Keeping the faith

Book Description

In the face of unprecedented persecution and political upheaval, how did Russian Orthodox monasteries and convents survive the Soviet era? Jennifer Jean Wynot explores this remarkable story of spiritual resilience in a comprehensive examination that spans from the early 1900s through the devastating Stalinist purges of the 1930s.

Drawing from previously inaccessible Russian archives, personal memoirs, and intimate interviews with surviving monks and nuns, Wynot reveals how Orthodox monastic communities adapted and endured under the Bolshevik regime. Her research challenges widely held Western beliefs about the complete destruction of Russian Orthodoxy under communist rule, demonstrating instead the crucial role that dedicated monastics played in preserving their faith tradition.

This historical account illuminates the complex relationship between the Russian state and Orthodox Church, tracing patterns that emerged centuries earlier during Ivan the Terrible's reign. Through careful documentation, Wynot shows how monks and nuns continued offering spiritual guidance to their communities despite facing severe persecution and constant threat.

The book presents fresh insights into church-state dynamics while honoring the courage of those who maintained their spiritual practices in the darkest of times. For readers interested in understanding how faith communities navigate political oppression, this work offers both historical perspective and inspiration about the enduring power of spiritual commitment in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.