Russian ex-traffic cop Sergei Torop meets with his followers in the remote village of Petropavlovka ... [+]
If you want to understand the way that power and faith have changed in Russia, read the story of the arrest of Vissarion, leader of the "Church of the Last Testament."
Since the 1990s, thousands of people have made their way to the depths of the Siberian wilderness to join Vissarion's sect. At least some of them believe his claim that he is Jesus Christ returned to earth—an impression that his flowing robes, shoulder-length hair and beard all seem designed to encourage.
Now the authorities seem to have decided to put a stop to his activities.
Vissarion—a former traffic cop whose real name is Sergei Torop—was detained September 22, along with two other senior members of his movement, by agents of Russia's Investigative Committee (similar to the FBI in the U.S.)
As Reuters reported, the Investigative Committee allege that "the religious group had used psychological pressure to extract money from its followers and caused serious harm to their health."
Torop has denied the claims, according to the TASS news agency.
A Cult Born In Post-Communist Chaos
His story begins in the last years of the Soviet Union: a time when the certainties that came with communism were crumbling.
As the state's grip on society loosened, new ideas were allowed to flourish. In Torop's case, that extended to setting himself up as a religious leader on a hillside in Siberia, some 2000 miles from Moscow.
In his 2012 book, A Journey Into Russia, Jens Mühling wrote of his experiences visiting "the kingdom of God", as some of those he traveled with styled the community. A long journey—the last two hours of which were a hike along "a narrow path that snaked uphill"—was followed by a "Vissarionist supper" (no meat, dairy products, or alcohol) before an encounter the next day with Vissarion/ Torop himself.
Vissarion (the former Sergei Torop), a religious cult figure who claims that he is the reincarnation ... [+]
At a Sunday meeting for his followers, the sect leader answered questions on matters as varied as marital discord, animal husbandry, and whether detergent was spiritually harmless.
The Russian authorities have now clearly decided that the Church of the Last Testament is not spiritually harmless.
Changing Dynamics Of Power And Faith
Why? If religious, political, and other movements were often left to their own devices in the chaos that followed the collapse of communism—and often found ready recruits looking to make sense of the confusion around them—Russia now is very different.
Yes, faith has flourished. After decades of official atheism, the years following the end of the Soviet Union saw a huge increase in the number of Russians who readily identified themselves as Orthodox Christian: up from 31% to 72% between 1991 and 2008.
But that spiritual renewal is tied up with worldly power, too. President Vladimir Putin—even though as a former KGB officer he is a veteran of service to the atheist Soviet state—is frequently shown on television attending religious services at the holiest times of the Orthodox Christian calendar.
NOVOSIBIRSK, RUSSIA - SEPTEMBER 23, 2020: Sergei Torop (R) aka Vissarion, leader of the Church of ... [+]
So faith is fine provided it is within the confines of the Kremlin-approved Orthodox Church.
Torop and his followers may have been protected thus far by their remoteness.
“Local police know that it is basically impossible to get to us, so they let us do our thing,” Vadim Redkin, one of those detained along with Torop, told the Moscow Times in May 2020.
Cult's Popularity Rising During Coronavirus Pandemic?
Redkin was also quoted as saying that requests to join the sect had "tripled" since the onset of the coronavirus.
Is that part of the problem? Kremlin-backed media have given details of the raid, in which police are said to have, "found a hoard of empty and full alcohol bottles, jewelry, weapons, adult toys, and a stash of money, held in rubles, dollars and euro," as RT reported.
Details like that appearing in news coverage that suggest the future does not look bright for Torop and his followers.
Russia's leaders, like those across the world, are facing the economic and social challenges presented by the pandemic. It may simply be that a political system relying on conformity and control does not want any challenge to its authority—however remote it might be from the seat of Russian power.
Illegal or not—the justice system will decide—the Church of the Last Testament's activities are, it seems, no longer to be tolerated.
