Chapter 5 - The Thousand-Year Celebration

      While looking down onto the city of Moscow from the restaurant in the sky, above the nine-hundred-foot level of the Ostankino tower, Anton and I began to talk about history of all things. But before that could happen I waltzed into the restaurant lobby with the determination to make history all by myself. I had a historic event in mind, historic to me that is, acted out as a dance with a kiss, primed by a hug and a bow while saying, "thank you for coming! Allow me to brighten your day."

      She seemed perplexed for a moment, then laughed. "We are about to celebrate the Thousand-Year-Anniversary of the Christianization of Russia," said Anton. "I was hoping to brighten your day by telling you about this joyous event. Did you know that Russia had a thousand year history as a Christian country?"

      Now it was I who was perplexed, because I didn't know what to answer. She was celebrating Russia's link to the Byzantine Empire, one of the whorehouses of the ages as Ushi had called them. "Don't even mention that!" a voice said within. "Be honest and tell her the truth," said another voice from within, sounding like Ushi was speaking. I answered her that I knew about it. I told her that Ross had briefed me about the major happenings in Russia.

      She was surprised that someone in the West would make an effort to explore this "private dimension of Russia," as she called it.

      I suggested that we shouldn't talk about it then. I told her that I actually knew quite a bit about the history behind the Russian orthodox movement from my own personal interests, especially the parts that can't be found in the standard history books. I had to dig and poke around in books on dusty shelves. I learned from them that Moscow had once aspired to become the Third Rome after Constantinople, and that the foundation for this movement was rooted in Byzantine doctrine, which in turn was a religious adaptation of the doctrine of the Roman Empire where everything was adapted for political control. I told her that the Byzantine Empire was an offshoot of Rome itself, and that the founder of this Eastern Empire of Rome had separated himself from Rome and had build up a powerful imperial structure in a 'remote' location where it survived long past the fall of Rome itself.

      Anton nodded with a smile and explained to me proudly that the upcoming thousand-year event would be celebrating the extension of this process into Russia in the year 988 by the conversion of Prince Vladimir of a people known as the Russ. He had converted his people from their pagan beliefs to the light of the Orthodox Christian style of faith that was furnished uniquely by the Patriarch of Constantinople. "So, you see," she said proudly, "our country has a long spiritual history that goes way back."

      "Yes it does, but this history also links your country to the Byzantine Empire," I said to her, "and that brings with it the Byzantine ideology that is incorporated in its not-so-Christian doctrines. You were lured into a dangerous ideology that is functionally still and is in effect right now as it is reflected in the dogmas of the Soviet State. That's not really something to celebrate! You are celebrating that a millstone was hung around your neck."

      I suggested that we shouldn't talk about it as it might leave a bitter aftertaste. I told her that I hadn't recognized the close coincidence between the Byzantine orthodox ideology and the modern Soviet State ideology, until that very moment when she pointed to it by talking about the upcoming celebration. I said that I saw strong similarities between the two that prove the connection.

      She hesitated answering. Then she began to smile. She said that if I could say it with grace she would hear me out.

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Stories about  Healing from novels by Rolf A. F. Witzsche