Protestantism(from Latin protestatio, onis f - proclamation, assurance; in some cases - objection, disagreement) - a set of religious communities (about 20,000 denominations), each of which identifies itself with the Church of God, Christ, believes that it professes pure faith , based on the Gospel, on the teachings of the holy apostles, but in reality it is a pseudo-Christian community, or sect. The basis of the doctrine of each Protestant community, as well as the basis of the norms of worship and worship of God, is the uniquely interpreted revealed teaching set forth in the Holy Scriptures, mainly in the canonical Books of the New Testament.

Protestantism was formed during the Reformation, in the 16th century. The reason for the start of the reform movements was the dissatisfaction of individual representatives of the Roman Catholic Church with abuses on the part of its pastorate, and above all by the popes. Martin Luther became the leader of the religious revolution. His plans were to partially reform the church and limit the power of the pope. Luther's first open speech against the policies of the Catholic Church took place in 1517. Luther then sent the theses to his friends. They were published in January 1518. It was also previously believed that the reformer publicly and vehemently condemned the trade in indulgences, but he did not deny the legality and effectiveness of indulgences, but only the abuses in issuing them. His 71st thesis read: “Whoever speaks against the truth of papal absolution - let him be anathematized and cursed.”

Other founders of Protestantism, in addition to Martin Luther, were J. Calvin, W. Zwingli, F. Melanchthon.

Protestantism, due to its rather free attitude to the methods and techniques of interpreting the Holy Scriptures, is very heterogeneous and includes thousands of directions, although in general, to some extent, it still shares Christian ideas about God the Trinity, the consubstantiality of the Divine Persons, and the God-Man Jesus Christ (Incarnation, Atonement, Resurrection of the Son of God), about the immortality of the soul, heaven and hell, the Last Judgment, etc.

A rather sharp difference between Orthodoxy and Protestantism is seen in relation to the doctrine of the Church, and this is natural, because if Protestants agreed with the Orthodox (or even Catholic) teaching, they would have no choice but to recognize their “churches” as false. In addition to the fact that Protestantism rejects the doctrine of the Orthodox Church as the only true and saving one, Protestants, partially or completely, deny the church hierarchy (clergy), the Sacraments, the authority of the Holy Tradition, on the basis of which not only the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, but also liturgical practice is built, the ascetic experience of Christian ascetics, the veneration of saints and the institution of monasticism.

Five main doctrinal theses of classical Protestantism:

1. Sola Scriptura - “Only Scripture.”

The Bible (Holy Scripture) is proclaimed to be the only and self-interpreting source of doctrine. Every believer has the right to interpret the Bible. However, even the first Protestant Martin Luther noted: “The devil himself can quote the Bible with great benefit to himself.” Evidence of the recklessness of striving to understand the Bible only with one’s own fallen mind is the ever-increasing fragmentation of Protestantism into many movements. After all, even in ancient times St. said in a letter to Emperor Constantine: Scripture is not in words, but in their understanding.

2. Sola fide – “Only by faith.” This is the doctrine of justification by faith alone, regardless of the performance of good works and any external sacred rites. Protestants deny their significance as a source of salvation for the soul, considering them the inevitable fruits of faith and evidence of forgiveness.

3. Sola gratia – “By grace alone.”

This is the doctrine that salvation is a good gift from God to man and man himself cannot participate in his own salvation.

4. Solus Christus - “Only Christ.”

Salvation is possible only through faith in Christ. Protestants deny the intercession of the Mother of God and other saints in the matter of salvation, and also teach that the church hierarchy cannot be a mediator between God and people, believing that believers represent a “universal priesthood.”

5. Soli Deo gloria – “Only God be the glory”

Considering that Protestantism is not a single religious movement, but is fragmented into many particular ones, the above comments apply to different Protestant communities to varying degrees. Thus, Lutherans and Anglicans recognize the need for hierarchy, although not in the form in which it is present in the Orthodox Church. The attitude towards the sacraments in different communities is not the same: it differs both in the actual attitude towards them and in the number of recognized sacraments. Protestantism, as a rule, is alien to the veneration of holy icons and holy relics, alien to the doctrine of the appropriateness of prayers to God's saints as our intercessors. Attitudes towards the Mother of God vary greatly depending on the creed adopted in a particular “church”. Attitudes to personal salvation also vary greatly: from the belief that all who believe in Christ will be saved, to the belief that only those who are predestined to this will be saved.

Orthodoxy implies a living, active perception by a Christian of Divine grace, due to which everything becomes a mysterious union of God and man, and the temple with its Sacraments is a real place of such a union. The living experience of the action of Divine grace does not allow for the limitation of the Sacraments or their perverted interpretation, as well as the belittlement or abolition of the veneration of saints who have acquired grace, asceticism as a way of acquiring it.

The original forms of Protestantism were Lutheranism, Zwinglianism and Calvinism, Unitarianism and Socianism, Anabaptism and Mennoniteism, and Anglicanism. Subsequently, a number of movements emerged, known as late, or neo-Protestantism: Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, Adventists, Pentecostals. Currently, Protestantism is most widespread in the Scandinavian countries, the USA, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Canada, and Switzerland. The United States is rightfully considered the world center of Protestantism, where the headquarters of Baptists, Adventists and other Protestant denominations are located. Protestant movements play a major role in the ecumenical movement.

The theology of Protestantism went through a number of stages in its development. This is the orthodox theology of the 16th century. (M. Luther, J. Calvin), non-Protestant or liberal theology of the 18th – 19th centuries. (F. Schleiermacher, E. Troeltsch, A. Harnack), “crisis theology” or dialectical theology that appeared after the First World War (C. Barth, P. Tillich, R. Bultmann), radical or “new” theology that spread after World War II (D. Bonhoeffer).

The first representatives of Protestant movements appeared on the territory of Russia almost simultaneously with the beginning of this movement in Europe, namely in the 16th century. Over time, many foreign guests took root in Russia, and with them a new religious movement. The word “Protestantism” itself was coined by Martin Luther. It means “publicly proving.”

How are Protestant churches different?

It spread mainly after the collapse of Protestantism itself - a rather unusual religion for Russia. After all, its supporters do not recognize the cult of the Mother of God and do not pray to saints and angels. Protestant churches differ from Orthodox churches in the absence of magnificent decoration. In this direction of Christianity there are only two sacraments - communion and baptism. Protestants consider the Bible to be the main and only source of doctrine.

Protestant Church in Moscow: Baptists

One of the most widespread branches of Protestantism is Baptistism. The Protestant Church in Moscow is also represented by these communities. Their largest association is called the “Moscow Central Church of Evangelical Christian Baptists.” It was founded in the capital in 1882. In 1881-1882, Stepan Vasiliev and his colleague Ivan Bocharov, who were book dealers, began holding gospel readings in Moscow.

Booksellers began to do this because they were faced with a strange fact: those people who considered themselves Christians, in fact, did not know the Bible at all. Many people are now wondering where is the Protestant Baptist Church in Moscow? The current church is located at Maly Trekhsvyatitelsky Lane, building 3.

Seventh-day Adventists

There is also a representation of another branch of Protestantism in the capital - the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The main difference between this movement is the veneration of Saturday as a holy day. Catholics, for example, abolished the celebration of the Sabbath. They introduced the celebration of Sunday to replace this day of the week. And also one of the main points in the Adventist faith is the expectation of the imminent coming of Christ to earth. That is why they have such a name (in Latin the word adventus means “coming”).

In 1994, the Adventist Protestant Church was founded in Moscow. The addresses of the communities are Nagatinskaya street 9, building 3, as well as Krasnoyarskaya street, building 3. The founder of the Adventists is the American preacher William Miller, who lived in North America in the 19th century. When Adventism penetrated into Europe, there this doctrine found very fertile ground for itself, organically connecting with the ideas of Protestants.

The Cathedral of Peter and Paul is the main representation of the Protestant movement in Russia

Today the most influential in Moscow is the Lutheran Cathedral of Peter and Paul. Now the cathedral is located at: Starosadsky Lane, 7/10. This is one of the oldest parishes of this religious movement in Russia. The Protestant community appeared in Moscow in 1626 and constantly moved from one monastery to another.

In 1649, it was prohibited for foreigners to purchase real estate in the capital. But soon General Bauman and the artist Inglis acquired a small amount of land in the German Settlement and built a wooden church. In 1667, there was already a full-fledged church here, which included a pastor’s house and a school building. It burned three times and was completely destroyed in 1812.

But in 1817, the religious community of Peter and Paul acquired the Lopukhins’ estate in the German settlement. The house was renamed a church and consecrated as a temple in 1819. And in the 19th century, the number of Protestant parishioners was already about 6 thousand. Therefore, a new building had to be built. The Protestant Church in Moscow was built in the neo-Gothic style in 1905. In 1892, the parish acquired an organ from Germany. This musical instrument, purchased in the city of Ludwigsburg, became one of the best in all of Russia.

Evangelical Christians in Moscow

Another famous Protestant church in Moscow - this building was used as a palace of culture. But in December 1992, religious services began to be held here. In April 1993, the church was officially registered. For a long time the room was not heated and required repair and restoration. With the help of the community, the building was brought into proper shape. The church is located at the address: Vasily Petushkov Street, building 29.

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Scripture is declared to be the sole source of doctrine. The Bible was translated into national languages, its study and application in one’s own life became an important task for every believer. The attitude towards the Holy Tradition is ambiguous - from rejection, on the one hand, to acceptance and veneration, but, in any case, with a reservation - Tradition (as, indeed, any other doctrinal opinions, including your own) is authoritative, since it is based on Scripture , and to the extent that it is based on Scripture. It is this reservation (and not the desire to simplify and cheapen the cult) that is the key to the refusal of a number of Protestant churches and denominations from this or that teaching or practice.

Protestants teach that original sin corrupted human nature. Therefore, a person, although he remains fully capable of good deeds, cannot be saved by his own merits, but only by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Organization

Every Christian, being chosen and baptized, receives “dedication” to communicate with God, the right to preach and perform divine services without intermediaries (the Church and the clergy). In Protestantism, the dogmatic distinction between priest and layman is thus removed, and the church hierarchy is simplified. Confession and absolution are not sacraments, but repentance directly before God is very important. Celibacy, as well as compulsory marriage for priests and pastors, are not regulated in any way. Protestantism also rejected the authority of the Pope and abandoned the idea of ​​monasticism as a special field of salvation. The principle of universal priesthood laid the foundation for the democratic structure of communities (equality of laity and clergy, election, accountability, etc.).
In practice, priests and pastors usually undergo special training and are professionals. Hierarchy, in one form or another (formally or informally), exists at least to maintain order. Monasteries may also exist in the form of communes.

Rituals

Protestantism limited the number of Sacraments, leaving only Baptism and Communion. In addition, Protestants do not see much meaning in prayers for the dead, prayers to saints and numerous holidays in their honor. At the same time, respect for saints is respectful - as examples of righteous life and good teachers. The veneration of relics is generally not practiced as being inconsistent with Scripture. The attitude towards the veneration of images is ambiguous: from rejection as idolatry, to the teaching that the honor given to the image goes back to the prototype (determined by the acceptance or non-acceptance of the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils).
Protestant houses of worship, as a rule, are free from magnificent decoration, images and statues, which, however, is not an end in itself, and stems from the belief that such decoration is not necessary. A church building can be any structure that is leased or purchased on equal terms with secular organizations. Protestant worship centers on preaching, prayer, and the singing of psalms and hymns in national languages. Some churches, for example, Lutheran, pay a lot of attention to the sacrament, for admission to which confirmation may be required.

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Reformation

Reformation

Main article: History of Protestantism

The original forms of Protestantism were Lutheranism, Zwinglianism, Calvinism, Anabaptism, Mennoniteism, and Anglicanism. Subsequently, a number of other movements emerged - Baptists, Adventists, Methodists, Quakers, Pentecostals, the Salvation Army and a number of others. The formation of most of these movements took place under the sign of “religious revivalism” (revivalism), a return to the ideals of early Christianity and the Reformation. All differ from Old or Liturgical Protestantism in their preference for free preaching and active evangelistic missionary activity.

Theology

The theology of Protestantism went through a number of stages in its development. This is the orthodox theology of the 16th century. (Martin Luther, J. Calvin, F. Melanchthon), non-Protestant, or liberal theology of the 18th-19th centuries. (F. Schleiermacher, E. Troeltsch, A. Harnack), “theology of crisis”, or dialectical theology that appeared after the First World War (K. Barth, P. Tillich, R. Bultmann), radical, or “new” theology, which spread after the Second World War (D. Bonhoeffer).

The final formation of Protestant theology occurred by the middle of the 17th century, and is set out in the following religious documents of the Reformation:

• Heidelberg Catechism 1563 (Germany)
• Book of Concord 1580 (Germany)
• Canons of the Synod of Dort 1618-1619 (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
• Westminster Confession of Faith 1643-1649 (Westminster Abbey, London, UK).

A characteristic feature of classical Protestant theology is a very strict attitude towards what is considered essential - faith, sacraments, salvation, doctrine of the church, and a less strict attitude towards the external, ritual side of church life (adiaphora), which often gives rise to a wide variety of forms while maintaining rigor teachings.

Later movements often develop their own teachings, which are only partially correlated with the classical theological heritage. For example, Adventists accept the prophecies of Helen White. Pentecostals, unlike other Christians, pay very significant attention to “speaking in other tongues” (glossolalia), considering this a sign of the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit.”

Spread of Protestantism

Currently, Protestantism is most widespread in the Scandinavian countries, the USA, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Canada, and Switzerland. The United States is rightfully considered the world center of Protestantism, where the headquarters of Baptists, Pentecostals, Adventists and some other Protestant churches and denominations are located. Modern Protestantism is characterized by a desire for integration, which was expressed in the creation in 1948 of the World Council of Churches.

Protestantism is one of the few religions rapidly spreading throughout the world these days. To date, 15-20% of the population of Brazil, 15-20% of the population of Chile, about 20% of the population of South Korea have adopted Protestantism. According to Sabri Khizmetli, a member of the Eurasian Islamic Council of Kazakhstan, over 500 thousand Muslims in Central Asia have converted to Protestantism over the past 15 years.

Relationships with other faiths, intra-church discussions and the atheistic view

From the Orthodox and Catholics

Protestantism has been debated by other Christians since its inception.

The main points of disagreement or criticism of Protestantism on the part of Orthodox and Catholics. Arguments of Protestantism supporters are highlighted italics.

Creed

Orthodox and Catholics consider the most fundamental flaw of Protestant doctrine to be the denial of the role of Sacred Tradition, which it has in Orthodoxy and Catholicism. In their opinion, thanks to the Holy Tradition, the Holy Fathers selected (from many dubious apocryphal books) a list (canon) of inspired books of the New Testament. In other words, Protestants use a set of canons, but deny the traditions according to which they were adopted. Protestants themselves deny the role of Holy Tradition in the formation of the canon, believing that it was formed under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The teaching of Protestantism that only faith and the grace of God is sufficient for salvation is rejected by Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

Organization

According to many Orthodox and Catholics, Protestantism does not have an unbroken apostolic succession. The absence of apostolic succession is not recognized by Protestants themselves; for example, the Anglican Church and the Lutheran churches of all Scandinavian states have apostolic succession, since the churches in these countries were formed through the complete separation of local dioceses (together with bishops, priests and flocks) from the RCC. According to many Protestants, apostolic succession in itself is optional or mandatory, but not the only condition of the Church of God - there are cases when Orthodox bishops became schismatics and created their own churches (for example, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate).

Protestants do not recognize the acts of the Ecumenical Councils. De facto All Protestants recognize the decisions of the first two first Ecumenical Councils: the First Nicaea and the First Constantinople ( Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses those who do not recognize them are not considered Christians by Protestants).

Most Protestants reject monasticism, icons, and the veneration of saints. Lutherans and Anglicans have monasteries; these confessions also do not deny saints and icons, but there is no veneration of icons in the form that is characteristic of Catholicism and Orthodoxy. Reformed Protestants deny monasticism and icons.

Lifestyle, ethics and morality

According to critics, the absence of rites and rituals reveals the Protestant religion as inferior, flawed and unstable, leads Protestantism to endless fragmentation into many denominations, and the spirit of rationalism to complete atheism (which developed precisely in predominantly Protestant countries. Protestant rational collectivism neglects obedience to God and is expressed in sinful and shameful people-pleasing, for example: Protestants in Western Europe marry homosexuals, allow abortion, drugs, euthanasia (suicide), etc.

These phenomena are now becoming more and more the norm in developed Western countries and are having an increasingly strong, corrupting influence on church life in those countries (there is even a corresponding term for these manifestations - “secularization of the Church”). There are more and more such “Protestant” churches in Western society every year. However, this is already marginal Protestantism, which has nothing in common either with classical Protestantism or with Christianity in general. “By their fruits you will know them.” Nowadays, even some classical Protestant churches are marginalized, for example, the Lutheran Church of Sweden (which, as mentioned above, has apostolic succession) approves of same-sex marriage. The Protestant churches of the CIS and Baltic states are much more conservative in these matters; modern Western trends have affected them to a lesser extent.

Atheistic view

Protestant churches are also often criticized by atheists and representatives of traditional faiths for obsessive self-promotion and proselytism. Although proselytism is condemned by the World Council of Churches, in practice, missionaries of some Protestant churches actively promote their beliefs among representatives of traditional faiths. For example, the already mentioned pastor of the New Generation Church A.S. Ledyaev, while formally tolerant of the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church, in his sermons and speeches regularly harshly criticizes Orthodoxy, often stooping to banal attacks on the Orthodox Church; He also repeatedly called himself an apostle and called for building a society where every area of ​​life would be led by people of a certain confession; During the voting for the best figures of Latvia, he invited residents of other countries to vote for himself. Naturally, such behavior of a famous Protestant pastor inevitably becomes the object of countercriticism. A representative of another current of Protestantism, Baptist Tom Karl Wheeler, in his book “Pseudo-Christianity,” points out that “the creeds of such large ecumenical groups as liberal Protestantism in the World Council of Churches, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox (Russian and Greek) churches contradict the basic fundamental doctrines of the Holy Scriptures,” thereby actually equating the named Christian churches (including Protestant ones, which are part of the WCC) to pseudo-Christian religious organizations.

Mass “evangelization” or crusades, conducted by some famous Protestant ministers, notably the American preacher Benny Hinn.

Consistent critics of the proselytizing methods of Protestants and Protestantism in general are A. I. Osipov (Russian theologian) and A. L. Dvorkin (anti-cultist, sectologist, activist).

From human rights organizations

Currently, it is mainly conservative Protestant churches (including the New Generation Church) that are being criticized by human rights societies that prohibit

• Protestantism represented in Moscow temples and communities Lutherans, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, Pentecostals and Evangelical Christians.
• The only one preserved historical Lutheran church - Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul (1903-1905).
• Moscow Central Church Evangelical Christian Baptists occupies a historic building from the 1860s, where even the oak benches are from that period.
• A unique organ from the late 19th century century by the famous master Ernst Rover, a monument of history and culture, is also preserved in the church.
• ‒ the largest of the six churches of Evangelical Christians.
• Pentecostals and Seventh-day Adventists have their own houses of worship.

Protestantism emerged in Europe in the 16th century, breaking away from Catholicism during the Reformation. The oldest branch of Protestantism in Moscow is Lutheranism. The first Lutherans appeared in Russia simultaneously with the advent of religion itself, back in the 16th century. These were artisans, doctors and merchants who came to serve at the court of the Moscow kings from the northwestern part of Europe. There are churches and communities of Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, Pentecostals and Evangelical Christians in Moscow. Particularly active growth of these communities in Moscow occurred after the collapse of the Soviet Union, in the 1990s.

Lutheran churches in Moscow

The first Lutheran church appeared in Moscow in 1576. After about 65 years of its existence, a split occurred in the community (beginning with a quarrel between the wives of military men and merchants), and in the 1640s the Lutheran parish was divided into two camps. As a result, the officers built a separate church for themselves, and two Lutheran churches appeared in Moscow. Their buildings burned down several times, their parishes changed their location, but “worked” until the 30s of the 20th century. The parishioners of the temples were mainly Germans, and to a lesser extent Swedes and Finns. Only one historical Lutheran church has survived to this day - this Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral Saints Peter and Paul in Starosadsky Lane(Starosadsky Lane, 7/10, p. 10).

The building of the Church of St. Peter and Paul was built in 1903-1905. It is curious that the building is based on the old manor house of the Lopukhins’ estate. The church was originally consecrated as a Lutheran cathedral. In 1937, like many churches in the Soviet Union, it was closed and nationalized. At first it housed a public cinema, then a production studio called Diafilm. In the 1990s, the church was returned to believers. Divine services are held here every Sunday in Russian and German.

In 1912, on (Nalichnaya St., 1), which was originally intended for the burial of Moscow Catholics and Lutherans, a chapel appeared (architect V. Rudanovsky). It was intended for funeral services for the deceased for the denominations that were part of the Cemetery Improvement Committee: Evangelical Lutheran, Catholic (Polish and French churches), Reformed, Anglican. For quite a long time, the Vvedenskoye Cemetery was called German or Infidel Cemetery. As a temple, the chapel was consecrated in 1994 in honor of the Holy Trinity and is today the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria (Finnish Church).

Baptist Temples

In 1884, the Union of Russian Baptists was created in Russia. In 1944, they united with evangelical Christians and formed the All-Union Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists (ALL-Union Evangelical Christians-Baptists), who are called Baptist Christians. The active growth of the ECB community occurred after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the opening of borders in the 1990s. According to the Russian Union of Evangelical Christian Baptists, there are 28 Baptist communities in Moscow, but not all of them have their own buildings.

Moscow Central Church of Evangelical Christian Baptists is located today in the center of Moscow (Trekhsvyatitelsky lane, 3, metro station Kitay-Gorod). It occupies a building that was converted into a residential building for a Reformed church in the 1860s. After the socialist revolution of 1917, members of the reform community left Russia, and the building passed to Evangelical Christians. But not for long - in 1937, the church premises were nationalized and a dormitory was set up in it. In 1965, the Christian-Baptist community resettled the hostel residents at its own expense, buying them separate apartments. The church preserves the unique late 19th century master Ernst Rover, famous in Germany, which today has the status of a historical and cultural monument. It is curious that even the original oak benches from 1867 have been preserved in the hall.

For a long time, the church in Trekhsvyatitelsky Lane was the only Baptist church in Moscow. That is why, when in the 1990s the community bought a large plot of land in the south of Moscow for the construction of another church, it was simply called: Second Church of Evangelical Christian Baptists (Varshavskoye Shosse, 12a).

The third large Christian Baptist church, interesting also for its architecture, is located on the northern outskirts of Moscow, in the Bibirevo district (Leskova St., 11). It's called "Calvary". The parish arose in the early 1990s of the last century, but the building was completed only in 2010. The church holds services in Russian, English and Tajik.

The church in Zelenograd has its own building (Moscow, Zelenograd, building 1144, near Filaretovskaya Street), near the metro station. Voikovskaya (Good News Church on Klara Zetkin Street, 25Zh).

Evangelical Christians

As stated above, Evangelical Christians united with Baptists in 1944. But in the 1990s, separate, independent associations of Evangelical Christians began to appear in Russia, not included in the same community with Baptists. Today, according to the Union of Evangelical Christian Churches, there are six churches of this movement in Moscow. Near the station m. Tushinskaya, on Vasily Petushkova Street (29) is located, perhaps, the largest in Moscow. In 2000, the community bought the building of the factory's former cultural center. The All-Russian Union of Evangelical Christians (ALL) currently operates as a coordinating body.

Pentecostal Temples

The first Pentecostal organizations in Russia appeared in 1907 in Finland, which was then part of the Russian Empire. Soon they arose in St. Petersburg, and then spread throughout almost all of Russia. Much credit for this belonged to I. Voronaev, who managed to create a single Pentecostal movement from disparate ones. During the Soviet era, Pentecostal houses of worship were closed as part of a nationwide anti-religious campaign. And only after the unification of Evangelical Christians with Baptists in 1944, Pentecostals also received the right to gather for services in houses of worship.

After the collapse of the USSR, the first Russian congress of Pentecostals immediately took place in 1990. According to the Russian Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (RCEC), today there are five communities in Moscow. Several parishes hold their services in the north-west of Moscow, indoors Church "Living Spring" on Fabricius Street, 31A. The central office of the Russian Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith (RCEC) is also located here. This former kindergarten building was purchased by the community from the city in 1995. Also has its own building Church "Rosa"(Krasnobogatyrskaya st., 38, building 2).

Seventh-day Adventist Temples

Like the Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists appeared in Russia at the end of the 19th century. The first Adventist community was formed from Germans living in Crimea, but was initially recognized by the authorities as a sectarian heresy. Adventists received the right to hold open services only in 1906, when this teaching was officially recognized as one of the types of Baptistism, which by that time had already been permitted in Russia.

In modern society there are three world religions - Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. However, almost all of them changed over time and absorbed something new. Each religion has several branches (the main directions of Islam, for example, Sunnism and Shiism). The same can be said about Christianity. Everyone knows about the split between the Catholic and Orthodox churches, which occurred in 1054. But there are other directions in Christianity - Protestantism (it, in turn, also has subtypes), Uniatism, Old Believers and others. Today we will look at Protestantism. In this article we will examine the phenomenon of the Protestant Church - what it is and what its basic principles are.

How did Protestantism originate?

In the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church began to enrich itself at the expense of parishioners (for example, it sold sacred degrees and absolved sins for money). Moreover, the Inquisition acquired truly enormous proportions. Of course, all these facts indicated that reform was required in the church. Unfortunately, internal reforms failed (many reformers ended their lives at the stake), so separate denominations began to emerge within Catholicism.

The first such denomination - Lutheranism(a branch of Protestantism) - arose in the 16th century, the founder was Matrin Luther, who wrote 95 theses against indulgences. He was persecuted by church officials, but Catholicism was still divided. This gave impetus to the development of other branches of Protestantism. When talking about Protestantism, many people don’t even think about the name. But it has a root "protest". What were people against?

In 1521, the Roman Empire issued a decree that declared Martin Luther a heretic and prohibited the publication of his works. In history, this decree is called the Edict of Worms. But in 1529 it was abolished. After this, the princes of the Roman Empire gathered together to decide which faith to follow. The majority remained in classical Catholicism, and those who protested against him began to be called Protestants.

How is Protestantism different from Catholicism?

So what did Luther and his followers propose that sharply distinguished Protestantism from Catholicism?

• Holy Scripture is the only source of faith; the authority of the Church was not recognized;
• You cannot believe in God thoughtlessly; only work can confirm faith;
• There is no divinely established hierarchy in Protestantism;
• In Protestantism, only two sacraments are performed, since the others are considered unimportant;
• Protestants deny icons and objects of worship;
• Fasting and asceticism are unimportant;
• Simplified worship, the main part of which is the sermon;
• A person of any gender can become a bishop (in Protestantism, women act on an equal basis with men).

In general, the Protestant Church is much poorer than the Catholic Church; virtuous work is the only way a person can prove his faith. Apparently, this is why the Protestant Church has so many followers.

What other trends in Protestantism exist?

Besides Luther, J. Calvin and W. Zwingli are recognized as the founders of Protestantism. Accordingly, Lutheranism is not the only direction of this church. The following branches exist:

1. Calvinism. As the name suggests, this movement was founded by John Calvin. Calvinists consider the Bible to be the only holy book, but they also revere the works of Calvin. Sacraments and church paraphernalia are not recognized. Scientists agree that Calvinism is the most radical branch of Protestantism.
2. Anglican Church. Under Henry VIII, Protestantism was recognized as the state religion in England, and this is how Anglicanism was formed. The main teaching of the Anglicans is the work “39 Articles”. The Bible is also considered the primary source of teaching. The king or queen is the head of the church. However, there is a hierarchy of priests, and the saving role of the church is recognized (that is, Catholic traditions are present).

Thus, the three main directions of Protestantism are Lutheranism, Calvinism and Anglicanism.

Sectarian trends in the Protestant Church

Perhaps every church has its own sects, Protestantism is no exception.

1. Baptistism. The sect appeared in the 17th century. The main difference from, for example, Lutheranism is that Baptists are baptized as adults and before that they must undergo a one-year probationary period (the rite of catechism). Baptists do not recognize objects of worship, but adhere to the sacraments. Now the Baptist Church is not considered sectarian.
2. 7th Day Adventists. In the 19th century, a sect appeared in the United States whose main goal was to await the Second Coming. The founder of this sect was farmer William Miller, who, through mathematical calculations, predicted the end of the world and the Second Coming in 1844. As we know, this did not happen, but Adventists continue to believe, citing mainly the Old Testament.
3. Pentecostals. Again, the movement arose in the USA, but it is younger - it appeared in the middle of the 20th century. The goal of Pentecostals is to revive the gifts of the Holy Spirit that the apostles received on the day of Pentecost. The focus is on the ability to speak different languages. There have been cases in Pentecostal history where people suddenly began speaking in foreign tongues. Followers of this church recognize some sacraments, original sin, and the Holy Trinity.

Countries where this religion is common

It is worth saying that Protestantism is widespread in many countries. It attracts with its (seeming at first glance) simplicity, the absence of church sacraments and cults. After Catholicism, Protestantism is the most popular branch of Christianity. The largest number of Protestant adherents can be found in:

• Australia;
• Angola;
• Brazil;
• Great Britain;
• Ghana;
• Germany;
• Denmark;
• Namibia;
• Norway;
• Sweden.

There are about 2.5 million Protestants living in Russia.

Understanding what a Protestant church is is not easy. This religion makes very serious demands on a person, its main thesis is that you need to constantly work, only then can you find salvation. Now you know a little more about this church and its differences from Catholicism. In this article, we examined such a direction of Christianity as the Protestant Church, what it is and what are the main differences from other religions.

Video: who are Protestants?

In this video, Father Peter will answer the popular question of who Protestants are and why they are not baptized: