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Bells destroyed by communism return to holiest site in Russian Church
2002-216-5
9/18/2002
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[Episcopal News Service]
In an emotional ceremony televised across Russia, two colossal bells were hoisted to the belfry of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Monastery outside of Moscow, the holiest site in the Russian Orthodox Church.
'In this we see historical justice,' said Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia after a September 4 prayer service, minutes before a huge crane lifted the first bell into the place occupied by its predecessor 72 years ago. 'We are recreating what was barbarically destroyed.' Although originating in Western Christianity, bells have been a powerful symbol for Russian believers. The Bolshevik destruction of church bells has remained one of the most symbolic acts of Soviet atheism for many church members--and the raising of new bells has emerged as an equally powerful symbol of spiritual revival.
The two bells are the largest produced in Russia for 200 years--weighing 27 tons and 35.5 tons. They have been named Pervenets (Firstborn) and Blagovestnik (Evangelist). The challenge now is the raising of the third bell, the 64-ton Tsar, larger and more expensive. The church hopes to cast and raise the bell next year, if funds can be found.
Sergei Demidov, chief architect at the monastery, recalled searching through abandoned churches in rural Russia in the 1980s, looking for bells for Moscow's Danilovsky Monastery, the first church returned by the Soviet government. 'At the time we never would have dreamed that bell-making would be reborn in Russia so fast,' he said.
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