Nizhny Novgorod prologue. The paths to clericalization are confessable

We are publishing a commentary by Galina Shirokalova, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science of the Nizhny Novgorod State Agricultural Academy, on the message about the demolition of the temple complex in the Jewish settlement “Divya Loka”.

I have been to Divya Loka three times. The last time was in the winter of 2016. While driving with a taxi driver from Uren, he said that he used to often take people there on excursions: “I even took my wife and son once. Interesting. Everything is so beautiful. The people who lived there were friendly. They will tell you everything and show you everything. Of course, not everyone can live like them. I didn’t hear anyone go to them.”

In the monastery we found two monks and a novice between the ages of 30 and 40. The friendly conversation at the wooden table with tea lasted more than two hours. Each of them has a good profession behind them, no one was a failure.

I’m not sure that the spiritual quest that many followers of this teaching had in their previous lives can be called God-seeking, although those with whom I spoke were widely educated people who were not “fixated” on any one idea.

Perhaps it was a search for a world in which there is no lie, hypocrisy, reform with the “optimization” of everything: Family, Friendship. Love... Peace in the sense that was used by Leo Tolstoy when he called his novel “War and Peace”. “Mir” was the name of the peasant community in those days. In that “world” they lived in different ways. In Divya Loka - according to strict rules: do not drink, do not smoke, do not curse, do not use drugs; intimate relationships were prohibited. People did not accept these rules in order to “break pride.” The absence of a rigid hierarchy was also attractive, which repels educated, self-sufficient people. In the settlement, a unique combination of atomization, necessary for modern man, was found in a circle of like-minded people.

Not everyone could endure “abstinence” from secular sins. One expelled from the community for violating the rules took revenge by attributing his own sins to the monks. Its publication on the Internet began to attract attention from law enforcement agencies. The prosecutor's investigation found no violations. Then it was decided to choose the “land issue”: how legally agricultural land is used.

The monks said that they managed to delay the demolition of the temples until the summer, but there is no hope for a fair trial. Good lawyers require a lot of money, and the community is poor. They were persuaded to demolish the temples themselves and then all business would be closed: “Leave here completely.”

The situation in which the monastery found itself was described without indignation or bitterness. As prescribed for Hindus.

When we were leaving, the driver, a man who called himself Orthodox, was very indignant: “How can you destroy such beauty!” Indeed, the golden domes of the three temples over the snow-white plain were impressive. I wanted a leisurely life with peace in my soul: the crackling of logs in the stove, water in a galvanized bucket from a well, a samovar on the table, a quiet conversation. What the modern bustle has irrevocably taken from the townspeople.

There was hope that no one would raise their hand to destroy this wonderful world. After all, permission to build churches was agreed with the authorities.

In the spring in Nizhny I was invited to a meeting of community members. The vast majority were young people under 30, some couples came with children. Judging by their conversation and demeanor, everyone has a higher education. Girls in beautiful Indian saris, melodious music, singing, preaching about goodness, loyalty, love for people... About that rare thing that has no place either in today's school or in the media.

I admit that for some of them Hinduism will remain as a hobby of youth. But I can’t imagine that these people will go to a church that forgives any sin for a financial contribution. The proposed introduction of Orthodox culture from grades 1 to 11 in secular schools will not stop the spiritual quest of young people. There is a priest in the photographs taken by the monks during the destruction of the temple. And this raises the question of the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in this process.

Below is a letter sent to me the night after the demolition of the temples: “What do we think about this? We are not upset, we are not sad, we are not broken and, as they say, “you can’t wait.” Our main temples are in our hearts and no one can demolish them. We are grateful to all these people who are demolishing temples, as they help us to become even more deeply convinced of the truth of our choice, the truth of our spiritual path. We hope that instead of demolished temples, hundreds of thousands of temples that will not be demolished will be built in the hearts of practitioners. Of course, this is an act of vandalism, a sign of clear disrespect for our religion, spirituality, lack of true freedom of conscience and respect for our religious feelings, moreover, this is a manifestation of savagery and barbarism, but, unfortunately, in the 21st century we are faced with this and this is our karma. This is a sign for us to reconsider our attitude towards samsara, and conduct spiritual practice even more diligently, and do service even more diligently. Community Council."

PS. I looked at the photographs of the destruction together with the Old Believer: we are preparing for publication a book about his trip to Agafya Lykova. I was surprised how closely he, deeply devoted to his faith, took other people’s pain to his heart. Although by and large there is nothing surprising. The followers of Patriarch Nikon also destroyed their temples. Nothing on Earth passes without a trace... Who's next?