Борис Здоровец. Каким судом судите. Легендарный лидер инициативников Геннадий Крючков

June 19, 2012 · Baptists, AUCECB, Persecution, KGB, On Emigration, Denunciations, Vestibule, Religious Mafia, Testimonies, Council for the Affairs of Religious Cults under the USSR Council of Ministers, Security Services, USA

Gennady Kryuchkov

I recommend reading.

A testimony article by the Baptist prisoner Boris Zdorovets (source: Yakov Krotov’s Library) about the iconic figure who led the Council of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, Gennady Kryuchkov, who died in 2007, and who “hid from the KGB” for 18 years, from 1970 to 1989. On November 5, 2002, while standing at the pulpit of a Baptist church in Spokane, Washington, he was presented with a piece of soap and a rope with a noose at the end, and was loudly denounced as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

In 2007, to great sorrow, the fears of Grigory Vins came true: “I pray for him constantly, but I fear he will leave this life unrepentant.” And so it happened – he asked no one for forgiveness, and did not forgive even Pyotr P., who begged him with tears.

Boris Maksimovich Zdorovets — a Baptist, imprisoned 1962-72, spent 10 months at liberty, then sentenced to four more years. See Savatsky’s essay. From Irina Uvarova-Daniel’s memoirs about him: “This Baptist decidedly lacked angelic meekness. On the contrary. When a chief from Moscow visited the barracks, Zdorovets just sat there darning, without stirring. The chief asked why he wouldn’t stand, and Boris replied: ‘When you let me out of here, then we’ll talk about manners.’ The chief grew angry: ‘I’ll let you, you (…) filthy Baptist, out only when a priest baptizes you back into the Orthodox faith.’ — ‘It was you, citizen chief, who was baptized by a priest, but my parents were Komsomol members,’ our Baptist answered.” (index.org.ru/athome/uvarova.html).

Many have heard how, on November 5, 2002, in Spokane, a delegation of the CC ECB, led by its chairman, was received. It seemed good to me also, as the one responsible for those events, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus… so that you may judge for yourself…

BEWARE OF HIM, YOU TOO.

However, with your permission, I will begin with what led to November 5, when Kryuchkov, standing at the pulpit of a Baptist church, was presented with a gift: a bar of soap and a rope with a noose at the end. And he was loudly declared a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

***

Today, only three people remain alive who, in the first half of February 1961, self-organized into the Initiative Group (IG), initiating the Movement for the cleansing and sanctification of God’s people — the registered and unregistered congregations of ECB in the USSR. And led to a split and the formation of yet another Union of ECB.

There were five of us in all.*) At the suggestion of Gennady Kryuchkov (GK), we agreed to keep the formation of the IG secret until the very day when two IG representatives would go to the Office of the AUCECB and deliver to its ministers the “IG Message…” calling for consent to hold an Extraordinary All-Union Congress of ECB Churches. In order to give the IG the status of an organization created with church blessing, a rumor was assiduously circulated that supposedly, at a members’ meeting of the Uzlovaya ECB congregation, the idea arose to form an IG to convene an All-Union Congress. And the implementation of that idea was entrusted (to brothers, headed by) GK. And he then found us… Granted, that may have been the case. But…

Anyone who lived in those years knows that in the USSR there simply could not be a congregation without an informant planted or recruited from among the believers, a ‘sexot’ as they were called at the time. And the Uzlovaya congregation was no exception.

The KGB knew about the presbyters of ECB congregations, even which way they turned their heads when sleeping — as someone once put it figuratively. Let us not exaggerate the omnipresence of the KGB, but to underestimate their capabilities is even more dangerous. They, forgive me, are born cardsharps, and honest believers, sitting down at the table with them, as a rule, end up losing.

If indeed at the members’ meeting of the Uzlovaya congregation the question of forming an IG was considered, then the KGB could not have been unaware of it. And if the KGB knew and did not prevent it, that means the formation of the IG was advantageous to them, or even more intriguing: the IG was created at the prompting of the KGB, with their knowledge and consent.

This is a version; a supposition based on conclusions drawn from individual facts. But, as lawyers say, a hundred hares do not make one elephant.

Therefore, I will tell it as it happened, where I, together with Prokofiev (who went home to the Lord on July 29, 1995), were direct participants. And you, Theophilus-lovers-of-God, judge for yourselves…

***

Hearing the noise of the approaching next wave of persecution against religion, on Prokofiev’s initiative we fasted much, prayed, and asked the Lord for clarity on what to do… And there were many such groups of those ‘who sigh and groan,’ secretly gathering for intensified prayer all over the country (from Kharkov came also the day for those meetings – Friday). In one of them, on the third day of fasting, GK stood in the midst, read Article 20 of the Legislation on Religious Associations: “..the initiators of a congress may be… individual groups of citizens” (I quote from memory). And he proposed to those assembled, on the basis of that article of the Legislation, to self-organize into an Initiative Group to convene an All-Union Congress of ECB Congregations.

*) I say ‘five’ because two others were present at that meeting. They brought and handed to us the then unknown to anyone ‘Instructional Letter’ and ‘Statute…’ And they ‘disappeared’ so that we know nothing more about them.

If in its time the Jerusalem temple was rebuilt ‘by decree’ of the pagan king Cyrus, then I see nothing shameful in the fact that the IG was also formed on a human basis — on the Soviet Legislation on Religious Associations;

Its name — Initiative Group — it also took not from Scripture, but from that very Legislation (and participants in the Movement were long called ‘initiativniki’).

But the underlying motivation behind the creation of the Initiative Group (IG) was a lie about the necessity of an All-Union Congress of the Evangelical Christians-Baptists (ECB). A lie, because none of its five founders believed that the IG could get permission to hold a congress; or that a congress could remedy the spiritual state of God’s people.

And as it later turned out, G.K. used the idea of a congress to discredit the All-Union Council of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (AUCECB), to separate a part of the believers and on that basis create his own Union and lead it;

Prokofiev hoped to take advantage of the legitimate right “to address all God’s people directly with the Word he had…” (for that right he was ready even to lose his soul);

Zdorovets dreamed “of great upheavals”… Etc.

For all of us, the idea of a congress served as a screen, a demand before the authorities that was safe even for the most timid… A maneuver, or a deception, exactly corresponding to Moses’ approach: “..Let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord..”. But in his mind: to bring the people out of the land of Egypt and into Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. And each of us had something in mind. The common thing was to “stir up the water in the pool” of the AUCECB…

The KGB also linked its own plans to the IG. For example, to undermine the authority of AUCECB ministers in the eyes of ordinary believers, to weaken it and make it even more dependent on the authorities, to force “religion—the handmaid of imperialism” to work for the socialist system. And at the same time, to “conduct reconnaissance by combat”—to identify and subsequently liquidate active religious figures with anti‑Soviet attitudes…

However, we must admit: much went not as anyone expected, planned, or foresaw… As it is written: “…and the wrath of man shall praise Thee.” Jesus corrected and turned to good the mistakes of Peter, Paul… And only He can turn our delusions, like water into wine… Glory to Him! But that is a special conversation. We will concentrate our attention on what is closer and more understandable to us.

***

Nowhere in even the most democratic legislation will we find that “separate groups of citizens” can be the initiators of congresses without indicating their affiliation, number, and purpose of the congress.

And the conclusion suggests itself that the Soviet legislators, by introducing that article into the legislation, pursued the goal—to give “legal right” to career Chekists infiltrated among the believers to “self‑organize” into IG and hold “congresses” in defiance of Christian figures; to create a kind of “Chorna Rada” with the aim of overthrowing or weakening the power of the “White” Rada (in our case, the AUCECB). As a side note, in 1962 the Supreme Soviet of the USSR changed the wording of that article, so that “initiators of a congress” could only be registered Union boards… And thus, the IG was deprived of a legal basis for its legitimate existence.

Immediately after the October Revolution, the Chekists successfully used the above‑mentioned method in the struggle against Orthodoxy and the ECB Unions. And it would have been surprising if Khrushchev, launching the next campaign against “organized religion,” had forgotten about it.

And that Khrushchev planned to employ that method and was “laying snares” is confirmed by the transcript of his speech in 1958 (9) at the All-Union Conference of “Ideological Workers.” Where he directly called, I quote: “to infiltrate the midst of believers and undermine religion from within” (emphasis mine).

But if the members’ meeting of the Uzlovaya community actually blessed and commissioned G.K. to organize the IG, then the question arises: why did he bluff and demand that not even our wives should know about it?

Or here’s a curious incident. On the first Sunday of May of the same year 1961, when 5,000 copies of the “First Epistle of the IG…” were ready, we, already members of the IG, gathered in a mining settlement next to Uzlovaya. Prokofiev and I were led one by one, with the greatest precautions, into a room resembling our summer kitchen, with one small window facing the courtyard. But when G.K. arrived, he ordered even that window to be covered.

And while the hostess was fussing, stretching an old, hole‑ridden headscarf over the window, I could not stand it and asked what all this was for. And we were told in all seriousness that the hostess’s husband was an unbeliever at home and that, walking around the yard, he might see us and report. So we sat in that semi‑dark little room without turning on the light.

The question is: for whom and why all that “conspiracy,” if the members’ meeting of the Uzlovaya church knew about it?!

That was the beginning. And then, more and more—G.K. openly led believers into delusion, that the KGB, going to great lengths, hid listening devices in electric meters, even called famous psychics for help, but he remained “elusive” (except for one single case, about which later).

Among believers, not without intent, rumors were spread about how God’s angels “encamped,” even lifted the car in which G.K. was riding above the road to hide it from the car with the KGB agents “riding their tail”… There are living witnesses who heard about those “miracles” from the lips of G.K. In the book edited by G.K., “Imitate Their Faith,” on page 171, one such case is described: at the end of 1963, about 30 police officers headed by the KGB, from 9 p.m. until morning, tried to catch G.K. and Vins in the house of Brother Duda, but God miraculously saved them from arrest…

In total, G.K. spent more than 20 years “on an illegal footing.” Ministers of the Council of Churches regularly traveled to consultations with him, whose names the KGB also knew. And the author of these lines was honored to be with him in his “safe house” for three days. Yet the poor KGB, which had its agents even in the governments of Western countries, which stole the secret of making the A‑bomb in the USA, etc., etc., shamefully fell flat on its face with G.K.: it could never track him down, “get on the tail” of those same secretaries who constantly darted to and from him.

Someone stronger and more cunning helped G.K. successfully shake off all “tails,” or else he, like Christ, could become invisible, pass through walls, through crowds, be taken up when needed?! And as for those three years that G.K. ostensibly spent in camp over his entire 30‑year activity—who can confirm it? Does he have a court sentence and a certificate of release? And what documents can the KGB not fabricate in order to “cover” its agent?! And if necessary for the success of the cause, they will even put him in prison! As long as he “gains trust”…

Or do you also believe that GK, having a 5-grade incomplete secondary education (he confirmed this last week), working as an electrician in a camp zone, was supposedly accused of making drawings, almost of a particle accelerator for transmission to the West, but “thanks to the protests of many believers, the criminal case that had been opened was closed” (?!). Yet many brothers—for example, the same Skornyakov—had “camp crimes” that were simpler, and the believers’ protests were even stronger, but no, it did not help—they sat without getting out for second and third terms… (?!).

In connection with the above, I have one question: what goal did GK pursue by spreading all those legends about himself?

“With God nothing is impossible”—answer our childishly naive grandmother-sisters. But what about believers who cannot believe fabrications; who know that not only “love believes all things,” but also “a fool believes every word”; when those “miracles” are contradicted by their personal experience and sound reason; when there is every reason to say that much, too much in GK’s activity coincided with the goals of the KGB, which cannot be explained by mere coincidence, and that from 1958—and possibly earlier—when State Security officials discussed with GK the possibility of sending him abroad to study theology, and until the most recent time he had close contacts with that organization.

Beloved in Christ, not everything is as simple as it sometimes seems to us. The struggle against “organized religion,” declared by Khrushchev, is a multi-move combination calculated for decades. Even our emigration to the USA is part of that program. And he began it, the one of whom Paul said: “…we are not unaware of his schemes.” And let us be wise so as not to draw hasty conclusions, yet simple enough so that we are not drawn into that “game.” For in that battle with the spirits of wickedness in the heavenly places, the victors will only be those who were not captivated by men—Acts 20:28-30.

The day after I returned from GK, due to the inexperience of one brother, a summary of my conversation with him fell into the hands of the KGB. This happened on Saturday, and on Monday I was detained. A senior KGB official of the Kharkov region talked with me for about an hour.

Having heard in the camp about the suppression of a person’s will by injecting a special solution into the body, I got scared and began to lie that I had been taken to GK with my eyes blindfolded. But by the end of the conversation I realized that he was pretending to want to find out where GK was hiding, while in reality he was interested in and worried about something else, specifically, whether there was a printing press on the territory of the Kharkov region.

Emboldened, and to be finally convinced of the correctness of my assumption, I went “all in,” as gamblers say—I said that I could remember the name of the town where GK’s “conspiratorial” apartment was, find the street by landmarks, and recognize the house…

I told the truth, but my “help” in searching for GK only created a problem for them—how to show that they were very interested, and at the same time conceal that they did not need my help in this (!?).

By the way, I repeated the same thing about 8 years later, when Zhenya Rodoslavov, on GK’s assignment, was causing a split in the autonomously registered Kharkov church, and lied that he was in an illegal position and was being sought by the KGB. I fell into temptation then as well—but worried that I might unwittingly become a Judas, since I considered and still consider him a brother in Christ.

However, I called straight to the KGB: the one you are looking for is in a house at 35 “A” Volodarskogo Street, he has gathered believers and is creating a church that is against registration…

And do you know how my attempt to catch a brother in a lie ended? Not him, but I was suddenly seized and, without any explanation, held in the police station until midnight (I think so as not to hinder brother Zhenya from doing “God’s” work!?). A strange KGB, isn’t it?!

I apologize for deviating from the set goal of helping those who love God to decide how to treat GK—to welcome him as a brother and continue paying for his activities, or… let him use the presented rope and piece of soap for their intended purpose—repeat the act of Judas. With this in mind, let us return to the events of the 60s.

***

Presidium of the AUCECB

Finally, the long-awaited news arrived that Karev had returned from his trip abroad, so that he, Zhidkov, and the others could be “caught” at the Chancellery, which the Initiative Group had been waiting for about 2 months. Just before the “march,” something unforeseen happened: Pavel Afanasyevich Yakimenkov, who was supposed to be the first to sign the IG documents and go with GK to the AUCECB Chancellery, was arrested.

GK from the very beginning categorically objected to Prokofiev signing the IG documents, since he, supposedly, was wanted. And the IG had to act strictly within the framework of the Law. But at that moment there was no replacement for Yakimenkov. And GK, reluctantly, agreed.

There was only a little argument, since it turned out that if Prokofiev signed the IG documents “in place of Yakimenkov,” he would then appear first; and if the signatures were arranged in alphabetical order, then Kryuchkov would be first.

For Prokofiev it made no difference who was first. And Brezhnev, they say, was torn, not knowing how best to be called—“Ilyich,” but then second, or “Leonid,” then first. And for GK this was an extremely important issue. And I remember that in all the main IG documents, Prokofiev’s signature stood first. Today almost everywhere Kryuchkov stands first. How this happened, I do not know.

And in general, brothers, do not be offended, but what is written on behalf of Baturin—how at the end of ’61 he first arrived in Rostov for a meeting where they left him a seat next to GK—is probably not how they write or speak even about the Pope, who is “infallible” not always, like GK, but only when he stands behind the pulpit (we will quote that passage below).

The first year Kryuchkov without Prokofiev was “like a zero without a stick.” It was we (and the KGB) who elevated him; and he added to it by showing himself in public as rarely as possible. Prokofiev, yes, was burning in spirit and ignited others. While this one could only “push others under a tank” and “cleanly” remove his possible competitors. Well, if you don’t believe it, you don’t have to. Read further.

There, in the Chancellery, Kryuchkov declared that the Initiative Group (IG) had ten members. Prokofiev paid no attention to this, and the others knew nothing about it. If this is true, then it must be acknowledged that even then GK was hatching an insidious plan and preparing the ground for its implementation.

From the standpoint of democratic norms, it is only possible to transform any organization—in this case, the IG—let alone give it a new direction or set a different goal, with the participation of all its founders.

In order to circumvent that unwritten law, GK could arbitrarily include new people in the IG… And at the end of February 1962, GK’s next step was a “knight’s move” that no one understood—he renamed the IG into the Organizing Committee. Even more cunningly—without saying anything about the future fate of the IG, as if parallel to it…

GK had no right to do this. Because of the five IG founders, only two remained at liberty. And there was no valid reason—after all, the IG was created precisely with the aim to “organize a congress of the ECB”; from the very beginning it was also an organizing committee. That is precisely when he needed new members of the IG, as if replacing those who were absent. This was a trick, which deceived even Prokofiev, and in the eyes of believers unversed in administrative casuistry it probably looked like “special giftedness and wisdom from the Lord,” much as the art of Bezalel appeared to the primitive nomadic tribe of the Israelites.

By cunningly “substituting” the IG with the Organizing Committee, GK freed his own hands: there was no longer any need to consult or take the IG founders into account, and after another three months, when Prokofiev was also arrested, nothing and no one hindered GK from changing the aim and direction of the Movement and leading it toward the creation in 1965 of a second Union of ECB by simply renaming the Organizing Committee into the Council of Churches of the ECB.

Thus over four years the original, main goal and task of the IG—to unite the artificially divided people of God into registered and unregistered—was deliberately consigned to oblivion, and those who supported the Movement, led by GK and his followers, were taken in a directly opposite direction—toward division. And the “dialogues” with the AUCECB and GK’s verbal assertions about “seeking a peaceful resolution of the conflict” are nothing other than Joab’s kiss to Amasa—2 Samuel 20:8…

At the beginning of the Movement, the defining motto was: “Stand in the breach for the people of God.” But when GK turned the Movement around and it went backward, its defining and guiding motto became: “…come out from among them and be separate.” And no matter how anyone might try, it is impossible to unite those two directions into one. Judge for yourselves.

“Stand in the breach…” (Ezekiel 22) is, in the fullest sense, a prophecy about Christ. We, the followers of Christ, only “fill up in our flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of His body, which is the church.” Christ is ahead, and those who belong to Christ are behind Him, next to Him.

The enemy attack on the city of God on earth—the church—is met first by those who have enough strength and courage to stand in the breach with Christ. These are the firstborn, the heroes of faith, perhaps the best part of the people of God. But they are never the whole Church.

Just as the firstborn of Israel could not be the entire people of Israel; just as the defenders of a city who rush into the breach and close it with their bodies cannot be all the inhabitants of the city; so also those who raised their voice for the truth in 1961 and those who later joined—however many they may be—cannot and have no right to consider themselves the whole Church. They are an eye, a hand, a foot, or whatever else, but NOT the whole “only faithful Church.” This is an immutable Truth.

The call to “come out from among them and be separate,” taken literally, fundamentally changes the picture of spiritual warfare presented above. If in the first picture those standing in the breach protect the rest of the city’s inhabitants—the weak and the cowardly, children and adults, thieves and honest citizens of the city—then the literal fulfillment of the command “come out from among them and be separate” declares all the inhabitants and the city-church itself to be Babylon. But then those standing in the breach, it turns out, fought, suffered, and died… for Babylon!?

And not only that. How much literature, obtained at such a high price, did we carry to them? And how are we to handle the assertion that thanks to the feat of the Initiative activists, the authorities gave great freedoms to the registered churches of the AUCECB, allowed them to hold congresses, receive Bibles from abroad, and permit young people to serve in the church… After all, if the AUCECB and the registered churches belonging to it are Babylon, then we directly helped to strengthen Babylon?!

As you can see, by destroying today what we built yesterday, we make ourselves transgressors—we have been led into an illogical dead end.

The other day, one convinced supporter of the CC said: “If Prokofiev, you, and some others hadn’t been arrested at the beginning, you wouldn’t have allowed the division… You did your job, you caused a stir, and then it pleased the Holy Spirit to have you arrested, so that you wouldn’t interfere…”

From this it follows that the division of the ECB churches is a deed pleasing to God, and the Holy Spirit laid it on the heart of the KGB to arrest and hold in strict isolation for ten years those who could have prevented the people of God from splitting, who could have hindered GK. Who, then, is he in such a case? An instrument of the Holy Spirit, but only insofar as the KGB obeys Him. Marvelous are Your works, O Lord—even the KGB works for You and consciously does what pleases Kryuchkov and the Holy Spirit (?!).

And entirely in harmony with this is the testimony about Kryuchkov (“Imitate Their Faith,” p. 79), which, I believe, he himself put into the mouth of the now-deceased brother Baturin. After all, the dead do not object—as can be judged by some of you. I quote:

“…the brother has a special giftedness and wisdom from the Lord, a deep knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. What he speaks about, what he advises, what he undertakes—EVERYTHING is in accordance with the will of God, always grounded in the Holy Scriptures, and corresponds to the Holy Spirit. In his sermons one feels not human authority and power, but a special spiritual force.” End of quote. (Emphasis added by the author).

Here is the root, a bitter root, which having sprung up caused much harm, and by it many were defiled. The KGB, like a skilled cardsharp, used the “Initiative” people who had come to the fore as cards in a deck—some it elevated (Kryuchkov, Vins, Khrapov), others were sent into obscurity—“on the convoy to the moon,” as prisoners say (Prokofiev, Zdorovets, Shaptala, Bondarenko, Yakimenkov, Rumachik…); still others were needed by G.K. as prisoner-great-martyrs (Baturin, Antonov, Skornyakov…).

Thus G.K., not without our support, became the first leader of the Movement, with whose opinion the KGB reckoned, and for those captivated by him, he presented himself as an infallible leader, an idol… And then things went according to the usual scenario: whoever held to the initial purpose of the Movement and whoever dared to contradict—G.K. dealt with them without hesitation: some back to the camp, others he declared “alien to our brotherhood,” “having entered the path of betrayal…” and so on. And through the mouths of his like-minded he declared that all registered ECB churches not belonging to the Union he organized are Babylon; there are only “individual souls” there to be sought and saved by leading them out of the church that is doomed to destruction because of its ties with the authorities…

And whether G.K. acts this way because of religious fanaticism that has blinded and darkened his reason, or as a career KGB officer infiltrated into the believers’ community, whose task is “to undermine organized religion from within”—the essence of the matter does not change.

As a rule, a ravenous wolf in sheep’s clothing cannot be recognized by his sermons. Especially if the sermons are composed and written for him by others. “By their fruits you will know them”—the Lord taught His disciples. But our trouble is that even if someone has the gift of discerning spirits, “our worship service” is structured in such a way that its manifestation would immediately disturb “the established order.” We do not know how to listen to the quiet voice of the Anointing! And the real fruits of his activity G.K. carefully masks.

But what is most fraught with consequences—we have forgotten the warning of the apostle John: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols!”

Beloved in the Lord, whoever thinks he stands—no matter how ashamed you may be for yourself and for others, look with sober eyes at the “fruits” of G.K.’s activity; for the sake of your soul and the salvation of your children, look and… do not be silent!

Are you he that troubles Israel? (Ahab to Elijah)

Why did Christ say to His disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (not the Jews)? Because Israel did not accept the testimony about the Son of God.

Why did Christ send Paul “far away to the Gentiles”? For the same reason: “They will not accept your testimony here.”

The very same reason applied to Oncken, a German by nationality. In the 1870s, not having great success in his own country, he traveled through the villages of Ukraine, fervently prayed for “those living in darkness,” and urged the Stundists to separate and come out of Orthodoxy, to create their own communities, ordain their own presbyters, baptize “upon the faith of the one being baptized” in water, and so on.

And today, for childish minds, reports of brothers traveling with the preaching of Christ to Kolyma or other remote corners of Russia provoke special joy and readiness to give money for their missionary activity. And no one thinks that this is a sign of stagnation, a sign of the approaching end.

For one begins to engage in missionary activity not exactly because, or more precisely, not at all because he has grown to love the Eskimos, Evenks, Yakuts or the German Ukrainians, but because “in his own country” they have stopped accepting his testimony.

And we, without a constant influx of converts, degenerate like potatoes planted many times in the same field; like a tribe practicing consanguineous marriages…

With the collapse of the USSR, the number of supporters of the Council of Churches (SC) in Russia sharply declined. Only in Ukraine live two-thirds of all SC members. And subtract Moldova, Belarus, the Baltic states, and Central Asia, and in Russia there remains a pitifully insignificant handful of its followers…

Therefore, G.K. opposed the formation in each independent state of independent church leadership. He published a series of articles calling not to recognize state borders “in the spiritual activity of the Church.” It is this, and not concern for you, that also brought G.K. to the USA. And as a response to the changes that have taken place in the world, he renamed the SC into some “International Brotherhood…”

But it is not enough just to call oneself something. To survive, one needs money, a lot of money, and as many supporters as possible. The number, precisely…! It suits the wolf well when the sheep are well-groomed, plump… but that is already the concern of those who are entrusted “to shepherd God’s flock that is among them…” And the wolf’s concern is to preserve the appearance… of a minister of righteousness and to deceive souls!

Today, it is still possible to travel to Ukraine and “shear” without asking anyone and without giving account to anyone… And boastfully declare that Jesus did not ask permission from secular authorities to hold a meeting on the mountain or anywhere else. But for a trip to get dollars, he had to temporarily forget his principle of “independent ministry.” And not only ask permission to enter the USA, but also specify the concrete purpose of the visit—and, what is more, lie!

And even sneaked in, like a bribe, placed in their hand, how to carry it through customs without reporting where you got it, is also dangerous… One will have to lie here too, to circumvent the laws… And those who issued him the visa knew, yet they gave permission to enter the USA. For what purpose? Is the declared struggle against “organized religion” still going on?!

Personally, I was troubled by something else: “…when you see a thief, you join with him, and you keep company with adulterers…” (Ps. 49). For despite all my faith that each will give an account of himself to God, I cannot free myself from the awareness that I will also answer for others, and that I may become an accomplice with a thief and an adulterer. And I have enough of my own, even to shovel it.

For this reason, when I heard that G.K. had received a visa, I began to ask God that he would not come, at least to Spokane. But every time I heard an answer within me: “He will come… even to Spokane.”

I understood that this was my own desire, that it was not pleasing to God, yet I did not back down but kept insisting on my own way. I knew that he was a thief, according to John chapter 10. Like a robber, he mortally wounded my soul and destroyed more than one servant of Christ. He destroyed them because many believed him… And they believed because, just as Samuel in his time pointed to Saul and said, “Behold your king…,” so in that I am also guilty.

In the past, as one appointed by God to be a watchman (a doorkeeper), I often fell into “perils among false brethren” and, exposing them, gave no thought to losing my authority, despising the warning: “He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame…”

But back then it was simpler for me – I was not responsible for deceitful workers: someone else had begotten them, trained them, and sent them. My task was to warn God’s children about them! But with G.K. it was completely different. This was a special, unique case. I let him into the sheepfold, I vouched for him, I urged them to trust him as they trusted me… For at least four‑fifths of those who supported the IG in 1961, I was like the Samaritan woman for the people of Sychar; if not to say more…

Therefore, the closer G.K. came to Spokane, the heavier my soul became, and the more painfully I felt the lack of clarity about what to do so that Christ would not say to me: “When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst with him…”

With the support of friends, we called him in Sacramento. Peters answered. We proposed a meeting in a small circle… The reply, clearly prepared in advance, was: — After the last conversation between Kryuchkov and Zdorovets in 1972, no meeting can be spoken of. — Tell Gennady about our proposal. — This is the answer of Gennady Konstantinovich Kryuchnov!!

In great distress of spirit I withdrew again… And then I heard: “…be grieved for your own sins.” Taken aback, I just sank down onto my heels and began to ponder what that had to do with the present moment. The telephone rang. Without moving, I picked up the receiver. The pastor of an American church was calling and, without explaining anything, said: “Be courageous!” And almost at the same moment, the words of the hymn we had sung on Sunday began to resound in my heart: “…Trust and Obey…”

A struggle was going on in the spirit – my “I” did not want to yield. But with great effort I consented to entrust myself to Him and to submit… The intensity of the struggle subsided, and I continued to reflect. And suddenly, I became a participant in a dialogue…

— You did not choose Me, but I chose you… — Yes, Lord… — I sanctified in you the gift of discerning spirits and appointed you a watchman… — Yes, Lord. — When you first met (in 1961 – mine) you received clarity: “This is not the one who will bring blessing to God’s people.” What did you answer? — I was worn out by inaction, by waiting, and so I said: “Let it be worse, so long as it is different!” — And what did you do? — Over four months, until the day of the arrest on December 25, 1961, I traveled around all the large ECB communities in Ukraine, Moldova, Rostov and Brest, found those who were grieving and sighing, and called them to support Kryuchkov’s idea about the necessity of an ECB congress, and I assured them that he would not let us down and would cause no division. And many believed because of my word. — Was it according to My good, acceptable and perfect will that you spoke and did this? — I was zealous for Your people, and zeal for Your house consumed me. — You were warned: “Do not be zealous to do evil,” and “I will not spare you a second time.” — Yes, Lord, but I did evil unintentionally; I believed Kryuchkov’s assurance that the Movement started by the Initiative Group would not be used to divide the ECB churches.

Four months after its beginning I was arrested, and then Prokofiev as well. And they kept me in such isolation – You, Lord, saw it – that at times I could not even write a letter to my wife. I am not guilty for the division, since I could not influence the further unfolding of events… And I returned to Kharkov ten years later, when everything had already been done…

— You rejected the revelation of the Spirit, and you believed the flesh… That is your sin. All that followed is the consequence of sin. As a watchman placed at the entrance, you opened the door to the wrong one, you let him into the sheepfold and did much so that My sheep would listen to his voice.

All this had occurred to me before. But now the Holy Spirit set before me what I had done as my grave sin, which harmed others as well…

Before the enlightenment of that darkness, there were moments when, in revenge for all the evil he had caused to many, I was ready to act according to Psalm 136. And I would have been blessed… Either to come up from behind, throw a “garrote” over him and hoist him over my shoulder (fortunately, he is shorter than me); or to do as my ancestors did in similar situations. I quote from the “Tale of Bygone Years”:

“…such a sorcerer appeared under Gleb in Novgorod. He spoke to the people, pretending to be a god, and deceived many, almost the whole city, claiming that he knew everything in advance… And there was unrest in the city… and the people were divided in two… Gleb took an axe under his cloak, approached the sorcerer and asked: …‘Do you know what will happen to you today?’ ‘I will perform great wonders,’ he said. Gleb then drew the axe and cut the sorcerer down, and he fell dead, and the people dispersed…”

But now everything seemed turned upside down. Like Daniel, I lay prostrate for some time in total exhaustion. Then I got up and asked my wife to take me to the church where Kryuchkov and his like‑minded ones would gather. And clarity entered my soul that from now on I must be grieved for my own sin – that I let a predatory wolf into the flock of sheep.

And if they slander me, revile me, beat me and flay me alive – I deserve more, I have earned it! For all the calamities of God’s people, all the sufferings and spiritual poverty – all this is because of me.

On the way and while sitting in the meeting, I cried out to the Lord in my spirit: I have sinned, I have done evil; but these sheep, what have they done?… Lord! Let Your hand be on me, and not on Your people, to destroy them…

Before the service began, the presbyter announced: “Today we have a somewhat unusual meeting. We have as guests Kryuchkov, Peters, and Antonyuk. They will participate in the service. Afterwards they will tell about life in the churches of our brotherhood and answer questions. Questions should be submitted in written form. The brothers will decide which questions are edifying and will answer them.”

A sharp pain pierced my heart: the last thing was that the “guests” did not want to have sincere brotherly fellowship with those gathered; they could not say of themselves with the apostle’s words: “…renouncing hidden shameful deeds, not resorting to cunning nor distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God”—they were hiding something and were afraid of openness… like wolves that fear light (fire) and noise.

But at that moment I had no time for that. I was burning with the awareness of my guilt, my sin. And as soon as Peters, who had spoken first, called those gathered to prayer, I cried out: God, be merciful to me a sinner… I was crushed that I had let a fierce wolf into the sheepfold and that he had caused much harm to God’s children. I asked to be punished—I am guilty, but the sheep, what have they done? I also promised that whatever should befall me—sufferings, slander, and any punishment, from whomever it might come—I would accept as a sign of His great mercy toward me, a sign of His pardon… And I said that the wolf must not die “his own death…”

I ended my penitential prayer with an ardent plea: “Deliver not the soul of Your turtledove to the beasts—and to this ravenous wolf, Kryuchkov; cast not off the congregation of Your poor forever.”

The congregation listened to the prayer in silence. The choir softly began to sing something, but also fell silent. Immediately after me, Peters prayed and everyone stood up. And then it began—pushing aside those standing nearby, zealots according to the flesh, led by the presbyter, rushed at me and began to drag me out, which was highly awkward: I was standing deep in the row and holding onto the back of a chair. They tore my hand away, and I braced my knees against it… The presbyter, meanwhile, kept saying: “Leave, or we’ll call the police.” I did not object, I only wept and answered: Thank you, thank you.

The rest were silent and sang. And only one brother from the next row shouted loudly: “What are you doing? The man is repenting, and you are tormenting him like KGB agents.” And they fell back. But the police, as promised, were called.

Kryuchkov went up to the pulpit second. To do what had to be done before the police arrived, during his speech I made two interjections—when he began to claim that the AUCECB and the KGB together had been destroying the churches and that we had rightly separated from its ministers, I loudly countered: Preach Christ, not revile the AUCECB!

And the second time—when he said that the number of believers had decreased tenfold during the years of the AUCECB’s activity, I “corrected” him again: it had not decreased tenfold, but increased more than twofold.

After each interjection the “zealots” came at me and tried to remove me from the hall. Then the presbyter addressed the congregation over the microphone with the question whether they agreed that I should leave. Some remained silent, while others said in unison: “We agree.” The presbyter turned to me: “You heard—the congregation is asking you to leave.”

I stood up and said that I would obey, but first I wanted to present Gennadiy with a symbolic gift. The “zealots” became agitated and again started grabbing my clothes, my arms… But seizing the moment, I pulled something from my pocket and raised it so that everyone could see what was in my hand, and loudly said: it is soap.

Then I walked over to Kryuchkov, who was standing at the pulpit, and took out of the other pocket a rope with a tied loop at the end. Shaking it before his face, I turned to the congregation—I wanted them to see Kryuchkov and me in ta

With what judgment we judged, with what measure we measured..?

Having not the slightest desire to justify myself, I say “we,” and I ask, especially the older generation: do you remember how we, beginning in 1961, withdrew from the AUCECB? We exposed them. Then we began to denounce them publicly, wherever, in whatever way and against whatever target each was able.

We intruded into the order of worship they had established, disrupted it, so that by exposing the leadership we might “open the eyes” of the rest. Then, with no less indignation, we began to separate from them and to build our own communities, as we thought right.

“This is from Me”—we repeated after the prophet who rebuked Rehoboam, who imagined he could restore the broken unity by force… But in those stormy days we had no time to reflect that “This is from Me…,” just like the well-known “…the authorities that exist have been instituted by God,” does not mean that they act according to His good, acceptable, and perfect will.

For Jeroboam, the harvest began during his lifetime, when the hand he stretched out to seize and kill the man of God who had dared to rebuke him and speak evil of his “worship” was withered—a sign (1 Kings 13).

Nothing directly is written about those who were frightened at that time and… But He who inspired Jeroboam to become the head of the separated ones, who tore the garment into twelve pieces and gave him ten, also spoke in the name of God—and what a coincidence!—“I will cut off from Jeroboam every male, him that pisseth against the wall…,” that is, the men, the males, the manly ones, those who from fear do not wet their trousers…

Jesus warned: “Woe to that man by whom the offense comes. It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” I, who was led into offense through Kryuchkov, did not fall at once. And when, writhing in the throes of death, on Barrikadnaya Street I “raged like water,” it happened that to the brothers’ call to repent I answered: You will feel sick from my repentance.

Now I see that “this I did not say of myself…” I have grown accustomed to many things, but this sense of the weight of my guilt I am experiencing for the first time. Therefore, having recognized my sin, I made an open public repentance. And it was absolutely indifferent to me what others might say about me or think.

The knowledge that I had led many into sin burned me mercilessly. And if before this I did not acquiesce when I was slandered and beaten, from now on I am willing for anything. Even if you should decide to flay me alive and take three skins—I will be like a sheep before its shearers, the Lord will give strength, and I will not hide my face from insult and spitting—I deserve it!

But many indeed felt sick from my repentance. Why? Imagine: having a wife, I lived secretly with another woman. And suddenly she began to repent… The angels in heaven rejoice. But for me, fearing exposure, her repentance would not be a joy.

Of course, one can repent “facelessly,” as they compelled the believing Saul to do. For he wanted to go to those against whom, in irrational zeal, he had done evil. But even Christ did not approve his desire and warned him: “They will not receive your testimony here.”

Not having such a prohibition from the Lord, I did what I had to do. And after that, even if you tear me apart for it—I’ll only be glad!

From the children of God I expected no other reaction. And from a wolf, even less… after all, he may not even know that he is a wolf!

I’m scratching about something else. Analyzing my actions and their response, I could not recall a single case where a prophet or any other accuser was not given the chance to say or do what he considered necessary. Although Scripture says that such things did happen—Isa. 30:10

As they listened, they were torn in their hearts and gnashed their teeth at the accusers… but they listened. And afterwards they beat those who displeased them, stoned them, sawed them in two, put them in stocks, threw them into a cistern, cut out their tongue together with their head, handed them over to the authorities for execution, stopped their own ears, or, “according to Scripture,” “shut their mouths…” by pouring molten lead into them… But to prevent, to not let speak, to jam the word, as in the Soviet Union they jammed Radio “Freedom”—neither the people of Israel nor its leaders ever sank to such baseness.

And I couldn’t help recalling David’s attitude toward Shimei’s curses. David did not curse Shimei back, who threw stones at him and dust; he did not call the police in the person of Abishai and all those who asked permission to “take off Shimei’s head,” but answered his “brave” entourage and all who fight according to the flesh: “…Let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord has bidden him. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day” (2 Samuel 16).

That is why, based on Scripture, one can judge the spiritual state before God of an individual as well as of the whole people of God by their attitude toward rebukes and accusers. This is oil that will not harm; but if I am not who I ought to be, then every rebuke becomes for me like a disgusting stench, and the accuser a madman…!

“He who rejects you rejects Me,” Jesus comforted the disciples (Luke 10:16). For those who cast out their accusers will end up among those who on that day will say: “Lord! Lord!… did we not cast out demons in Your name?” Thus an elder once said: “To our assembly came Satan with a rope. And the brothers cast him out!”

“He who, being often reproved, hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy,” and “he who refuses reproof goes astray”—the ancients already noted. Yet this too is my fault, the consequence of my own sin!

When they were tearing at me, trying to drag me out, calling the police… and so on, Kryuchkov stood silently behind the pulpit. One sister even said: “He was like a saint.” (Exactly, “like a saint…”(!?). He could have stopped those who acted outrageously and said: “…let him curse…!” But he did not do it, and by that confirmed that he is an evil worker; having the appearance of godliness, but inside a ravenous wolf.!!”

True, later, like Pilate, he tried to shift his guilt onto others: “…we shouldn’t have called the police…,” he said, in order to distance himself from those who fight according to the flesh, to place himself above them, holier… But this is a lie. The brothers acted as Kryuchkov wanted. And he wanted, or rather feared, only one thing—to be exposed in front of everyone. A wolf, I repeat, fears light and noise…

Scripture warns that he who rebukes a wicked man gets himself a stain (Prov. 9:7). The truth of this word was confirmed by those who were ashamed for me, and not for the fact that “the one who is called a brother but is sexually immoral,” with whom we are not even allowed to eat (1 Cor. 5:11), was permitted to the pulpit, and all their young children were brought to bow before him.

But I say one thing and think about another—since 1961 we have judged, we measured back… And now by the same judgment we are judged; with the very same measure it is measured back to us. So why kick and play the innocent victims?!

We rebuked the brothers—servants of the AUCECB—first in the Chancellery, then carried it to all the churches and sent it abroad, so that their nakedness might be visible to the whole world.

We said: “sin must be punished!” and cast out from our midst the repentant Prokofiev as one depraved, just because he once slept with a woman and, weeping bitterly, promised it would never happen again.

And now, when God began to expose in our midst the ungodly and unrepentant adulterers, placed our sins before our eyes—we hardened ourselves and thus confirmed that we are one with them!

If we had acted this way from the beginning and with everyone, then our deeds would have been logical. But as it is, we anathematized the one who repented, and became a wall in defense of an unrepentant sexual pervert—I am afraid that not everything is in order with our minds.

I hear your crafty words: “his guilt has not been proven by two witnesses.” Such an answer only increases my fears… First, secret murders, bribe-taking, rape, and certain other acts, due to their specific (secret) nature, are not proved by witnesses. There was only one witness to the fact that Moses killed an Egyptian, but that was quite sufficient… And David’s guilt Nathan never even thought of proving with “witnesses”—there could have been ten, or none.

Second, your mind has been so darkened that you no longer even see the difference between a “witness” and a “victim.” According to you, it turns out that you need to find a second woman with whom GK fornicated, and only then will you accept their testimony as truth. With us, Levinskaya was quite alone, but when they wanted to learn the truth—the president did not wriggle out of it. So you too, do not lie against the truth! You do not want to know the truth!!

But if you did want to, in the Scriptures—admittedly non-canonical—there is an example of how two lechers accused Susanna of a mortal sin. Daniel separated them and asked each one separately under which tree he had seen her lying with a man… One said: under a mulberry, and the other—under a sycamore. Here is your answer. The victim spoke… you heard. So let her name his dimensions, and, if she remembers, special marks. Then go to him with a ruler and… check. If it matches, then it’s the truth. Or am I late with this advice? Why didn’t you ask before?!

Ugh, how revolting you are, that even I, vile as I am, am sometimes ashamed to admit that you are my brothers in faith in Christ. How long shall I be with you…?!

It’s just not clear why Antonov was blowing the same horn with you. And it slipped out of me: only a gay man who has fallen into dependence on GK could justify sin like that. And I added: what does the biblical Joseph have to do with it? He didn’t put Potiphar’s wife in prison; he himself was imprisoned. But here it’s the opposite – Kryuchkov, like Jezebel, is trying to settle scores with everyone who dared to expose him. A groundless assertion? Then listen.

They didn’t tell us the whole truth about why Vins was cast out, and they are trying to consign his name to oblivion. And although for more than 20 years he pulled the yoke together with Kryuchkov… There isn’t even his photo in Kryuchkov’s “Lives of the Saints.” Vins’s “mortal sin” was that he supposedly mixed politics into his activities and gave material help to churches, bypassing the SC.

But in reality, Vins couldn’t bear it, the way some of you “keep it inside,” and he did not send the woman who fornicated with him to rebuke him privately first – as some who have “strayed from the path of reason” teach – but resolutely demanded such a trial over the sinners as the one by which they condemned Prokofiev.

During their last meeting they had a big argument. Vins openly condemned Peters for his continuing intimate relations with a sister, and for GK’s “close” contacts with the “secretaries.” And he did not want to take a can of paint to another city for the printing press… And when he finally did take it, Vins was arrested near a house whose address only Kryuchkov knew. Coincidence? Then what happened to Khrapov we’ll consider a coincidence, and after that it becomes a habit.

About Khrapov we hear from Kryuchkov’s lips that he is a hero of faith. But we also learned something else: he was granted an audience with Kryuchkov in his “hideout” (actually it was an extension above the garage) and, seeing the women living in the same room with him, the old prisoner couldn’t stand it, was outraged in spirit and said: “Chase these … out of here with a knee up their backsides!” And with that, without thinking, he signed his own death sentence.

Incidentally, they (or one of them) still live in GK’s house, cook for him – not for his paralyzed wife – do the laundry, cut his hair… and probably can’t wait for the wife’s death, so they can “lawfully” join their flesh and fate with his…

A couple of weeks later, Khrapov was again brought to trial before Kryuchkov, who read him a “brotherly” decision to expel him from the members of the SC ECB, “for the unauthorized printing with ‘blueprint’ of the book ‘The Happiness of a Lost Life.’”

Nikolai Petrovich spent 27 years in the belly of the GULAG, in settlements, exile – and endured. But here he did not stand firm. The owner of the house where Khrapov stayed on his way back to Rostov (Tashkent?) recounted that for three days he paced back and forth in the room and from time to time groaned loudly…

Soon Khrapov was arrested. And in such a broken state of spirit, he departed into eternity in the camp. And Kryuchkov, “having come to his senses,” annulled the decision to expel Khrapov, and began to speak of him as a hero of faith – for the dead feel no shame, and most importantly, they keep silent… May the hand wither of those who offer it to Kryuchkov!

History shows that not a single event of any importance took place without the involvement of women. And biblical heroes and righteous men are no exception. David, while fleeing from Saul, managed to lead a whole herd after him…

In New Testament times, Peter and the other apostles also had “companions” – not girlfriends, but their wives. And even following Jesus – it is written – women went along and served Him and the apostles with their possessions… but not with their bodies (!).

Out of love for God and zeal not according to knowledge, the Catholics decided that all priests, regardless of whether it is given to them or not, should not touch women. Well, and what does that “holiness” lead to? Yes, they perhaps “do not touch” women, but there’s no end of boys from them. So which is better?!? Paul taught: “…to avoid fornication, let each (each one) have his own husband (wife)…”

And in general, for the spiritual and discerning, “testimonies of the victim” are not needed. It was enough for me to visit his “hideout,” to see how they live practically in one room, rubbing up against each other, using the same bucket for their needs… so that upon returning to Kharkov I could tell Vitaly L. that Kryuchkov is living with at least one of them.

It could not have been otherwise. He was no different either from the biblical righteous men and kings or from worldly politicians – Lenin traveled to make the revolution in Petersburg in an armored train with two wives at once; Broz Tito fought as a partisan in the mountains and had several women with him; Stalin… but why bring all that up, if it’s enough to honestly look at oneself and recall some things from one’s own personal experience.

The heart of the matter is different. Even now, after everything in which he has been exposed, one sister, after listening to Kryuchkov, remarked: “What a scoundrel he is – standing at the pulpit he taught and sternly warned, even frightened with the cutting off of a branch, if only ‘I look with lust,’ and yet he himself… And in general, you are all the same – at every meeting you hammer us for our headscarves, pants, and slit dresses, you teach that before marriage, God forbid, not even to kiss… while you yourselves have the flesh of donkeys and lust like stallions. You are fattened horses… And I, like you, brother Theophilus, have nothing to answer her.”

But I only remembered when, during a private conversation with Karev, he posed a question to Prokofiev: “And what would you do with a 35-year-old woman who practices masturbation, because her husband was imprisoned five years ago..?”

— Brothers need to pray with fasting, that God would give wisdom to the authorities, so they don’t imprison for the faith… and punish the sinful woman… — Prokofiev answered with fervor. And Karev lowered his head with its huge bald spot and, looking at the floor, said: “you can’t pray enough for everyone, dear brother, and you can’t punish everyone.”

And what can I say, the guilt of GK, and with him ours, is not in this – if, of course, he is a brother in Christ – but in that he tied up heavy and unbearable burdens – that same ban on registering, while at that very time he was holed up in a “secret place,” passing the time and amusing himself with secretaries. If only for this one thing, if the sisters excommunicated according to his teaching for marrying unbelievers were in his place, they would catch him and make him a eunuch as a lesson to us who, while teaching others, do not teach ourselves… That would indeed be a “profitable circumcision”…

Some say: “… whoever merely thinks of such a thing—will not enter heaven.” And I already hear another: whoever does not do this, or at least does not pray that it be done, will not enter heaven! Rev. 6:10; 18:6; 2 Tim. 4:14.

After Khrushchev’s call to “undermine religion from within,” a priest was sent to our village. On Sunday mornings, he would conduct the service in the church by all the rules, but by evening he could often be found under a fence in his priestly vestments, dead drunk. He also openly fornicated with the village’s notorious loose women. And no matter how often the members of the church’s council of twenty travelled to the diocese demanding that another be sent, delivering letters with dozens of signatures, the authorities just threw up their hands helplessly…

And if Kryuchkov is charged with destroying the faith by a similar method, then he carries out the assignment with “excellence.” The good shepherd goes ahead of the flock, but the hireling flees “to an illegal position,” passing the time secluded with turtledoves…

We demanded of Prokofiev, as of Achan who took the devoted thing: “Make confession before Him…” and we stoned him with stones and burned him… Such an “early morning destroyer of the wicked” was David too. “Death to that man!” he exclaimed in a rage. And when he heard, “YOU are that man!” he cried out, “Have mercy on me, O God…”

We understand—such is human nature: judgment for “that man” and “mercy” for oneself. But Jesus warned, repeatedly and in many ways: “With the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”

We are in desperate circumstances…

A former minister of the SC asks another: “And when will we repent for everything we have done…?”

Prokofiev—as many have heard—for the last two years wept day and night, ceaselessly shedding tears not for an hour… And before that, he wrote a penitent letter in which he again and again lamented his sin, and he saw the reason (why God permitted it) in the fact that he was the first to propose the idea of excommunicating the ministers of the AUCECB;

My soul entered into iron because I despised God’s revelation… Therefore, I expressed my repentance through public confession, that I committed a great sin—through negligence and thoughtlessness I let a wolf into the sheepfold. And overcoming my fears, I said plainly: Beware! Kryuchkov is a wolf in sheep’s clothing…

I do not think that anyone who for many years obeyed GK, supported him materially, and believed that “…whatever he says, advises, or undertakes—all is in accordance with the will of God…,” i.e., equated his voice with the voice of God, will be freed from guilt if he repents “privately before the Lord.” Beloved, it was not “in a corner” that we acted so, so that we should repent “in a corner”!

Think about what our “tomorrow” will be; where will we hide from shame when our sin is talked about and shown on TV, just as now the “homosexuality” of Catholic priests is discussed. (And do you think that the word “brotherhood” is used just for no reason, where even unnecessary?!) But our pain is for the younger generation, for our children… Or do you think that those who videotaped the moment of Prokofiev’s “fall into adultery” did not also film GK’s “porn”?! It’s even worse if they didn’t—God will remember our iniquities!

• Were you at that meeting on November 5, when Kryuchkov was handed a rope with a noose at the end?
• I was.
• And why did you keep silent?
• Because it is said: “Do not associate with rebels.”
• Who the rebel is still needs to be determined, but as for one who calls himself a brother and remains a fornicator, with such a one—it is written—do not even eat together!

Such a dialogue may be repeated every time we try to teach others. For we have lost the right to speak about the “sinful ties” of the AUCECB with the KGB, about the sin of registration, about clothing suitable for saints, about the inadmissibility of marriage between believers and unbelievers… for we are not saints, but sanctimonious hypocrites! Lam. 4:12-15. About us the apostle said: “… you, then, who teach another, do you not teach yourself…” (Romans chapter 2).

And all the vileness of our behavior is not that we ourselves do these things—we may not do them—but that we approve of those who practice them!!! We approve by our silence. Though we all know what is written: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them!” And not privately, as the false prophets teach today, but publicly, so that others may fear. Otherwise, “I will rebuke you,” says the Lord, “and set your sins before your eyes.”

In everything you have proved yourselves pure.

It is impossible to understand how it happened that in the Corinthian church, lacking no spiritual gift, such a sexual immorality appeared as is not even heard of among the Gentiles… (someone has his father’s wife, that is, used—as some interpret—his father as a wife). And the most inexplicable thing—they were puffed up!

Nevertheless, Paul’s word sobered the Corinthians, “producing in them earnestness, apology, indignation (against the sinner, not against the one who rebuked them, or against Chloe’s household for ‘informing’)…” Following the apostle’s advice, the church in Corinth “removed the wicked man from among them.” They had no other way to prove themselves pure.

The history of the church of God in Corinth repeated itself in our days. But we already excommunicated the AUCECB ministers and saw that this led to the fall of not only Prokofiev. Jesus and His apostles taught to beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing! Not to safeguard them, but to beware, and to warn others. Matt. 7:15…; Phil. 3:2; 2 Tim. 4:14…; Acts 20:28…

May the Holy Spirit teach each one how to act so as not to associate with a thief and an adulterer. As it is written: “When He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.” And God is the Judge for me and for you!

Following the example of the Lord Jesus, who took our sins upon Himself, as well as Nehemiah and Daniel, we must acknowledge, and not say as we said before, as GK taught and led us astray: in our message to the Presidium of the AUCECB we told them ten times that “the main cause of all the disorders in the church is YOU!” “You have destroyed the divine principle…,” “You criminally hinder the restoration of divine order,” you, you…

While the God-fearing—Nehemiah and Daniel—prayed and spoke differently: “…we have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly… shame covers our faces… because we have sinned… in everything that has come upon us, You are righteous, but we are guilty.” (Dan. 9; Neh. 9).

John, who is called the apostle of love, gives advice – if anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching (that whoever transgresses and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God), do not receive him into your house or greet him. And another apostle writes: «..but reprove with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.» Jude verse 23.

Unfortunately, we too can be thrown into extremes – some see a wolf in almost everyone, while others, on the contrary, in all their long life have never met a single wolf. And it was awkward for me, though I did not show it, when recently, a former KGB officer said about me to my brother in Christ: « What do you mean, even your vaunted «guardian» kissed our comrade like a brother.»

Yes, greeting a wolf is one thing, but listening to him and following him – that is the end! A sad end!

When the Word of God prevailed in Ephesus, those who practiced sorcery burned their books. And then they calculated their value. But no bonfire will happen if bare reasoning prevails.

And I saw that the garment defiled by flesh – is his printing press and all its products. And I cannot burn it, even the books that I have. I am obliged to test them. But every time after them I thoroughly wash my hands. Look closely: the blots and stains on them are not traces of paint, but the impurity of his fornication… Enough for the wise has been said!

Afterword, or «judgment without mercy…»

I read and saw for myself that I have written much, but did not say the main thing.

In 1969, Kryuchkov and Vins, on behalf of all of us, announced the excommunication of Prokofiev. Many, hearing it, went into a state of shock. I was told of cases where sisters lost consciousness. We were all terribly ashamed…

The enemies of the church rejoiced and fanned that fire… And so that people would not say we are all like that, he was not simply excommunicated, but cast out from our midst, like a leper, renounced. And by that, without realizing it, we said: «We are better than you, purer…» Here the snare of the devil was set, in which we are to this day, to do his will. Not God’s, but his, who has taken us captive – 2 Tim. 2:26;

In those days, two officers from the Krasnoyarsk KGB also came to me in exile, and for about an hour they shamed and disgraced me for Prokofiev’s fall. And I, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered all their slander with one phrase: You are communists, sort out the affairs of your party members; for example, what did Lenin die of: from the bullet of the SR Kaplan lodged in his neck, or from syphilis… And we, with our Prokofiev, will sort it out ourselves!

But do not think that I want to single myself out or separate myself from all of you – when I spoke, my knees were criminally trembling. For only a month had passed since I left the camp… and I understood that I was speaking badly of their greatest shrine. But they first touched my shrine – my brother in Christ! And Jesus said to me: «Do not give what is holy to the dogs!..» And to our great misfortune, we all lost the spirit to answer our enemies. Who among us was not ashamed and firmly said: even if prodigal, Prokofiev is my brother?!

And by excommunicating, casting out, and renouncing him, we were thereby saying: that we are purer, holier… And with this, the hand of the most eminent – Kryuchkov and Vins – was first in this lawlessness. And now God exposes us: WE are more vile, abominable, and nauseating than ten Prokofievs put together!!! And what has happened to us, and will yet happen – this is our harvest – judgment without mercy to him who has shown no mercy! – retribution, that we condemned, killed the righteous man; he did not resist us. For we excommunicated and cast out from our midst a repentant one; not hardened, but r-e-p-e-n-t-i-n-g… Our hands are in his blood!

And if we do not recognize that sin, if we do not confess it – there is no forgiveness for us in this age: the mouth of the Lord has spoken! Before you can catch your breath from one, another will pursue you… you wave off another, and a third is behind your back… and so on until you vanish… Look, there is already nothing left to strike in us – no healthy place. Look carefully, perhaps I have exaggerated, but we, the separated ones, are clearly pursued by an evil fate – the impurity of fornication. This is the very main thing of which I now testify! Amen.

***

P.S. And to the «registered» I have one request: do not rejoice when you hear such things about us. This is our common shame, and Our nakedness. It is better to weep with those who weep, so that together we may also be glorified.

P.P.S. I am attaching herewith the second «penitential» letter, and an excerpt from his letter to me. The rest, on the basis of which I wrote «Beware of Him, You Too,» I do not disclose. I will only say that this is a small fraction of all his evil deeds. And one of them is that he did not disclose the first penitential letter written by Prokofiev back in 1969.

20 November 2002. Spokane.

Open Letter

To all brothers and sisters in the Lord from Prokofiev Alexei Fedorovich.

I acknowledge and lament that I have sinned not only against the Lord and the Holy Spirit, but also against His people and the neighbors with whom I live on earth.

By my transgressions I have brought a stain upon the Truth and given reason to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme His name.

I did not serve you as an example worthy of imitation and I brought you much sorrow.

Looking over my life’s path before the Lord, I cannot grasp His love and mercy shown to me. By my sins, I was not worthy to live on the earth and should have taken my place in hell.

But the Lord did not cut off my life, did not repay me according to my iniquities. He continues His work in my heart by the Holy Spirit, achieving His purposes for the purification and sanctification of my life. I appeal to you with a request: forgive me for the sake of the love of Christ and receive me as a member of His Church, so that the last days of my life may be dedicated to the Lord for the fulfillment of not only the will of the Lord, but also His desires, to the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

21 October 1980.

…I, like you, am looking for reasons why the Lord does not give the desired blessings for successful service to Him. And I now find that I am guilty of this. The fact is, as I confessed to you, that the voice for the excommunication of the leading brothers of the AUCECB and the senior presbyters was first raised by ME, which was done on the broadest scale. This gave cause for Gennady Konstantinovich and other brothers to become proud and served as the reason for the division in the people of God with the organization of the 2nd union!

For this reason I fell into the sin of adultery and have been under excommunication since 1969 — 14 years.

I have confessed all this to the Lord. But is that enough? Perhaps an open letter of mine is needed, so that the Lord may blot out my transgressions and those of the brothers, and correct all the mistakes made in serving Him?… Alexei… (June 2, 1983).

…And they buried him. …and they buried him.

..and you were puffed up, and have not rather mourned..

« ..If death, then instantaneous…» — a girlfriend wished for her beloved who was leaving for the civil war. And what kind of death do Christians «wish for» — instantaneous, sudden, so as to have time before death to review one’s past, leave a last wish, make a will, ask everyone for forgiveness and forgive everyone, or some other kind?

I confess, I myself, after 60 years of life in the faith, have touched on this topic for the first time, and have not yet thought at all about my own death, or about life «in heaven». So, as the proverb says, my «first pancake is lumpy.» May the reader also forgive me for interrupting my story about the past and responding to present events. Since I am sure they are directly related to my narrative. And I remind again: my goal — by being liberated, to help others also (2 Tim. 2:24-26), and not to give occasion to those who seek occasion for slander and reviling.

So, if we consider what the ancients observed, that for the wicked «there are no struggles at their death» (Ps. 72); or the most ancient thing that has come down to us about the lawless: «They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to the grave» (Job ch. 21), and add to that what has been said to us: «Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God» — (1 Cor. ch. 4), then «to look upon the end…» of anyone’s life — is an extremely risky occupation.

If «judge nothing…» is understood as speaking nothing either bad or good about a person, then that is unrealistic, since by a birthday greeting, and by an obituary, and even more so by asserting that the deceased «the Lord has called away to the eternal (heavenly) mansions..», we judge just as «he who speaks well of the wicked, and ill of the righteous — both are an abomination to the Lord» (Prov. 17:5).

Jesus taught: «..by their fruits you shall know them.» And Paul warned Timothy to beware of Alexander the Coppersmith, when the «fruits» of his activity became visible — «..he did me great harm.» And the tares «appeared when the blade shot up and the fruit appeared.» And finally, «judging and condemning are close», but not the same thing.

And «..to look upon…» is an extremely risky occupation also because righteousness, as presented in the writings of the Old Testament, does not correspond to the New Testament teaching on holiness. «Listen to Him!» — the disciples heard and «suddenly, looking around, they saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.» And what could they see with their physical eyes, if He «took the form of a servant»; and «there was no beauty or majesty in Him»; and in death He «was numbered with the transgressors» and executed as a criminal; dying on the cross in torment, refusing to drink vinegar mixed with gall; and He was buried in haste and not with a large crowd of people… Yet from childhood they were ingrained with faith in a reigning Christ, and not a suffering one…

And on the contrary, listen to the word about the rich man who feasted splendidly every day: «..and he was buried»! Do you hear? He was buried as «splendidly» as he feasted—solemnly, with due honors and without regard to expense.

J. Bunyan likened death to a river which pilgrims must cross (except for «Faithful»…), and they cross in different ways: some easily and with joy, others with fear and anxiety, though all sang: «..Death for Christ is not fearful for us,» and repeated after the apostle: «For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.»

We also sing: «O joy, to cross over there without suffering, without sickness pain, without dying agonies, to be with the Lord, caught up in His glory.» And the «disputers» mock and slander: «How can such a thing be…? And what if at that moment the one being caught up was piloting a passenger plane, or someone is about to give birth… will they not be caught up, or will there be no such people among the ready, for there are no maternity wards there,» etc.

Illogical, but a fact – like the Jewish people, or the noble on whose arm the king leaned, we may not believe the word of God spoken through the mouths of God’s men, not believe the Lord Jesus, and at the very same time «..believe the lie» — 2 Thess. 2:10… , for example, the tall tales of a schizophrenic… and «obey him.» Why does this happen?

The Virgin Mary asked: «How will this be..?» But the «hard to understand» answer of the angel dispelled her confusion. And she heard: «Blessed is she who believed…!» Truly I tell you — Jesus taught — unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven — Matt. ch. 18. «I believe because it is absurd» — Tertullian translated that word into our language… And «love… believes all things…», while «the fool believes every word»… (!?).

It is written that when Israel came out of Egypt «..there was none feeble among His tribes,» — analogously, also no women in labor at the rapture of the Church. But that’s by the way, and for them— it’s no answer. And they continue to intrude into things that are inaccessible, being puffed up by their fleshly mind. But we too have digressed…

The distinctive marks of Old Testament righteous ones: long life, they «were not seen begging bread,» in «reward for their righteousness» they received wealth, many wives and accordingly—children, with mercy to them «to a thousand generations,» and they are privileged to see them «to the fourth generation»; and the word «death,» which sounds unpleasant, is for their sake replaced by the pleasant-sounding: «he rested, full of days,» «he was gathered to his fathers,» so that even the ill-famed prophet Balaam, enticed, exclaimed: «Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my end be like theirs!» i.e., they did not die in torment or suddenly, but beforehand managed to do everything necessary—bless the children, dispose of the inheritance, appoint a successor…

Not so the wicked… their death is swift and premature, unexpected and sudden — like the death of the rich man who was kept awake by the worry: where to gather a good harvest — and somehow unusual, like Korah and his companions “went down alive into the pit,” or the death of the prophet Hananiah foretold by Jeremiah because he spoke contrary to the Lord — Jer. 28. This finds reflection in the New Testament as well — King Herod “did not give glory to God; and he was eaten by worms and died” (that is, worms ate him alive!), the instant death of Ananias and Sapphira…

But that is the ideal; in reality the devil showed himself here too as the “creator of chaos” — “the righteous get what the deeds of the wicked deserve, and the wicked get what the deeds of the righteous deserve.” And only “in Your light we see light!” Armed with that thought, I propose to compare the last year or two of life and the end of three men known to you (and, in part, of a wife about whom someone said, “She suffered her fill!”).

Prokofiev Alexei Fedorovich, 1915–1995. At the airport, on his way home, he became ill — a stroke that paralyzed his body and took away his speech. He remained in that state for two years with full consciousness; he answered questions with his eyes, and until his last breath he wept over something; he quietly departed into Eternity in the presence of his wife Nina and children. The funeral was extremely modest, almost like that of the beggar Lazarus, who “was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom.”

Vins Georgy Petrovich, 1928–1998. His last two years he suffered severe malaise and headache. He underwent a course of “radiation” treatment, but the growth of the cancerous tumor in his head could not be stopped. Sensing his approaching end, he visited many churches for the last time, gave a farewell address in the church where he was a member, and secluded himself intending to finish what he had not managed before. Friends and those close to him tried not to disturb that… No more than 200 people gathered to see him off “on his last journey.” The (funeral) service took place in an American church and, according to their custom — cheerfully and with marked artificiality. Most of the departed’s friends who came were put in the position of spectators, forbidden even to take photographs.

Kryuchkov Gennady Konstantinovich, * 1926–2007. After the congress in October 2005, something happened to him. What?! “It became known that he fell ill, but he keeps both the Council of Churches meeting and this conference in his field of vision…” — that is how Antonyuk announced it on January 13, 2006, to those gathered a 30-minute walk from the house where the “ailing one” was; “…He had a massive heart attack” (Yuri Kryuchkov, July, 2006, USA); “A stroke, but now he is better” (again Antonyuk, November, 2006); And finally, G. Kryuchkov himself: “…a year ago I grabbed a heart attack…, carried it on my feet…16 hours… and though my flesh is weak — residual effects of the heart attack, and I speak not from the pulpit but sitting, yet memory in illness sharpens… you are insured… I am with you as long as you walk the way of holiness… we here, the old men, have conferred… I will no longer be able to keep track of everything, and there is no need… I will not even attend the meetings, but will sit on the back bench; yet I must know everything important and fateful on that very day… there are people here, waiting for the moment, innovators… you reason now like corporals, but when something happens to me, you will reason like generals, you will have the chance to choose roundabout maneuvers… I will lie down on the threshold of the church, but I will not allow…” (From his address at the ICC conference on evangelism, January 12, 2007).

First conclusions: Between him and the “other” ICC ministers there were no brotherly relations; they did not speak with him when they wanted to, but when he or those who took care of him found it necessary; they received incomplete information about his health and so forth, so that apparently E. Pushkov was right when he answered: “They don’t report his health condition to me…”; he did not trust and looked with suspicion on those he called “corporals” (and earlier he had thrown in their face: “…what are you without me”?!); he still intended to live and lead the “brotherhood” along the path illumined by him, to watch over it and guard against false steps and crafty workers… And furthermore — he was constantly troubled by fears… that he might turn out to be Theudas. As a result, at night in his sleep he cried out loudly, and upon waking he was seized with panic, or his head began to ache so that he could do nothing. Many noticed this, especially those with whom he spent the early years of his concealment. And his brother Yuri wrote about it, including in a veiled way in the last “Brotherly Leaflet.”

To conceal his ailment he was examined — according to his words — “by our brothers, doctors.” Therefore, apparently, he appeared in public only in the intervals between exacerbations of his illness. And according to the testimony of those who were permitted to see him and who had seen him before — he had changed beyond recognition, had lost a great deal of weight, become emaciated, his eyes were strangely “shifting,” and his face was pale, of an earthy-gray color — by no means “residual effects of a heart attack.” (And if one gathers all the information about the health of his soul and body, an analogy with the biblical Saul suggests itself — tormented by suspiciousness, upon whom at times “an evil spirit from God came,” or simply, bouts of madness.)

For that reason, most likely, he was not present at the funeral of Kurkin (January 5, 2007), a responsible minister of the ICC who died in a road accident. Although, a week later, on January 12, he was brought to the ICC conference, and he called that funeral significant, devoting about 10 minutes of his one-hour address to it; on February 18, 2007, Joseph B. and his wife Mary stood for 30 minutes at the door, asking permission to visit his wife Lydia, and along with her, him as well, but they experienced for themselves what he threatened others with — “…they don’t come to me, they’re afraid that Kryuchkov will lock the door and won’t let them in” (his words at the above-mentioned conference).

On March 16, 2007, the soul of his wife Lydia, who “suffered her fill,” reposed in God. The ICC did not find it necessary to inform the “brotherhood,” nor to publish an official obituary, nor to describe how the funeral of the wife of the “faithful and unbending, permanent chairman and leader,” the biological father of nine children, proceeded — nor whether he himself was at her funeral, whether he said goodbye to the one rejected and buried alive while still living, and whether, after 18 years, he at least kissed her, according to Russian custom, when she was dead???

After everything I have read about him, I can no longer believe a single word they say. However, for the sake of objectivity I will repeat the latest official report, that “On July 3–5 an enlarged meeting of MSC ministers took place in Moscow, in which G. Kryuchkov took the most active part… He was vigorous, delivered, as always, the keynote speech on the course of action… gave abundant instructions. No one suspected that this would be his last communication…” From this it follows that a) — “the glorious (in what sense?) death of a servant of Christ’s church” came as a complete surprise to the MSC ministers and to himself. And b) — the mental illness was attributed, as in Saul’s case: “…..from God.” And thus confirmed our conjectures. Lest I be unsubstantiated, I quote further: “…worried about the fate of God’s work, he so rarely had a restful night. This time, a sound sleep was like a preparation for his glorious departure to the Heavenly mansions…” (Fraternal Leaflet No. 5, 2007).

This happened four months after the death of his wife, at 7:15 a.m. on July 15. He got up, drank some tea, sat down in an armchair, and… suddenly his heart stopped, “..from a man-made heart attack suffered a year and a half before in Moscow.” If that is so, only his faithful companion to the grave could have witnessed his death… (They say she was also the unofficial director of the funeral and, without hiding, at the farewell, kissed him one last time… And I, in contrast to you, you sanctimonious ones, bow before the miracle of selfless female love! And it is not her fault that he also had a wife…).

According to other accounts, he died not at home, but at his son’s (the town of Chekhov), where he was taken after the meeting on the way home; there on the morning of July 15 his cold body was found in an armchair. Death, according to the doctor’s conclusion, occurred at about 4 a.m. (Well, you could write a detective novel). But, be that as it may, they rather promptly agreed to postpone the funeral until July 21 so as to have time to notify “all who dwell on the earth”— after all, the union they created is “International”…

* It was not 23 years that he lived “under conditions of conspiracy,” but his entire life was covered up, not laid open before the conscience of every person before God, as, say, the life of the Apostle Paul — 2 Cor. ch. 4. This gave rise to many misinterpretations, for “Everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed, because they are evil; but whoever practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, because they have been done in God.” John ch. 3.

And it is exceedingly strange — lesser figures in the “Brotherhood” were found and judged, but they did not touch him (or by blackmailing with exposure of his connections with “secretaries,” they forced him to do what was profitable for them as well). And the three-year sentence he allegedly served in a camp is not confirmed by anything. We don’t even have a court verdict, or witnesses, of how he was tried, for what, and what he said in reply… nor are there witnesses among the convicts from that camp. Equally mysterious is his military service. It is true that during the war they drafted even those under 18. But in 1944 there was a Decree by the “Supreme” on the demobilization from the active army of all who had not reached draft age… From which it follows: he did not serve in the active army. And how, at this point, can one not entertain the thought, based on numerous facts of recruitment of sons of believing parents for work among the Evangelical Christians-Baptists (ECB).

And one more thing — Luther, fleeing persecution, hid in a monastery and in three years translated the Bible into German. Yet he, after so many years, could have learned the Bible by heart. However, he knew the Bible astonishingly poorly. And what he took from the Bible as the foundation of his paranoid idea, he twisted with ingenious interpretation so that when listening or reading, one feels somehow uneasy, as if everything is correct, but in fact it is pernicious heresy.

At the funeral of Misiruk — a long-time prisoner and responsible MSC minister — his unbelieving children, overwhelmed by the flood of praise and eulogies addressed to their father, began to weep loudly and lament: “Papa, forgive us! We didn’t know you were so good…!” (Imitate Their Faith, p. 152). So wrote G. Kryuchkov, as a matter worthy of praise. But at his own funeral there was not even that — his life spent away from the family, and his utterly inhuman treatment of his wife, their mother, had hardened his children’s hearts to the limit, especially the sons… But the Lord is his Judge, and we — consider what exactly he did in his life — what he gained, and what he lost?..

And likewise “classified” were the last two years — his illness, death, and cause of death. We gathered bits and pieces from various sources, and we do not guarantee the reliability of the information, nor whether they buried the very body of the one who in 1961, together with Prokofiev, signed the documents of the I.G., or someone else. Those who demand documentary confirmation of our assumptions and indirect conclusions — they, I am confident, are in the KGB archives… But the “game” continues, and there are still those who need “destabilizers of the foundations” of Russia — they pin great hopes on them, and they allocate considerable funds. So, those who are keen on exploits, forward along the course he laid out… And what relation does the preaching of Christ crucified have to this — I do not know. Judge for yourselves.

..he, even after death, still speaks..

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another…?

a/. A striking contrast, if one compares his funeral with the funeral of his wife Lydia. For the obituary they could barely find enough eulogistic epithets in the richly endowed Russian language; the funeral “service” on the sixth day after death (the two prophets of the Apocalypse will not be permitted to be buried for three and a half days, and that is already a sensation!) — to gather as many people as possible — and not in the church, but the expensive coffin with the body was placed on the threshold of the church, on which he had promised to lie while alive (symbolic, or coincidence?). There were 109 wreaths counted…, and above them, on the wall of the building, above the entrance, his large, almost life-size portrait was displayed, and to the right — an unfinished banner: HE LOVED THE LORD AND THE CHURCH

About three thousand people gathered, as at Kurkin’s funeral (the half-blind Mikhail counted “up to five thou,” though ten thousand had been expected, so they say). Over a hundred photographs were posted on the internet, and a good ten or so featured his female companion, dressed—unlike the rest—in light colours, with no visible signs of mourning. Some wondered which of the pallbearers would become his successor, while others saw in her a Deborah… And judging by her years, it is high time she herself stepped down from the work, handed over the treasury and his archives, and caused no further complications. True, she too is “a person under authority,” and there is really no one to hand things over to—except, perhaps, our “Khrushchev.” But that was precisely what he feared…

Incidentally, the obituary that appeared on the internet the day of his sudden death, judging by its content, was written by the very same personality who put into his mouth the words he spoke at the MSC conference on evangelism. Or else it is a repeat of the biblical curiosity that Moses, as theologians assert, wrote the “Pentateuch,” and in the last book, with every detail, described his own death (the Fifth Book of Moses, Deuteronomy, ch. 34).

More simply put: someone wrote on behalf of the legendary Moses; likewise, his “ideologue” used the obituary as a pretext to promulgate the postulate of his teaching on the “narrow path” along which “Gennady Konstantinovich confidently led the people of God,” and at the same time to list all that had been accomplished “through the deep faith and prayers of this humble servant of the Lord.” And from this angle, the obituary, like the attempt to arrange a “magnificent” funeral, becomes the apotheosis of the Initiatives movement—what we have been brought to. Or, more precisely, where we have been carried off to.

We were taught to look to the Lord, but in practice—to obey him without reasoning…

Rumours were launched among the believers about miracles happening around him: that he was sought after but remained under the covering of the Almighty; that he had easy access to the most influential figure in the AUCECB and was on familiar terms with him; that Karev had recommended sending him to study abroad; and that to him, for the first time in 400 years of Baptist history, the truth of the “narrow path” and “service to God independent of external forms” had been revealed—whereas before him, they had all walked hand in hand with the mighty of this world. Praises directed at him were placed into the mouths of brothers (often the deceased), and, finally, his rare appearances before the people, like feast days… By all of this, they made him an idol for reverence and worship; they boasted of him, extolled him—and he himself desired and sought it.

As an example, take I. Antonov’s reply to the brothers’ question why, at the 2005 congress, the chairman of the MSC was not re‑elected, as had been planned and as he himself had requested. “What are you saying?” Antonov objected. “He is the only one who possesses revelation and knows how to lead the brotherhood along the path of ‘service to God independent of external forms.’ Men like him are born only once in a hundred years…”

Or take this: anyone who knew Baturin would not believe that he wrote, in his autobiographical sketch, a panegyric of an almost indecently sugary character. I quote:

“At the end of 1961, I became acquainted for the first time with dear brother Gennady Konstantinovich Kryuchkov. I arrived at the fellowship meeting late. A place had been kept for me beside him. My first impression upon meeting him (and it has remained the same to this day): the brother possesses a special giftedness and wisdom from the Lord, a deep knowledge of Holy Scripture. Whatever he speaks about, whatever he advises or undertakes—everything accords with the will of God, is always grounded in Holy Scripture, and corresponds to the Holy Spirit. In his sermons one senses not human authority and power, but a special spiritual force.” (Imitate Their Faith, p. 79).

I will not go about proving that in ’61 he held no “conferences” in Rostov or in any other city, and did not travel with Epistles—as we had arranged—to Central Asia, but continued working at his secular job and on Sundays led the ministry of the Uzlovaya church. This was confirmed by his own brother Yuri. Only for the Constitution Day celebration (5 December) did Prokofiev bring him to Kharkov, since at that time no one knew him personally, and he knew no one either. And so it remained until February of ’62.

But that is not the main point—dates can be shifted, even unintentionally. The real point is that in the Book of Acts, not even concerning the Apostles was anything of the sort written. And if there is, for instance: “…they brought the sick out into the streets…that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them”—then all sound-minded Protestants agree on one thing: it was a shame to the Jerusalem church, its flaw, the very flaw that gave birth to the Catholic heresy that the Church of Christ is founded on Peter. Yet the author presents it outwardly as something commendable, and the compilers of the New Testament canon included Acts in it rather than declaring it apocryphal.

Whether that is so or not, one fact is indisputable: after the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, after the incident with the “shadow of the passing one…” and after he obeyed and followed an angel (and not Christ?), as a result of which utterly innocent soldiers were executed while he “went to another place” (so that is where our “ministry under conditions of conspiracy” comes from!?)—Peter’s authority began to wane, so that by chapter 15 of Acts, at the first “Council,” the “final word” already lay with James.

Another telling detail: “A place had been kept for me beside him,” writes Nikolai Georgievich. And this is no accident. At Misiruk’s funeral, G. Kryuchkov himself spoke of it as something special. I quote: “At the meetings of the Council of Churches, he was always beside me, sitting on my right…” (ibid., p. 155).

It turns out that at MSC gatherings, ministers did not sit wherever they pleased, but by rank—like the brothers before Joseph or the members of the CPSU Central Committee on the mausoleum; and those “beside him” were seated there as a special honour. I, for one, had not immediately attached significance to the fact that for the first time in forty-six years, Prokofiev’s photo was placed “beside him” (And why ever would that be?). And many of those who spoke at that “divine service” openly boasted that they had been closest to him, had travelled with him, had sat beside him… Is this the beginning of “reasonings” about “who is greatest…”?!

During his lifetime, like King Herod, he did not oppose it, did not drive them away, but agreed with and drew near to those who honored him and agreed with him in everything—for which there is a multitude of confirming facts—and he excommunicated with anathema anyone who did not obey him or dared to rebuke him. And only those devoted to him and obedient in everything were ordained as presbyters over the local churches. And that is the only thing he really did! (And cadres decide everything – as Stalin used to say). And this is completely in line with what G.K. told Prokofiev about creating, on the basis of the ECB, an organization similar to the Jesuit Order with a totalitarian form of government.

And the thought involuntarily comes: what if the deceived children of God, together with his opponents, exalted him, made him a name, presented him as a person who changed the fate of the world, through whose deep faith and prayers humanity cast atheism off its shoulders—“the greatest madness of opposing God” (so that in place of atheism, which “sat on the shoulders,” terrorism would fall on humanity’s head?! — my note.)—so that even “common folk” would trust him and find their significance in him. And at the zenith of his glory, to do what the ten kings of the Apocalypse did with the harlot…, so that many would suffer shipwreck in the faith, and the way of truth would be maligned.

There is no doubt—these are the designs of the enemy of human souls. And what if, to carry out his evil intentions, the devil took advantage of our simplicity, and we became his instrument, unknowingly, executors of his will?! This is openly expressed in one possible translation of 2 Cor. 2:11 — “See to it that Satan does not use you…” (Dr. Ogienko). And I recall that Kargel quoted Rev. 2:10: “…behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison…” and added the interpretation: “the devil does not do this himself…”

And this thought can be illustrated by his answer to my question: Why did you treat Prokofiev so mercilessly, and contrary to the Lord’s teaching, excommunicate a repentant man?…

First, he himself insisted on it — answered G. Kryuchkov — and secondly, they showed me footage of him in bed with a woman. And they transparently hinted that they would make it public… So we decided to forestall them, and thereby show ourselves as clean, and prepare the believers so they wouldn’t be scandalized when they read about it in the newspaper or hear it on the radio…

That is, the KGB did what it wanted… using for that purpose “Servants of God(!?)”. After all, believers might not have believed what was written in the newspaper, but here the brothers themselves, unashamed, tell about a brother’s fall… so that some, hearing such things, they say, even lost consciousness…

And my next question to you: do you really think that the “special services” photographed only the bare backside of the “one caught in adultery”, and that they have no compromising material on the one who became our idol?!? These are the ones who planted “Dr. Sorge” and he ferreted out the most important secret of the Japanese government and thereby helped win the Battle of Stalingrad; who had a “secretary” in the cabinet of ministers of the FRG and even stole the secret of the A-bomb from the USA…, and with him they blundered so badly that they searched for 19 years and couldn’t find anything?!?

But I think otherwise: instead of bothering with stupidity and planting informers in all congregations of the Council of Churches, they tapped everything that the “Antonovs”, the “Peterses”… reported to Kryuchkov about the state of affairs, what his loyal “secretaries” pried out and reported to him, what character references they compiled on whom… and from all that they drew the conclusion: “Who is who” — whom to put in prison, whom to set free, whose authority to boost, whom to blackmail and demean in the eyes of the believers… And there was even no need for him to be their regular agent. Besides, they knew him as a paranoid, and such people can get out of control at any moment, even if they are under the control of a “companion”… And why would they need that headache?!

(and this is not a groundless assertion, but also my personal experience).

In short, brethren, with our “chicken brains” we cannot compete with them; they are natural cheats, professionals, and our slogan: “Service to God independent from outside”—they long ago turned into a screen behind which we sit at the same table and play with them. And defeat is guaranteed to us! And look around—we have already lost!! Judge at least by the remark of a simple woman who watched from the side the “funeral service”: “They are burying their little idol well…” And why did she say that? — It is shameful to hang a person’s portrait over the entrance to the church… You have no cross!

b/. But let us return to spiritual analysis. It seems to me that the prophecy of Jesus about Israel has been fulfilled upon us: “…if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” — John 5:43. We know that no works of ours can “ensure the presence of the Lord in the church,” therefore those who have cleansed themselves and sanctified themselves and think so falsely, after driving out one, are inhabited by seven… And the consequences of that were figuratively shown by the world-famous storyteller Andersen, how the townspeople drove out a good and intelligent man, and instead welcomed, dressed as a

And I think, in itself it is less sinful than, say, frantically running around and laying the sick in the streets so that “at least his shadow…”, or venerating the relics and icons of saints, or “…bringing handkerchiefs and aprons from the body” of an apostle… but the general attitude was such that if anyone had come up and loudly praised us for a “good sermon,” “beautiful singing,” and so on, such people seemed to us like Satan in the guise of a brother. And to say, as it is written in the name of Baturin about Kryuchkov: “What he says, what he advises, what he undertakes — everything is in accordance with the will of God” — such could be said only by a drunkard or someone whose head is not fully in order, who does not know the fundamental truth that only One Jesus Christ said of Himself: “The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” — John 8:29.

But we all sin much, both in words and in deeds; and in following the Lord we constantly stray from His path onto our own. So that at any moment of our life the Lord can say to any of us: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways” (Isaiah 55). We are holy only in Christ, by which all that we might boast of or exalt ourselves one above another is destroyed. For we have nothing that we did not receive…

I can accept that in the first three centuries Jesus, “the servant of God” (i.e., a minor servant), whose resurrection Peter preached, became God, the second person of His hypostasis. But I cannot accept when, before our eyes, a minister of the church, i.e., its servant, like Joseph in the house of Potiphar, transforms into “A Minister!” with a capital letter. For me personally, this is a sure sign that we are not dealing with the Church of which Jesus said: “I will build…”, in which there is neither male nor female… neither senior nor junior… and until the appearing of the Lord She remains a mystery…

But where all of that exists, and we even know the number of church members — this is a church of God, but created by men: a community, a brotherhood, a union, an order, a religious association, an organization, an assembly of believers in Christ… — or whatever else we might call the visible, which is no different from Jewish assemblies (synagogues), industrial assemblies, party assemblies… And only where two or three are gathered in His name, there the Lord promised to be in their midst. But where there are more of us, there is already an organization with seniors and juniors, those in authority and subordinates, shepherds and sheep… i.e., a church of God created by men — “I have begotten you through the gospel,” Paul wrote to the Corinthians — and it has its beginning and its end. And His promise: “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it…” — does not apply to it. For everything visible is temporary!

But even concerning such a church there is no command to love it. Brotherhood, yes, love; but if we assert that the visible Church is the bride of Christ, that she lives and must live according to His laws, according to His “Constitution,” and let no one dare interfere… then to love Her is a mortal sin. Joseph only entered the house to Potiphar’s wife when “none of the household were there in the house” and was accused…, and we — to love the Church, the bride of Christ (!?) Madmen!!

Yes, I agree, there is a “ham-like” attitude toward those in authority, when “…they defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries…” (is this in the church, of which Jesus said: “…but it shall not be so among you!…”, are there “dignitaries”?). We also know that the apostle who taught the church of God in Corinth: “…let no one boast in men,” that same one “entered” into temptation and boasted of himself… For which, by the grace of God, he had “a thorn in the flesh…”, without which our holiness would be our ruin!

But we did not know and did not take this into account when Prokofiev began to practice and put into effect confession, purification, and sanctification, that a Christian who has received freedom from all sins and does not have “a thorn in the flesh” is a potential evildoer — Matthew 18:23–35.

c/. King Manasseh “filled Jerusalem from one end to another with innocent blood,” and in the house of God he set up “a great idol.” And the Lord spoke to Manasseh and to his people; but they did not listen. And the Lord brought upon them the commanders of the king of Assyria; and they bound Manasseh in fetters, and bound him with chains, and took him to Babylon.

And in his distress he entreated the face of the Lord. and God heard his supplication” (2 Chronicles 33).

Likewise, when we heard the speeches of Kryuchkov at the convention in October 2005, we began to pray intensely: If he is a regenerated child of God, then grant him repentance unto life, but if he is a Saul, or even worse — a wolf in sheep’s clothing, then let his death not be as people usually die… And soon a reliable rumor reached us about his illness. And we became convinced that our request was “according to His will.”

And suddenly the news came of his sudden death… At first we were troubled, thinking that the Lord had not given him time for repentance. But we quieted down and heard that the Lord is long-suffering and abundant in mercy — He spoke to him in illness for almost two years…, just as “the Lord spoke to Manasseh” and to his people,” but… he did not heed His warning voice: “If he does not repent, then cut him down in the next year”; he did not see in the illness that befell him a sign of imminent and inevitable death. As far as is known, he even forbade telling others about it, did not ask to be prayed for, but spread the delusion that KGB agents disguised as electricians somehow caused a heart attack in him… and similar sick people believed it and thus worsened the situation …

Grigory Vins

And to great regret, the fears of G. Vins were confirmed: “I pray for him constantly, but I am afraid that he will leave this life unrepentant.” That is how it happened — he asked no one for forgiveness, and himself did not forgive even Peter P., who tearfully pleaded with him. And the pretentious pomp of the funeral did not conceal that bitter truth that has disgraced us all.

So if David, weeping, mourned the death of his rebellious son Absalom, and if Samuel “did not see Saul again until the day of his death, yet he grieved over Saul, because the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel,” then we likewise have no cause for joy, and no need to ask, “What can we look for, Lord?” if our structure is founded on man and built with wood, hay, and stubble.

Thus, John devoted all five chapters of his epistle to one theme: love for God and brother, for which he was called the apostle of love. Yet he ended seemingly off theme: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols!” And I say the same: boast not in men, but boast in the Lord; imitate Him alone and fix your eyes on Him, if you would stand on His path and be His disciples. As the apostle Paul also said: “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Boris Zdorovets.

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The testimony of Belgorod Baptist presbyter Mikhail Azarov, former member of the AUCECB, concerning the union of the KGB and the apostate church, which was revealed to him during courses for senior presbyters of the AUCECB-KGB in Moscow and for which he was thrown into the GULAG.

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