Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BISHKEK953
2008-09-19 10:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
OSH TRIP: AMBASSADOR VISITS RUSSIAN ORTHODOX
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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).
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
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