Introduction
The Moscow Patriarchate is a non-canonical organization founded on the apostasy of Sergius (Stragorodsky), legalized by Stalin and filled with KGB/FSB agents.
History of the Moscow Patriarchate
1. Following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and the civil war of 1918-1921, the new Soviet Bolshevik leadership set a course for the destruction of the Orthodox Church in Soviet Russia and then in the USSR. Thus, the Russian Orthodox Church (until 1943, it was called the Greco-Russian Orthodox Church) was split into three main groups: the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), the Tikhonites (supporters of Patriarch Tikhon (Belavin)) and the Renovationists (schismatics who worked for the Bolsheviks, i.e., for the destruction of the Church).
2. Patriarch Tikhon (Belavin), elected in 1917, openly condemned the Soviet regime, calling it "satanic." Tikhon's death in 1925 sparked a leadership crisis, exacerbated by the arrests of potential successors, such as Metropolitan Peter of Krutitsy. In 1927, Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) made a deal with the Bolsheviks and engineered a new schism, this time among the Tikhonites. On July 29, 1927, he published his infamous Declaration, pledging unwavering allegiance to the Soviet state and declaring that the joys and sorrows of the Church must be reconciled with the atheistic Bolshevik regime. That same year, Sergius established his own illegal Synod, which he himself headed. In reality, he had no canonical right to lead the Orthodox Church, as... He was only one of nine deputies of the Patriarchal Locum Tenens. Authority in the Church belonged to three Patriarchal Locum Tenens: Metropolitans St.Agathangel (Preobrazhensky), St.Kirill (Smirnov), and St.Peter (Polyansky). All of them, along with the majority of other bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, condemned these anti-canonical, essentially criminal acts of Sergius and severed Eucharistic communion with him. Subsequently, they declared Sergius's group and his supporters to be a graceless, schismatic group. Thus, before the start of World War II, the Russian Orthodox Church was split into four main (we ignore smaller schisms) church groups, two of which actually constituted the canonical Orthodox Church in Russia: the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Catacomb Church (other names include "Tikhonites," "Josephites," and the True Orthodox Church). The other two "Sergianists" (supporters of Sergius (Stragorodsky)) and the Renovationists were graceless schismatic groups completely subordinated to and controlled by the godless power of the Bolsheviks and the state security agencies (Cheka-NKVD-MGB-KGB).
3. With the help of state security agencies, Sergius managed to cling to power, as the Bolsheviks primarily sought to destroy the Orthodox, i.e., the Catacomb Church in the USSR. All three Patriarchal Locum Tenens and most of the Orthodox bishops who had severed communion with Sergius died in exile and camps. Abroad, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), founded in 1920 by Decree No. 362 of Patriarch Tikhon for self-government in exile, severed ties with Sergius in 1927, condemning the Declaration as treason. Both the Catacomb Church and the ROCOR considered the Moscow Patriarchate a "red Soviet church," non-canonical and a Soviet invention, lacking legitimate continuity since the time of Tikhon and tainted by collaboration with the godless authorities.
4. By 1939, only 300-400 officially operating Orthodox churches remained in the USSR (out of more than 30,000 operating before the 1917 Revolution), belonging to either the "Sergianists" or the "Renovationists." Both received legalization from the Soviet government. The canonical Catacomb Church did not receive legalization and was actively persecuted by the authorities, but it organized underground communities and monasteries.
5. After Germany's attack on the USSR in June 1941, the German occupation authorities opened more than 8,500 churches across the USSR. Following the victory at Stalingrad and the beginning of the liberation of the Soviet Union from German occupation forces, the Soviet leadership decided to take control of the process of church revival. It was decided to create its own, pocket, i.e., completely government-controlled "Red Church" from two schismatic, graceless, and anti-canonical church groups—the "Renovationists" and the "Sergianists." On September 4, 1943, Stalin met with Sergius and two other Sergianist metropolitans. Stalin ordered them to convene a council of bishops and elect a new patriarch. The new church structure was named the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, or the Moscow Patriarchate for short. At the 1943 council of bishops, Sergius (Stragorodsky) was elected "patriarch." It must be said that the elections were conducted in a completely uncanonical manner, in violation of the provisions of the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church of 1917-1918. In fact, only a Local Council of the Russian Church could elect the Patriarch, and such a body as a bishops' council was not even included in the list of church governing bodies.
6. Then, to govern his pocket Soviet church, Stalin created a new body called the "Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church." Almost all of this body's employees were KGB officers. In other words, the Moscow Patriarchate was effectively completely subordinate to the KGB. Sergius died in 1944 and was succeeded by Alexy I. The Catacomb Church and the ROCOR knew this and maintained no ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, did not recognize the election of the "patriarch," and viewed the Moscow Patriarchate as an anti-church structure created to promote communist ideas and destroy the Orthodox faith in the Soviet Union.
7. After 1945, the Moscow Patriarchate served Soviet foreign policy by infiltrating international organizations such as the World Council of Churches. Within the USSR, it actively collaborated with the godless Soviet regime, helping it destroy the Orthodox faith and persecute true Orthodox believers. Most of the Moscow Patriarchate's employees were KGB agents, including members of the Moscow Patriarchate's top leadership. Materials confirming this conclusion were published after the collapse of the USSR.
8. After the collapse of the USSR, the remaining few Catacomb communities did not agree to unite with the Moscow Patriarchate. They actually represented the canonical Orthodox Church in the territory of modern Russia. However, under Putin, a process of rapprochement between the ROCOR and the ROC MP began. This was yet another operation by Russian intelligence services to destroy the canonical Russian Church Abroad. On May 17, 2007, the Act of Canonical Communion was signed in Moscow, integrating the ROCOR as a self-governing organization into the Patriarchate. In fact, according to the current statute of the ROC MP, the ROCOR MP is part of the Moscow Patriarchate and is completely subordinate to the leadership of the ROC MP.
9. Under Patriarch Kirill, the Moscow Patriarchate perpetuates Sergius's statist orientation through the preaching of the ethnophyletic heresy of the "Russian World-Holy Rus'." Following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kirill blessed the conflict, presenting the soldiers' deaths as atonement for which faith in Christ or even Christian affiliation were not required. This constitutes a soteriological heresy that denies the necessity of Christ's sacrifice and the true Christian faith for salvation. The culmination of this deviation from Church teaching by the Moscow Patriarchate was the resolution of the World Russian People's Council of March 27–28, 2024, chaired by Kirill, which directly called the invasion a "holy war" against "Satanism" and demanded Ukraine's integration into Russia's sphere of influence. This teaching is also a heretical doctrine inherent to Islam (which contains concepts such as the greater and lesser jihad (holy war for the faith)) but which does not exist and never has existed in Christianity. This position reflects Sergius's 1927 policy aimed at subordinating the church to state authority and supporting all government decisions, even if these decisions clearly contradict the norms of the Christian faith and are essentially criminal. By 2025, this led to sanctions, internal dissent, and further isolation, highlighting the role of the Moscow Patriarchate in sanctioning geopolitical goals.
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SOURCES OF THE LIVES AND WITNESSES OF THE RUSSIAN NEW MARTYRS AGAINST SERGIANISM AND COMMUNISM
In 1927, the temporary deputy of the Patriarchal Locum Tenens of the Russian Church, Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky), entered into an agreement with the Bolshevik OGPU, and having illegally usurped Church authority, issued a "Declaration" in which he declared, on behalf of the entire Russian Church, cooperation with the God-fighters, as the heretic Renovationists had previously done. The Bolshevik government was declared by him to be "an authority from God", and its joys and successes, including the millions of victims of its bloody godless terror - "the joys and successes of the church". The entire host of Russian Saints, Righteous, Venerable, and Fools for Christ, who still filled Rus' enslaved by the Bolsheviks, rejected this false teaching of his and characterized it as heresy and anti-Christianity. In response to numerous requests to return to the true path and protests from all three patriarchal Locum Tenens, as well as the majority of the episcopate and the best part of the Russian clergy, Sergius responded with the most severe prohibitions, acting contrary to the canons and his powers,
thereby giving rise to a terrible schism in the Church. All those who disagreed with his course were declared by the OGPU "enemies of the Soviet power",
"counter-revolutionaries", and over the course of several years, until 1938, almost all (tens of thousands of clergy and monastics) were
shot. A small remnant of the Russian Church continued to survive in the catacombs, and in the White émigré "Russian Orthodox Church Abroad" (ROCOR), also called the "Catacomb" and "True Orthodox" Church. The neo-Renovationist schism led by Sergius received the status of an official church from the Bolsheviks in exchange for close cooperation with the godless government. In 1943, by personal decree of Stalin, this cooperation became even closer, and Sergius' group received the name of the "Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate" (ROC MP), and continues to call itself that to this day.
Declaration of Metropolitan Sergius was only the beginning of the godless path that his "Patriarchate" embarked on, and which was officially continued in many blasphemous messages and statements of councils, synods, patriarchs and hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church MP, glorifying Bolshevism, Stalinism and the "gains of the great October" until 1991. But to this day, Sergius's "Patriarchate" defends its Bolshevik "heritage", continues to bless and participate in all Soviet holidays and celebrations, uses Soviet symbols, supports communist and left-wing parties in elections... And Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) "patr." Alexei II (Ridiger) and Kirill (Gundyaev) recently declared a "confessor".
Books to learn the history of the Sergianist heresy:
1. Twentieth Century,: Orthodoxy and Militant Atheists (Metropolitan Kallistos Ware)
2. Russian Orthodox Church in the Homeland and Abroad (Archpriest Veniamin Zhukov)
3. ROCA/MP History (Fr.Nikita Grigoriev)
4. The True Face of the Moscow Patriarchate (Priest Gleb Yakunin)
5. Brief summary of the quotes of various Russian New Martyrs on Sergianism
LIST OF SOURCES
1. Russian catacomb saints by Professor Ivan Andreev and Fr Seraphim Rose (In English and Russian)
10. In the Catacombs by Sergei Shumilo in Russian and English:
https://t.me/russianwarsources/306 (Russian)
15. Lives of Russian New Martyrs by Vladimir Moss
16. Lives of New Martyrs by Priest Michael Polsky:
Volume 1:
18. Archimandrite Panteleimon (Nizhnik)
Ray of Light. Teaching in defense of the Orthodox faith, in denunciation of atheism and in refutation of doctrines of unbelief
Below are some photos of the Russian New Martyrs that rejected Sergianism and the Moscow Patriarchate:
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3 Anathemas on the heresy of Sergianism
First Anathema:
The Small Catacomb Council, held in January-February 1934 in Arkhangelsk, resolved:
Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) is to be deprived of prayerful communion with all Orthodox bishops of the Russian Church and suspended from serving for the anti-canonical acts he has committed since 1927—violating the principle of conciliarity of the Church, usurping ecclesiastical authority, and subordinating God's Church to the atheistic Soviet regime.
1934 MESSAGE ON ANATHEMA ON METROPOLITAN SERGIUS (STRAGORODSKY)
New Martyr Victor (Ostrovidov)- Bishop of Glazov and Votkinsk († 1934)☦️
In the matter of the dissipation of the Church, together with the betrayal of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky), Sergius also committed grave blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which, according to Christ's sincere word, will never be forgiven him either in this life or the next.
"Whoever does not gather with Me," says the Lord, "scatters."
"Either make the tree (the Church) good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad" (Matthew 12:33).
"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men" (Matthew 12:30-31).
"Fulfilling the measure of his sin," Metropolitan Sergius, together with his Synod, introduced a new formula for commemoration by decree of October 8 (21), 1927.
By conflating the Holy Church with her enemies who fight to the death in the great and holy sacrament of the Eucharist, contrary to God's word, "faithful with unfaithful" (2 Cor. 6:14-18), the Metropolitan, with this blasphemy, violates the prayerful meaning of this great sacrament and destroys its grace-filled significance for the eternal salvation of the souls of Orthodox believers. Hence, the divine service becomes not simply graceless, due to the gracelessness of the celebrant, but it becomes an abomination in the eyes of God, and therefore both those who perform and participate in it are subject to severe condemnation.
Being a heretic and anti-churchman in all his activities, as one who transforms the Holy Orthodox Church from a home of grace-filled salvation for believers into a graceless, carnal organization, devoid of the spirit of life, Metropolitan Sergius, through his conscious renunciation of the Truth and his insane betrayal of Christ, is an open apostate from the God of Truth.
And without the Church's formal external judgment (which is impossible to execute upon him), he "is condemned of himself" (Titus 3:10-11); he has ceased to be what he was—a "servant of truth"—according to the words: "Let his tabernacle be desolate... and let another take his bishopric" (Acts 1:20).
A series of exhortations from archpastors, God-wise fathers, and Orthodox leaders of the Church over many months (years) were of no avail, did not lead Metropolitan Sergius to a recognition of the sin he had committed, and did not arouse repentance in his heart.
Therefore, by the grace given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, "by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 5:4), we declare former Metropolitan Sergius deprived of prayerful communion with us and all the faithful of Christ and His Holy Orthodox Church, and we commit him to God's judgment: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord" (Heb. 19:30).
This action is in addition to those we previously performed in 1927-1928. We make these declarations in strict awareness of our archpastoral duty to our flock, all faithful children of the Orthodox Church, standing in obedience to the Church of Christ, in due submission to the canons of the Ecumenical Councils and the Council of the Russian Church of 1917-1918, now headed by the Patriarchal Locum Tenens, Metropolitan Peter of Krutitsy, and his deputy, Archbishop Seraphim of Uglich.
"Fear not, little flock! For it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!" (Luke 12:32).
Humble Bishop Victor.
1934
Second Anathema:
ROCOR's 1943 Synodal Condemnation of the Pseudo-Patriarch Sergius of Moscow
1. The election of Metropolitan Sergius to the See of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia is an act not only uncanonical, but also non-ecclesiastical, but political, caused by the interests of the Soviet communist government and its leader, dictator Stalin, who are experiencing a severe crisis during the war and need the help of the Orthodox Church hated by them and until recently clearly persecuted by them.
The Soviet Communist Party and Stalin in their attitude to religion and the Church of Christ, in essence, have not changed at all. Religion is still for them the "opium of the people", and when the need for the help of the Church has passed, they will not fail to resume the open persecution of believers and priests in Russia. In his statement on the radio, Stalin, in order to strengthen his tyrannical power, only wants to show the world that the Soviet Communist Party and he, as its leader, give freedom to the Church, going supposedly sincerely towards the suffering Russian people in their aspiration to God. He stretches out his hands to his captives to the hierarchs of the Russian Church, who, under his pressure, recognized the God-fighting power as legitimate and popular, offers them imaginary peace and a sly kiss, promotes the installation of the Patriarch. But it is impossible to believe him – he has not repented and, together with his communist party, still remains eager for a world communist revolution with the destruction of Christianity and all religion. He only temporarily put on the mask of an ally of the Church.
The election of the Patriarch and the convocation of the Council are needed by Stalin and his party as a means for political propaganda. The patriarch in his hands is just a toy, a utility tool in his clever combinations. He will do with him what he wants. Until there was a war, it was impossible in Russia to elect a Patriarch and organize a Synod. But when a deadly danger loomed over the Communists, then there was a full opportunity to do it in the most simplified way. The canonical, full Council of the Russian Church, provided for by the resolution of the All-Russian Council of 1917-18 (Article 1), was not convened, at least only with bishops. The confessing bishops, suffering for the faith in exile and prisons, were not invited. The martyr Church hiding in the "catacombs" of Soviet Russia was not represented. Only a tiny number of bishops were gathered, who submitted to the God-fighting government and could not be the representatives of the will of the entire Russian Church. The Patriarch is a hierarch who had long bowed before the satanic authority, who declared in 1927 on behalf of the Church that it rejoiced at the successes of this power and that there was no persecution of the Church in Soviet Russia (statement to foreign correspondents in 1930), although now Stalin himself admitted that the Soviet government had so far deprived the Russian people of the Church and freedom of religion. And the first act of the new supreme church authority was blasphemously political resolutions on the establishment of a special prayer for the opening of the so-called "second front" and on the anathematization of Russian people fighting against the Communists and the Bolshevik government.
The pressure of this satanic power on the hierarchy submissive to it is beyond any doubt. The uncanonical and non-ecclesiastical election of the Patriarch, carried out in the interests of the God-fighting government, is no less dangerous for the Church than open persecution against it. It is fraught with serious consequences. It humiliates the authority of the Church and its hierarchs, it puts them in a service position before the servants of the devil, inflicts new wounds on the martyred Church in the person of its still persecuted confessors and creates a new turmoil in the church environment. New temptations are being born for believers and new reasons for mockery of them by non-believers. By the fact that Metropolitan Sergius sacrificed the Orthodox Church to the interests of the godless Soviet power and placed it in the service of this power, he committed a betrayal of the Church of Christ.
2. In view of the above considerations, the Meeting of Bishops of the foreign part of the Russian Church, which is always faithful to its Mother Church and never breaks off spiritual communion with her, in the duty of episcopal conscience does not find it possible to recognize Metropolitan Sergius as the canonical, legitimate Patriarch of the All-Russian Church and offer prayers for him as its head.
3. The administration of the foreign part of the Russian Church should therefore remain unchanged, according to the resolutions of the Council of Bishops of 1927, based on the Decree of His Holiness the Patriarch and St. Synod of November 7/20, 1920, until the establishment of normal relations with Russia and the establishment of true freedom of faith in it.
4. To explain to the pastors of the Church and all believers that all the prohibitions and church punishments emanating from the current Moscow church authorities are illegal, invalid and should not in the least embarrass the conscience of God-abiding Russian people.
5. To address the Orthodox children of the Russian Church in the Homeland and in the scattering with a special appeal regarding the election of the Patriarch in the Soviet Union, in which to find out the true, canonical view of the election of the Patriarchs of the Local Churches and the anti-clerical act committed in Moscow on August 30/September 12 this year under the pressure of the satanic authorities.
Third Anathema:
The Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on November 19, 2004 in Mansonville proclaimed anathema to Sergianism:
To those who assert the anti-Christian heresy of Sergianism; to those who teach that the Church of Christ is supposedly saved by an alliance with the enemies of Christ, and who reject the feat of martyrdom and confession, and who build a false church on the foundation of Judas, and for this purpose permit the violation and distortion of Christian teaching, canons, and moral laws; to those who command Christians to worship the God-fighting power, supposedly given by God, and to serve it not out of fear, but out of conscience, blessing all its lawlessness; to those who justify the persecution of the True Church of Christ by the God-fighters, thinking thereby to serve God—as was in fact done by the continuers of the renovationist heresy, Metropolitan Sergius of Stragorod and all his followers— anathema !
November 6/19, 2004
For more information:
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KGB agents in cassocks: Exposing the Moscow Patriarchate
One often hears that Stalin's permissive policy toward the Church reflects his awareness and support for the Church. Let's try to cast off the blinders of this belief.
On September 4, 1943, Stalin created the Russian Orthodox Church (there had been no such organization before) and appointed Sergius as its head priest. The actual leader of the Russian Orthodox Church was Karpov, a KGB officer. This intelligence agency was created to identify individuals collaborating with the Nazis in parishes established by Hitler (there were no others) in territories newly liberated from German troops. For the same purpose, the following year, in 1944, the All-Union Council of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (AUCECB) was created as a hodgepodge of Protestants—a KGB intelligence unit. Thus, as an intelligence agency, the Moscow Patriarchate and the All-Union Council of Evangelical Christians-Baptists existed until the end of the USSR. After the August putsch, a Supreme Soviet commission opened KGB archives and made public this information; in particular, the entire leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church (MP) was revealed to be KGB agents. Including Ridiger (Alexy 2) - agent "Drozdov", Gundyaev (Kirill) - agent "Mikhailov", etc. And among the Protestants Karev, Zhidkov, Ponomarchuk, Andreev, Belykh, Radchuk, Kotyakov, Bondaruk, Sarkisyan...
Among the documents discovered by the Parliamentary Commission of the Supreme Soviet of Russia (Boris Perchatkin: Orthodox priest Gleb Yakunin, who served on the commission) investigating the causes and circumstances of the coup d'état (the August 1991 putsch) are reports on the activities of the 4th Department of the 5th Directorate of the KGB of the USSR. These reports provide a wealth of material for historians of the Russian Orthodox Church studying its fate during the Soviet period. They discuss the recruitment of clergy into state security service. According to archival data, the policy of recruiting clergy began in the early years of Soviet power.
“...A whole series of other archival documents have been discovered and published, testifying to the fact that many hierarchs of the Moscow Patriarchate were simultaneously KGB agents, and that individual, most promising state security agents were promoted to leadership positions in the Moscow Patriarchate as its hierarchs.
These publications cite excerpts from reports from "church curators" to KGB leadership, attesting to the extent of state security agencies' infiltration of the church. We will cite just one entry from 1987: "For the first time, agent 'Adamant,' a member of the Russian Orthodox Church hierarchy, participated in the UNESCO General Session as part of the Soviet delegation... Five personal and work files on agents from territorial bodies recommended for promotion to the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church were reviewed. Head of the 4th Department, Colonel Timoshevsky" (KGB Central Archive, p. 358, report of the 4th Department, 5th Directorate).
...Truly, "personnel is everything." It is noteworthy that agent "Adamant," or Metropolitan Juvenaly (Poyarkov), according to discovered KGB documents, along with other hierarchs of the Moscow Patriarchate and leaders of other faiths in the former USSR, was awarded a KGB certificate "for long-term cooperation and active assistance to the state security agencies." "1985, p. 51. Notes were prepared for the KGB of the USSR on the encouragement of agent "Adamant." Shugai. V.I. Timoshevsky."
The code name of another prominent KGB church agent, "Abbot," has also been revealed. This code name belongs to His Eminence Pitirim, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk and Yuryev.
The weekly newspaper Ogonyok exposed "Agent Antonov"—Metropolitan Filaret (Denisenko) of Kiev (now Patriarch of Kiev and All Ukraine). Three articles were devoted to him. Their author, Alexander Nezhny (possibly written under orders from the authorities), concludes his final article, "The Third Name," thus: "At birth, His Beatitude was named Mikhail; upon his tonsure as a monk, he was given the name Filaret; the KGB gave him his third name."
Let's consider the significance of this third name. A monk receives a third name only upon tonsure into the great angelic order—the schema—while His Beatitude and his fellow Synod members received this third name from the KGB upon their "tonsure" as agents of the God-fighting evil empire (it should be noted that the future KGB agent chose his own "third name" and formally received it by signing a document of cooperation). Vladimir Zelinsky theologically develops this idea: "Where nicknames or aliases are hidden behind the names of the church's bishops, the church, that is, becomes an anti-church, which is precisely what the organizer of this spectacle required."
…When the names of the Patriarch, the ruling bishop, the serving priest, and "all those present and praying" are commemorated at the Great Entrance, then at that moment—in a few words—the entire Church gathers and looks around. Here, she stands before the Father, who knows each one by name. By this name, He calls, remembers, guides, judges, saves us, and—regardless of our faith or unbelief—sends us a Guardian Angel.
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches: To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except he who receives it" (Rev. 2:17). But even where the Church is parodied, voluntarily or involuntarily, a change of names also occurs. "Potemkin," "Gregory," "Abbot," "Adamant"...
…The Parliamentary Commission has discovered that the Patriarchate's former representative in the United States, Archbishop Clement (now of Kaluga), is a Topaz agent. Metropolitan Methodius of Voronezh, until recently, hid behind the alias "Pavel." Metropolitan Philaret of Minsk was "Ostrovsky." The late Metropolitan Nikodim Rotov was "Svyatoslav," and Patriarch Alexy II was "Drozdov."
This publicity, however, does not in the least prevent them from continuing their usual activities - conducting divine services, hearing the confessions of believers, receiving ambassadors and other prominent foreign dignitaries, convening councils and synods, and carrying out various charitable activities.
In his sermon on the prohibition of lying, Abba Dorotheus wrote: "... No malice, no heresy, not even the devil himself can deceive anyone except under the guise of virtue. The Apostle says that the devil himself is transformed into an angel of light, so it is not surprising that his servants are transformed into servants of righteousness (Cor. 11:14-15)."
At a student meeting at Moscow State University, Metropolitan Kirill Gundyaev of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, head of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department of External Church Relations (aka agent "Mikhailov"—the current Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church—stated that the clergy's meeting with KGB representatives was "morally indifferent" (Pryamoy Put Bulletin, No. 1-2, 1992). This statement is in no way consistent. Interference in the Church's life by any government, especially one that is anti-God, cannot be considered normal or harmless. There can be no two opinions on this matter. The immorality of such a situation is obvious.
… Many believed and asserted that Patriarch Alexy II was elected by the free will of the bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate. However, according to newly discovered documents, during the preparations for the 1990 Local Council, KGB chief and future putschist Kryuchkov sent a special encrypted telegram to all KGB directorates, inviting them to facilitate the election of Metropolitan Alexy (Ridiger) of Leningrad to the patriarchal throne.
Did the church agents gathered at the council dare disobey their boss? Over the past few years, not a single "Drozdov," "Abbot," "Ostrovsky," or any of the others who have yet to be exposed—not a single one of these "agents in cassocks"—has offered an example of repentance! Not a single one!
HERE IS A SHORT LIST OF SERVANTS OF THE DEVIL-ANTICHRIST IN ORTHODOXY:
1. Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II
he is also the Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod, Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan of Tallinn and Estonia – KGB agent “Drozdov”.
Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II - KGB agent "Drozdov"
2. Patriarch Kirill, Vladimir Gundyaev, KGB agent Mikhailov
Patriarch Kirill, Vladimir Gundyaev, - KGB agent Mikhailov
Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, former Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kirill Gundyaev – KGB agent “Mikhailov” […]At a meeting of students of Moscow State University, the head of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan of Smolensk and Kaliningrad Kirill (aka agent “Mikhailov”) stated that the fact of a meeting between the clergy and KGB representatives is “morally indifferent” (Bulletin “The Direct Path”, No. 1-2, 1992).[…]
Vladimir Mikhailovich Gundyaev was born on November 20, 1946, in Leningrad, to a priest and a German school teacher. After graduating from high school in 1965, he entered the Leningrad Theological Seminary and then the Leningrad Theological Academy, graduating in 1970. On September 12, 1971, the 24-year-old was elevated to the rank of archimandrite and sent to Geneva to serve as the Moscow Patriarchate's representative to the World Council of Churches. He held this position in Geneva until December 1974. From December 1975, V.M. Gundyaev was a member of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches. From 1975, he was a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches. From March 3, 1976, he was a member of the Synodal Commission on Christian Unity and Inter-Church Relations. From November 1976 to October 1978, V.M. Gundyaev served as Deputy Patriarchal Exarch for Western Europe. In 1978, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations. He served in this position until the end of 1983. On November 13, 1989, V.M. Gundyaev was appointed Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. He served in this position until his election as Patriarch on January 27, 2009.
From the reports of the 4th department of the 5th directorate of the KGB of the USSR:
1972, February
Agents "Svyatoslav" and "Mikhailov" traveled to New Zealand and Australia to attend meetings of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches.
In January 1973,
KGB agents "Magistr" and "Mikhailov" were sent to Thailand and India to participate in the work of the WCC. These agents exerted a favorable influence on the Council's work and provided materials of operational interest regarding the situation within the WCC and characterizing individual figures.
Agent "Kuznetsov" was brought to Prague to participate in the Christian Peace Conference, from whom information of operational interest was received.
1973, February.
General Secretary of the WCC Philip Porter was in the USSR as a guest of the Moscow Patriarchate. Beneficial influence was exerted on him through agents “Svyatoslav,” “Adamant,” “Mikhailov,” and “Ostrovsky.” Information of operational interest was received.
1983, February
Agents “Mikhailov” and “Konstantin” were sent to Switzerland to participate in the preparations for the WCC assembly.
3. Metropolitan Methodius, KGB agent Pavel
Metropolitan Methodius, KGB agent Pavel
Metropolitan of Perm, former Metropolitan of Astana and Alma-Ata, former Metropolitan of Voronezh Methodius, KGB agent "Pavel" - Gleb Yakunin: Metropolitan of Voronezh Methodius until recently hid behind the nickname "Pavel".
From the report of the deputy head of the 4th department of the 5th directorate of the KGB, Colonel N. N. Romanov, on the work in 1982: The most significant results are expressed as follows: Through the leading agents of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Georgian and Armenian churches are firmly held in positions of loyalty, actively supporting the peace-loving policy of the Soviet state. In accordance with the plan of active measures against the deployment of medium-range missiles in Europe, developed in pursuance of the resolutions of the Central Committee of the CPSU on this issue and approved by the leadership of the KGB of the USSR on 28.08.1981, as well as within the framework of a joint plan with Service "A" of the First Main Directorate of the KGB of the USSR to exert influence beneficial to the Soviet Union on clerical circles of the West through the leading KGB agents "Abbot", "Antonov", "Kuznetsov", "Nesterovich" and others through religious channels, a complex of actions to influence the socio-political circles of Western European countries was carried out. Through intelligence capabilities in the Russian Orthodox Church and friends, information was also conveyed to the Pope that his “excessive” interest in the Uniate issue could only cause damage to relations between the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church.
During 1982, 1,809 meetings were held, and 704 messages were received. September-October 1983: From September 28 to October 3, a meeting of church press representatives was held in Moscow at the Moscow Patriarchate's Publishing Department. Twelve foreigners participated. Information exchange issues were discussed. Politically advantageous influence was exerted on the foreigners through agents "Abbot" and "Gregory."
A meeting of the KMK working committee on disarmament issues was held in Moscow. Nine KGB agents, including "Antonov," "Ostrovsky," "Kuznetsov," and "Vadim," were sent to participate in the meeting to exert positive influence, make favorable decisions, and scrutinize individual delegates. The meeting was a success, and the final documents reflect the interests of our state.
4. Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk, KGB agent Ostrovsky
Metropolitan Filaret of Minsk, KGB agent Ostrovsky
Metropolitan of Minsk, Exarch of All Belarus Filaret, former Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate Kirill Vakhromeev – KGB agent “Ostrovsky” – 1973, February
The General Secretary of the WCC, Philip Porter, was in the USSR as a guest of the Moscow Patriarchate, and favorable influence was exerted on him through agents “Svyatoslav,” “Adamant,” “Mikhailov,” and “Ostrovsky.” Information of operational interest was received.
April 1983:
Through agents "Ostrovsky" and "Kuznetsov," an open letter from Patriarch Pimen to US President Reagan was prepared. The letter was published in the New York Times, reprinted in Izvestia on April 11, 1983, and sent to friends for publication in their newspapers.
May 1983.
A delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church, led by Patriarch Pimen, traveled to the Patriarchate of Bulgaria to attend the jubilee celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church's patriarchate. The delegation included KGB agents Ostrovsky, Nikolsky, Ognev, and Sergeev, as well as an active reserve operative under the cover of a Patriarchate employee.
Agents "Abbot", "I. Sergeeva", "T.V." traveled to Ireland.
1983, July
47 KGB agents from among religious authorities, clergy and technical personnel were sent to Vancouver (Canada) for the 6th General Assembly of the WCC as part of the religious delegation of the USSR.
September - October 1983.
From September 28 to October 3, a meeting of church press representatives was held in Moscow at the Moscow Patriarchate's Publishing Department. Twelve foreigners participated. Information exchange was discussed. Politically advantageous influence was exerted on the foreigners through agents "Abbot" and "Gregory."
A meeting of the KMK working committee on disarmament issues was held in Moscow. Nine KGB agents, including "Antonov," "Ostrovsky," "Kuznetsov," and "Vadim," were sent to participate in the meeting to exert positive influence, make favorable decisions, and scrutinize individual delegates. The meeting was a success, and the final documents reflect the interests of our state.
Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov), chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations and a secret Catholic, was Kirill (Gundyaev's) mentor and patron. Thanks to Metropolitan N. Rotov's patronage, the young priest K. Gundyaev made a career in the Moscow Patriarchate.
5. Chairman of the DECR MP and secret Catholic Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) - KGB agent Svyatoslav
Chairman of the DECR MP and secret Catholic Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) - KGB agent Svyatoslav
Metropolitan Nikodim (Boris Rotov) of Leningrad and Ladoga (Novgorod) (1963-78), Patriarchal Exarch of Western Europe (1974-78), Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate (1960-1972), Metropolitan of Minsk and Belarus (1963), Head of the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate (1960-63), Archbishop of Yaroslavl and Rostov (1960-63) – KGB agent “Svyatoslav” – secret Catholic Metropolitan Nikodim (Rotov) – KGB agent Svyatoslav – mentor and patron of Kirill (Gundyaev). Thanks to the patronage of Metropolitan N. Rotov, the young priest K. Gundyaev made a career in the MP – From the reports of the 4th department of the 5th directorate of the KGB of the USSR:
1972, February
Agents "Svyatoslav" and "Mikhailov" traveled to New Zealand and Australia for meetings of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches. 1973, February
The General Secretary of the WCC, Philip Porter, was in the USSR as a guest of the Moscow Patriarchate, and favorable influence was exerted on him through agents “Svyatoslav,” “Adamant,” “Mikhailov,” and “Ostrovsky.” Information of operational interest was received.
August 1969:
agents aLTaR, svYaTOsLav, aDaMaNT, MaGIsTER, ROsHCHIN and ZEMNOGORsKY went to England to take part in the work of the WCC central committee. agents managed to avert hostile activities [public criticism of soviet religious persecution]…10
6. Metropolitan Pitirim - Konstantin Nechaev - KGB agent Abbot
Metropolitan Pitirim - Konstantin Nechaev - KGB agent Abbot
Metropolitan Pitirim of Volokolamsk and Yuryev (1963-2003) (Konstantin Nechaev), head of the Publishing Department of the Moscow Patriarchate (1963-64) - KGB agent "Abbot" - one of the most valuable in the KGB
1980, January
Agent "Abbot" traveled to Sweden through the Union of Soviet Friendship Societies on a counter-propaganda mission.
March 1980.
Agents "Abbot" and "Markov" were sent to a meeting of the WAC (an international organization of church journalists). The information they received about the situation at the WAC and regarding Hesler, the object of our operational interest, was of interest to the KGB.
Agent "Abbot" traveled to England for the enthronement of the head of the Anglican Church.
June 1980.
Agent "Abbot" was dispatched to France. Agent "Abbot" traveled to the United States through the Soviet Peace Committee.
1980, November
Agent “Abbot” was sent to the Assembly of the Ecumenical Information Centre in Europe in Germany.
December 1980:
Agents "Abbot" and "Remarque" returned from their trip to West Germany. Through these agents, they exerted a positive influence on believers by exposing slanderous fabrications about the situation of believers in the USSR.
From the report of the deputy head of the 4th department of the 5th Directorate of the KGB, Colonel N. N. Romanov, on work in 1982: The most significant results are expressed in the following:
Through the leading agents of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Georgian and Armenian churches firmly maintain positions of loyalty and active support for the peace-loving policies of the Soviet state. In accordance with the plan of active measures against the deployment of medium-range missiles in Europe, developed in pursuance of the resolutions of the Central Committee of the CPSU on this issue and approved by the leadership of the KGB of the USSR on August 28, 1981, as well as within the framework of a joint plan with Service "A" of the First Main Directorate of the KGB of the USSR to exert influence on Western clerical circles favorable to the Soviet Union, a series of actions to influence socio-political circles in Western European countries were carried out through leading KGB agents "Abbot," "Antonov," "Kuznetsov," "Nesterovich," and others through religious channels. Through intelligence resources within the Russian Orthodox Church and his friends, the Pope was also informed that his "excessive" preoccupation with the Uniate issue could only harm relations between the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church. During 1982, 1,809 meetings were held, and 704 messages were received.
May 1983.
A delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church, led by Patriarch Pimen, traveled to the Patriarchate of Bulgaria to attend the jubilee celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church's patriarchate. The delegation included KGB agents Ostrovsky, Nikolsky, Ognev, and Sergeev, as well as an active reserve operative under the cover of a Patriarchate employee.
Agents "Abbot", "I. Sergeeva", "T.V." traveled to Ireland.
1983, July
47 KGB agents from among religious authorities, clergy and technical personnel were sent to Vancouver (Canada) for the 6th General Assembly of the WCC as part of the religious delegation of the USSR.
October 1983:
A delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church, including agents "Abbot" and "Gregory," traveled to Denmark at the invitation of the Denmark-USSR Friendship Society. Their mission was to defend the peace-loving policies of the Soviet state and expose Western propaganda about the status of religions and believers in the USSR.
A delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church traveled to the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Kharkiv Metallurgical Plant. Among its members were KGB agents Antonov, Vadim, and Kuznetsov. With their active participation, a declaration was drafted for the 25th anniversary of the Kharkiv Metallurgical Plant, reflecting the interests of our country as a whole.
From October 3rd to 8th of this year, a meeting of members of the Ecumenical Circle for Information in Europe (an organization uniting Christian publicists) was held in Moscow. Twenty-three foreigners participated. Through agents "Abbot" and "Gregory," politically advantageous influence was exerted on the foreigners.
September - October 1983.
From September 28 to October 3, a meeting of church press representatives was held in Moscow at the Moscow Patriarchate's Publishing Department. Twelve foreigners participated. Information exchange was discussed. Politically advantageous influence was exerted on the foreigners through agents "Abbot" and "Gregory."
A meeting of the KMK working committee on disarmament issues was held in Moscow. Nine KGB agents, including "Antonov," "Ostrovsky," "Kuznetsov," and "Vadim," were sent to participate in the meeting to exert positive influence, make favorable decisions, and scrutinize individual delegates. The meeting was a success, and the final documents reflect the interests of our state.
7. Metropolitan Juvenaly Poyarkov – KGB agent Adamant
Metropolitan Juvenaly Poyarkov - KGB agent AdamantP
Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna (1977-…), Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate (1972-81), Metropolitan of Tula and Belyov (1969-77) — Vladimir Poyarkov — KGB agent “Adamant” — […]agent “Adamant”, that is, Metropolitan Juvenaly, according to discovered KGB documents, along with other hierarchs of the Moscow Patriarchate and leaders of other confessions in the former USSR, was awarded a KGB USSR certificate “for long-term cooperation and active assistance to the state security agencies”, 1985, p. 51. Notes were prepared for the KGB of the USSR on the encouragement of agent “Adamant”. Shugai. V.I. Timoshevsky.
1973, February.
General Secretary of the WCC Philip Porter was in the USSR as a guest of the Moscow Patriarchate. Beneficial influence was exerted on him through agents “Svyatoslav”, “Adamant”, “Mikhailov” and “Ostrovsky”. Information of operational interest was received.
January 1977:
Agent "Kuznetsov" of the 4th Department of the 5th Directorate departed for Czechoslovakia. Agents "Adamant," "Nikolsky," and "Mikhail" were sent to India as part of a delegation led by Patriarch Pimen.
August 1969:
agents aLTaR, svYaTOsLav, aDaMaNT, MaGIsTER, ROsHCHIN and ZEMNOGORsKY went to England to take part in the work of the WCC central committee. agents managed to avert hostile activities [public criticism of soviet religious persecution]…10
Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna was awarded the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 3rd degree.
8. Metropolitan Clement - Herman Kapalin - KGB agent Topaz
Metropolitan Clement - Herman Kapalin - KGB agent Topaz
Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk (2004-…, Archbishop 1990-2004), Head of the Publishing Council of the Moscow Patriarchate (2009-…), Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchate (2003-09), Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA (1987-90), Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada (1982-87) - German Kapalin - KGB agent "Topaz" - […]The Parliamentary Commission found out that the former representative of the Patriarchate in the USA, Archbishop Clement (now of Kaluga) is an agent of "Topaz".
Source:
More info:
1. KGB Agents in Cassocks of the Russian Orthodox Church. Pt.1
2. Totalitarian Sect Russian Orthodox Church (MP). Pt.2
3. KGB Agents in Cassocks. The Story of an Agent’s Report. Pt.3
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Documental proof that the Moscow Patriarchate is the creation of Stalin and the KGB
DIRECTIVES OF THE NKGB OF THE USSR ON THE CREATION OF THE MOSCOW PATRIARCHATE (FROM THE SBU ARCHIVES).
From the Editor: From declassified documents from the Branch State Archives of the Security Service of Ukraine (OGASBU), F. 9, D. 220, it follows that the NKGB of the USSR and its units in the union and autonomous republics, territories, and regions were engaged in selecting candidates for participation in the Council from among the clergy and laity. For this purpose, it was necessary to identify "individuals who have religious authority among the clergy and believers and, at the same time, have been proven in intelligence or patriotic work." "It is important to ensure that the number of designated candidates is dominated by NKGB agents capable of promoting the line we need at the Council," states a letter sent to the local authorities in September 1944, signed by Fedotov, head of the 2nd Directorate of the NKGB of the USSR, and Karpov, head of the 5th Department of the 2nd Directorate. Agents of the Cheka-NKVD-NKGB, etc. It existed in absolutely all religious associations, both legal and illegal, as religion is a vital part of public consciousness, capable of influencing the masses. Declassified documents claim that all delegates to the so-called Local Council of 1945 (pictured), which established the new entity known as the Moscow Patriarchate and elected Alexy I (Simansky) as Patriarch, were NKGB agents posing as Council delegates.
Directive of the NKGB of the USSR on the local council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Top secret
"I APPROVE"
People's Commissar for State Security of the USSR
State Security Commissioner of the 1st rank
V. MERKULOV
TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES OF STATE SECURITY OF THE UNION AND AUTONOMOUS REPUBLICS
TO THE HEADS OF THE NKGB DEPARTMENTS OF THE REGIONS AND REGIONS.
In the second half of January 1945, a local council (congress) of the Russian Orthodox Church will be held in Moscow to elect the “Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.”
The local council will consist of elected delegates from the clergy and laity.
There will be no election meetings in church parishes, deaneries, or dioceses, and delegates from the clergy and laity will be determined in the dioceses at the discretion of the ruling bishop (diocesan bishop) from among persons recommended by the clergy of the diocese and who have proven themselves positively in priestly or church work.
The following will participate at the local council from dioceses that have bishops: a bishop, one priest, and one layperson; from dioceses that do not have a bishop, only one priest.
To preliminary discuss issues related to holding a local council, a pre-council meeting (bishops' council) will be held in Moscow from November 14 to 20 of this year.
In connection with the presentation, the NKGB of the USSR proposes:
1. Begin the selection of candidates for participation in the council from among the clergy and laity, identifying for this purpose persons who have religious authority among the clergy and believers and at the same time have been proven in intelligence or patriotic work.
It is important to ensure that the number of designated candidates is dominated by NKGB agents who are capable of carrying out the line we need at the council;
2. All designated candidates (except bishops) must submit by December 1 of this year certificates in which, along with a brief biography, professional qualities and political characteristics, they must indicate the extent to which the candidate is authoritative in church circles.
The procedure for promoting the candidates you have nominated for participation in the council will be communicated to you after the November bishops' meeting. For further instructions, please refrain from negotiating with agents regarding candidates nominated for participation in the council or the local council in general.
3. To oblige agents from among the bishops, participants of the pre-council November meeting, upon arrival in Moscow, to contact the employees of the 5th Department of the 2nd Directorate of the NKGB of the USSR by telephone:
K-4-24-00, ask for Alexey Ivanovich, or K-4-59-07, ask for Alexander Ivanovich. Telegraph them in advance about their departure.
CHIEF OF THE 2ND DEPARTMENT OF THE NKGB OF THE USSR
Commissioner of State Security, 3rd rank
FEDOTOV.
HEAD OF THE 5TH DEPARTMENT OF THE 2ND DEPARTMENT
Commissioner of State Security
KARPOV.
№ 122.
September 28, 1944
Moscow
OGASBU. F. 9, D. 220, Section 172, Sheet 1-2.
Directives of the NKGB of the USSR on the creation of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and on the Renovationists from the SBU archive.
Top secret.
TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES OF STATE SECURITY OF THE UNION
AND AUTONOMOUS REPUBLICS
TO THE HEADS OF THE NKGB DEPARTMENTS OF THE REGIONS AND REGIONS.
On September 8th of this year, a council of bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church (of the Tikhon-Sergius orientation) was held in Moscow. It elected Metropolitan Sergius (STRAGORODSKY) as “Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'” and formed under him a Holy Synod consisting of 6 people, which included: Metropolitan Alexy (SIMANSKY) of Leningrad, Metropolitan Nikolay (YARUSHEVICH) of Kiev and Galicia, Archbishop Sergius (GRISHIN) of Gorky and Arzamas, Archbishop Luka (VOINO-YASINETSKY) of Krasnoyarsk, Archbishop John (SOKOLOV) of Yaroslavl and Archbishop Alexy (PALITSYN) of Kuibyshev.
In connection with the fact that during the two years of the Great Patriotic War the Russian Orthodox Church carried out significant patriotic work in the USSR and abroad, the Government found it appropriate to permit;
a) opening of theological courses for training clergy;
b) bishops, on their own initiative, raise the issue of opening churches with local authorities and manage church parish funds;
c) the opening in dioceses of enterprises for the production of candles and other small church utensils;
d) the publication of a magazine entitled “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate”, the first issue of which was published on September 12, 1943 (the magazine is attached).
In order to establish communication between the government of the USSR and the “Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'” on issues of the Russian Orthodox Church requiring permission from the government of the USSR, the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR decided to organize a Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church under the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR (Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars No. 993 of September 14, 1943).
The procedure for resolving issues regarding the opening of churches, the creation of theological courses and other internal church issues will be determined by the Council for Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church under the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR and will be communicated to local executive bodies in the near future.
In accordance with the above, in further work on churchmen, the NKGB organs must be guided by the following:
1. Not to hinder the clergy from implementing the official decisions of Patriarch Sergius and the Synod concerning the appointments and transfers of priests within the dioceses, the opening of theological courses, candle factories, and the distribution of printed publications of the Patriarch and Synod.
2. Along with this, ensure constant intelligence surveillance of the activities of bishops and other clergy of the Orthodox Church, preventing possible attempts on their part to exceed the rights granted to them or to use these rights for anti-Soviet purposes.
3. Each newly opened church should be provided with verified agents from among the clergy or church activists.
4. Until further instructions from the NKGB of the USSR, do not allow the disintegration of the Renovationist Church and the transfer of the Renovationist clergy to the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate, by giving appropriate instructions to our agents from among the leading clergy.
Also, do not allow any attacks or active hostile actions against the Church of St. Sergius from the Renovationists.
5. Strengthen intelligence work among other church movements and sectarians, especially against illegal church organizations and groups, preventing possible provocations and attempts to intensify anti-Soviet work on their part in connection with the decisions taken regarding the St. Sergius Orthodox Church.
The first secretaries of the Central Committees of the Communist Parties of the Union Republics and the regional and provincial committees of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) are to be informed of this instruction.
PEOPLE'S COMMISSAR OF STATE SECURITY OF THE USSR COMMISSAR OF STATE SECURITY 1ST RANK
V. MERKULOV
№84
September 22, 1943
d. Moscow
OGASBU. F. 9, D. 220, Section 257, Sheet 1-3.
Directive of the NKGB of the USSR on the Renovationists in connection with the creation of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate from the SBU archive.
Top secret.
TO THE PEOPLE'S COMMISSAR'S OF STATE SECURITY
UNION AND AUTONOMOUS REPUBLICS
TO THE HEADS OF THE NKGB DEPARTMENTS OF THE REGIONS AND REGIONS.
The NKGB of the USSR receives information about the intentions and attempts of some renovationist bishops and priests to transfer from the renovationist church to the Patriarchal Church of St. Sergius.
In addition to the directive of the NKGB of the USSR No. 84 of September 22 of this year, it is explained that if the renovationist clergy wish to transfer to the Patriarchal Church of St. Sergius, this transfer should not be hindered.
Also, the transition of groups of believers or entire parishes from the Renovationist to the St. Sergius Church, at the request of the believers, should not be hindered.
The conditions for the reception of metropolitans, bishops and priests of the renovationist orientation are established by Patriarch Sergius and his episcopate in his place.
If agents from the Renovationist clergy approach you for advice, you should be advised to submit applications to Patriarch Sergius.
PEOPLE'S COMMISSAR OF STATE SECURITY OF THE USSR Commissar of State Security, 1st rank
V. MERKULOV
№ 116
25.XI-43 R.
OGASBU. F. 9, D. 220, Section 137, Sheet 1.