wfn.org | First Christian Science Church in Russia since 1929 recognized

[WMBorn@aol.com]

June 4, 1996

Christian Science Church
175 Huntington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02115 U.S.A.
N E W S
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 CONTACT: Michael Born
 (617) 450-3321

For Immediate Release

Christian Science Church in Russia Honored

Boston -With bright red, blue and white colors, the Russian flag was recently
raised in  a special ceremony in the Hall of Flags at The Christian Science
Publishing Society in honor of the first official Christian Science church
activity in Russia since 1929.  Newly-formed Christian Science Society of St.
Petersburg is now a branch of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ,
Scientist, in Boston. The Russian flag joins the special display of national
flags representing countries where Christian Science churches are found,
bringing the total number to 67.  
 Jenny Butterfield, manager of branches in the Office of the Clerk of The
Mother Church, spoke of the poignant early history of Christian Science in
St. Petersburg.  The religion first came to the Russian city in 1909.  The
Mother Church recognized the first St. Petersburg Society in 1924 and
advertised it in the church's monthly publication, The Christian Science
Journal, until 1929, when the communist government closed the Society and
sent all church members to prison camps in Siberia.
 Philipp Veselovsky, currently visiting Boston from St. Petersburg, spoke on
behalf of the church members there and briefly described the formation of the
revived branch.  He cited a 1990 Christian Science youth meeting in Hamburg,
Germany, which he and two other young people from St. Petersburg attended, as
key to the rebirth of Christian Science there.  They returned from the
Hamburg meeting inspired to begin the work of reestablishing Christian
Science in their city.
 Virginia Harris, Chairman of The Christian Science Board of Directors, spoke
of meeting the three young people in Hamburg and later visiting their
informal church meetings in various apartments in St. Petersburg.  She
commented that the Russian Christian Scientists have been an inspiration for
the worldwide church. "These three young people clearly showed us that the
darkness could not prevail.  They were much like those shoemakers in Lynn,"
referring to the early followers of Mary Baker Eddy.
 Alice Howell, publishing director for the Writings of Mary Baker Eddy,
described the activities leading to the 1994 Russian printing of the
Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.
 This marked the first time for the book to be both printed and released in
Russia.  Ms. Howell expressed special appreciation for the dedicated efforts
of the St. Petersburg Christian Scientists to have the textbook sold in
bookstores and at book fairs.
 Cornelia Schacht, managing editor of the church's periodicals in Slavic
languages, commented that at the time of the 1990 youth meeting, plans were
already underway in Boston to publish the Russian edition of the Herald of
Christian Science and to do subsequent religious radio broadcasts in Russian.

                                           # # #

(NOTE: A black and white photo of the ceremony is available)