened fire on us with avtomats. We killed three of them”. An AFP photographer saw two bodies laid out in a truck near the scene. For now, no one knows who the assailants were, as they escaped before the opolchenie could bring in reinforcements. Vyacheslav Ponomaryov, People’s Mayor of Slavyansk and opolchenie commander, said that he believed that two attackers died in the firefight. He declared a 00.00 to 06.00 curfew in the town, and appealed to President Vladimir Putin, to send in troops as “peacekeepers to defend the population against the fascists (what patriots call the junta and its collaborators)”. Later, Ponomaryov said, “If you can’t send peacekeeping forces, send us weapons”.
Editor:
Biden’s main mentor was a pro-Ustaša fascist Croat RC priest… Biden hasn’t strayed far from that evil upbringing, I’m afraid. We need say nothing more on this ravening Russophobic monster…
BMD
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Interfax reported that the Russian Presidential Human Rights Council, an advisory body under the Russian Presidential Administration, fears that the Ukrainian crisis might become a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe. It wrote:
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On Monday, local media reported that Yuliya Timoshenko cancelled a planned trip to the USA after congressmen refused to meet with her. Media buzz had it that the trip was to happen on 23 April. However, in the end, Timoshenko herself cancelled it after no high-ranking politician in Washington confirmed a readiness to meet with her. Media stories implied that some US Congressmen suggested that Timoshenko shouldn’t run for the Ukrainian presidency. Last week, she appealed to the US Congress for military assistance to the Ukraine. Timoshenko said that the Ukraine needed “comprehensive assistance, including military-technical aid, such as air defence and anti-tank gear, as well as assistance in training military personnel”.
Editor:
US Congressmen are corrupt, venal, deceitful, and unscrupulous (as a group, they’re the gold standard of corruption on the planet)… but their political radar is nonpareil and they can smell a dead duck at 500 paces. Here’s more evidence that the junta’s not long for this world… and neither is the “Ukraine”.
BMD
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The Berkutovtsy… the unsung heroes of the Maidan. Their professionalism and cohesion kept casualties down to a minimum on all sides.
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Former Berkut MVDU spetsnaz reacted sceptically to the junta’s request to return to service two months after so-called “Interior Minister” Arseny Avakov Berkut officially dissolved the Berkut unit. Vladimir Krashevsky, head of the Berkut Veterans’ Association, told reporters “Now, they’re creating a ‘National Guard’ and some other doubtful units manned by kids and old farts, absolutely untrained. It’s nothing but a soap-bubble”. After some Berkut personnel moved to Crimea or Russia, the junta realised that they didn’t have enough reliable professionals in the security forces, so, they decided to invite Berkutovtsy remaining in the Ukraine for family or other reasons to return to service. Krashevsky said, “[The junta] doesn’t control anything. The Right Sector doesn’t obey them. Therefore, Berkutovtsy don’t trust them”. This move came against the backdrop of a continuing trial of a group of Berkutovtsy on charges of their alleged involvement in shooting Euromaidan terrorists. Krashevsky noted, “They’ve made the Berkut into a scapegoat. I doubt that any former Berkut unit will heed the call. For those in the east, that’s entirely out of the question. In central and western regions, they’re also refusing, as far as I know, all the more so that they already know that they’d use them to crack down on the people”. On Easter Sunday, the MVDU issued a statement urging former Berkut units and Euromaidan terrorists to unite “in the face of an external threat”.
Editor:
The Berkutovtsy embody “COPS”… “Conscientious Officers Protect and Serve”… they took casualties to minimise civilian casualties. They followed Yanukovich’s orders NOT to fire unnecessarily on the crowd. Who would YOU want on the street? The disciplined Berkutovtsy or the unbridled Svoboda/Right Sector pigs? THAT’S the choice on offer… there’s no other one…
BMD
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On Monday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a press conference in Moscow, “There’s been a surge in appeals to Russia for saving them from this outrage. We’re in an extremely complex position. Those who deliberately pursue a civil war, possibly, in an attempt to start a big serious bloody conflict, are pursuing a criminal policy. We won’t only condemn this policy; we’ll stop it”.
Editor:
The Bear growls… the USA had best listen. “This is MY den… hands off!”
BMD
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A rally in the Odessa at the Kulikovo Field voted to create the Novorossiya (New Russia) People’s Republic and elected Valery Kaurov as People’s President. Kaurov, the Head of the Union of Orthodox Citizens of the Ukraine (SPGU), had to use Skype to address the meeting, as he had to flee the city to avoid arrest by junta thugs. Most expect the newly formed entity to be pro-Russian. In another statement, rally participants said that the Novorossiya People’s Republic recognised the People’s Republics in Lugansk, Donetsk, Kharkov, and Podkarpatskaya Rus. Many people wish to use this historical designation for eight south-eastern regions that the Bolshevik government handed over to the Ukrainian SSR early in the last century.
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On Monday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference, “Attacks are continuing in Slavyansk, Mariupol, and other places in the southeastern Ukraine, as well as attacks carried out by militants in masks, who act ruthlessly. There are more and more calls for Russia to save them from this lawlessness. They’re putting us in a really difficult situation”. A reporter asked Lavrov a question on statements by Kiev and the West that the presence of Russian weapons in the southeastern Ukraine proves Russian involvement. He replied, “I think that this argument is just ridiculous, as there were never any other weapons there. You find Russian weapons everywhere in [the Ukraine]”.
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Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, “Before declaring your ultimatums and demanding that we do something within two or three days, otherwise, you threaten us with sanctions, we’d like to urge our American partners to fully realise their responsibility for those they brought to power. The USA protects the government in Kiev by turning a blind eye to the violence committed by this régime and the militants that it relies on”. Lavrov stated that the American arguments that they found a huge quantity of Russian weapons in the area of clashes and conflicts in the Ukraine are ridiculous, saying, “There’s never been any other weapons there, everybody has Russian weapons there. However, what recent TV reports showed, namely, that American weapons are in the hands of illegal armed formations… that’s something new. These arms were in the hands of illegal armed formations, not the Ukrainian armed forces”.
Editor:
The CIA is getting ready to support Ukrainian terrorists. They supported the UPA bandits until 1954… this is nothing new for them. Sadly enough, there are loud elements in the Galician Uniate diaspora who urge this course of action. These murderous bastards don’t care how many people die or get hurt in their little schemes. The upcoming terrorist actions on the territory of the former Ukraine will have the labels, “Made in the USA” and “Approved by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church”. Mind you, over 95 percent of the Uniates are guiltless of this shit, but they refuse to condemn it… silence betokens consent. That’s too much of a muchness not only for me, but also for many other Orthodox people.
BMD
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Vladimir Ponomaryov, the People’s Mayor of Slavyansk, told a Vzglyad correspondent, “Were searching for infiltrators and spies. We caught three of them yesterday. We’ve caught over a dozen already, maybe, around 20. Some things better come in doses. Our adversaries also receive information through you, so, we intend to give them as little information as possible. We know that there are traitors among us. So far, however, they’re under control. We’ll take care of them, if necessary”. Earlier, the opolchenie arrested Euromaidan terrorist Irma Krat on suspicion of spying for the Right Sector and of being involved in torturing people on the Maidan in Kiev.
Ponomaryov said, “We’ve arrested several young people for excessive drinking and breaching the peace, and we now have them on labour duty in building barricades. We prohibited alcohol sales in the town from 20.00 until 10.00, and imposed a curfew from 00.00 until 06.00. That’s because we’re in a situation close to war. We want to ensure the safety of our citizens. However, many just don’t understand and go on partying… until they realise what’s going on. We’ve talked to them and they feel remorse. I said before that things would calm down in about two weeks. It’s happening… bit by bit, life’s going back to normal. We’ll convene the Executive Council of Slavyansk on Tuesday, 22 April, to discuss appointments to the local administration. I’ll talk to our incumbent officials. Those who wish to keep their jobs will stay, we’ll sack those who don’t… for sabotage. Schools will reopen on Tuesday after being temporarily shut due to the events that occurred before Easter”.
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On Monday, local media reported that patriots in Lugansk announced setting up a joint headquarters for the Southeastern Ukraine based in Donetsk, which would coördinate efforts of patriots in all regions. On Monday, people’s gatherings were in Lugansk and other towns in the oblast to formulate the questions for a referendum that patriot elements are planning to hold on 11 May. ITAR-TASS reported that establishing a federal state, the status of the subjects of that federal state, and the status of the Russian language are amongst issues on the agenda of the planned referendum.
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On Monday, Nikolai Patrushev, the Secretary of the RF Security Council (SBRF), said at a meeting of the SBRF scientific board in Moscow, “The scale of challenges and threats is steadily expanding. Today, the deployment of an American missile-defence system close to the Russian territory, as well as NATO’s enlargement, particularly concerns us. Dramatic events in recent history involving Yugoslavia, Iraq, the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan, and the escalation of tensions in the Ukraine raise the level of fear. These events put many nations on the brink of collapse and led to a rise in terrorism and extremism within near to our borders”.
21 April 2014
Voice of Russia World Service
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_21/Putin-appoints-ex-Ukrainian-Navy-Commander-Berezovsky-as-Russian-Black-Sea-Fleet-Deputy-Commander-2059/
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_21/Biden-heads-to-Ukraine-after-fragile-truce-shattered-9384/
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_21/Humanitarian-catastrophe-possible-in-Ukraine-Kremlin-human-rights-council-8215/
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_21/Tymoshenko-cancels-US-trip-as-congressmen-refuse-to-meet-with-her-5788/
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_21/Ukraines-National-Guard-nothing-but-soap-bubble-Berkut-veteran-7049/
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_21/Russia-to-stop-attempts-to-unleash-civil-war-in-Ukraine-Lavrov-5095/
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_21/Odessa-wants-to-become-Republic-of-Novorossiya-8870/
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_21/Russia-in-difficult-spot-amid-calls-to-intervene-in-Ukraine-Lavrov-3110/
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_21/US-must-realize-responsibility-for-Kiev-authorities-actions-Lavrov-4674/
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_21/20-Kiev-spies-detained-in-Ukraines-Slavyansk-by-self-defense-forces-1558/
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_21/Lugansk-protesters-announce-establishing-joint-headquarters-6902/
http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2014_04_21/Ukraine-escalation-threatens-Russias-security-Russian-Security-Council-8225/