OSH TRIP: AMBASSADOR VISITS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000953 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PHUM KG SUBJECT: OSH TRIP: AMBASSADOR VISITS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH BISHKEK 00000953 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana Gfoeller for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: During the Ambassador's visit to the Russian Orthodox Church in Osh, Father Victor Reemghen spoke of the church's relationship with the local administration, the hierarchical structure of the church, and the stability of the parish community. One of ten Russian Orthodox churches in the south, the Osh church's congregation numbers in the hundreds, and includes ethnic Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, and Meskhetian Turks, some entering the church by inter-racial marriages. Father Reemghen also gave a tour of the church facilities and adjoining school (which services 102 children grades 1 through 6),while expressing his hope for Embassy support through donations of English textbooks. End summary. NO GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE -------------- ¶2. (C) Having served since 1994 as the pastor to the only Russian Orthodox Church in Osh City, Father Victor Reemghen has witnessed government officials and administrations come and go but the relationship remains strong. He told Ambassador that the government inflicts no pressure on his church, explaining that "all religions are treated alike." At the same time, Reemghen complained that the administration did not provide any financial support either. He said that the Osh City mayor includes his church when holding discussions with civic groups about various social issues. He also stated with pride that the Kyrgyz government recognizes Russian Orthodox Christmas as a national holiday. A RELIC FROM A "NEW MARTYR" -------------- ¶3. (C) Father Reemghen described the hierarchical structure of the Russian Orthodox Church in Central Asia and the recognition of martyrs in the region. Although his administrative supervisor resided in Bishkek, he said, the Archbishop is located in Tashkent, as he has since before the fall of the Soviet Union. ¶4. (C) Reemghen, who was born in Kazakhstan, was pleased that the Russian Orthodox Church had recently announced the canonization of a priest named Vladimir in Kazakhstan who was killed at the altar while holding services by Soviet authorities during the Bolshevik Revolution. He proudly showed the Ambassador a relic of the new St. Vladimir, a fragment of the vestment he had been wearing when he was cut down by sword-wielding Bolsheviks. Reemghen said that there were numerous religious figures killed during that time period in Central Asia. Although the Russian government was now attempting to play-down Communist-era atrocities, he was encouraged that the Russian Orthodox Church continued the process of recognizing those martyrs. So far, 15,000 "New Martyrs" have been identified, their biographies rigorously verified, and canonized, according to him, and the process is continuing apace. STABLE CONGREGATION; IMPRESSIVE SCHOOL -------------- ¶5. (C) Father Reemghen said that the size of his congregation has held stable, even though many Russian adults had left the region in search of work in Russia. He attributed this to people returning from working abroad, new interest in Christianity among formerly atheist Russians still living in the region, and inter-racial marriages. Reemghen proudly stated that "being ethnic Russian is not necessary" to join his church. ¶6. (C) The Ambassador toured the Russian Orthodox Church and visited the adjoining school, where Father Reemghen encouraged cooperation with the Embassy to obtain English BISHKEK 00000953 002.2 OF 002 language textbooks. The school provides secular and non-secular courses to 102 students in grades one through six. The Ambassador saw children attending courses on English, geography, and dance choreography. At the end of the tour, Father Reemghen pitched the Ambassador for English language textbooks and expressed his gratitude for the visit and interest of the Ambassador to his church. GFOELLER