[OldCorps]

I'd like to make a few comments from an Orthodox perspective (btw, i'm a convert to Orthodoxy but am an American). I've been around Russians for about 25 years; mostly in church settings.

1. Pravda, being a commie publication, knows nothing about Orthodoxy or even Christianity. I'm sure the publication still has some old time party members hanging around to harangue the masses with marxist/leninist claptrap. The author, Olga Makhovskaya, probably considers herself Orthodox, but in fact knows very little about the church, beyond getting her kids baptized.

2. Yes, times have changed in Russia, but communism completely destroyed the church. Many recent Russians emigrees that have come to U.S. don't know the differnce between a saint, an apostle or even an Old Testament prophet. What the author calls the Russian Orthodox Church is in fact an organization that was created by Stalin and whose bishops were all hand picked by the KGB. The heierarchs (bishops, metropolitans and the patriarch) are all pretty much corrupt men. For those interested, there is a branch or the Russian Orthodox Church which declared autonomy when the commies took over. This church (Russian Orthodox Church Abroad) has kept the traditions of Orthodoxy and its bishops are humble pious men.

3. Most Russian women who come over to the US will not go to an Orthodox church, as they view the Moscow Patriarchate as just another extension of the government (as it was under godless communism).

4. I caution those of you inclined to get a Russian bride to consider the cultural differences. Russians don't think like we Americans and in order to have peace you will have to make accomodations.

5. Marriage in the Orthodox church comes down to two basic admonitions from St. Paul: a. Women, obey your husbands. b. Men, honor and love your wives.

6. If the woman you are interested in is somewhat religious and wants to go to a Russian Orthodox (real one, not the commie fake) you should probably get to know something about the faith before getting married.

Regards,

[Freebird Forever]

4. I caution those of you inclined to get a Russian bride to consider the cultural differences. Russians don't think like we Americans and in order to have peace you will have to make accomodations.

I'd appreciate it if you could expand on this thought.

Thanks

[Old_Mil]

5. Marriage in the Orthodox church comes down to two basic admonitions from St. Paul: a. Women, obey your husbands. b. Men, honor and love your wives. 6. If the woman you are interested in is somewhat religious and wants to go to a Russian Orthodox (real one, not the commie fake) you should probably get to know something about the faith before getting married.

You make them sound like the Catholic girls from my mother's generation (who are sadly MIA from mine...).