Entering St Petersburg, Russia

As I said good-bye to the land of my ancestors, I looked to God for the future of Ukraine.  I trust in His divine protection and grace.  In all things, our future rests solely upon Him.

Psalm 33:19 “…that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.  Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.   For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.  Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”

Watching movies either about or taking place in Russia, it is time to find out for myself a little more about this country.  After months of preparations, visas, travelers insurance and necessitated prepaid hotel room (Apparently Russia wants to know:  when you arrive and depart, how you arrive and depart, where you will go, what you will see or do, and even why the visit!)  Packing all the luggage into the private taxi hired by our tour guide Alex, it is time to begin this next adventure.  

Further north, and farther east than I’d ever traveled, St Petersburg provided the final piece of first-hand knowledge necessary to complete a particular event in my novel, “Chosen.”  I didn’t just “want” to see this city; I “needed” to see it, to imagine it, and then describe it.

Despite bad reviews of the airline, and in light of the Malaysian passenger plane shot down a few months prior along the border of Ukraine and Russia, I surmised the Russians won’t shoot down their own Russian planes.  It’s not that I’m naive about such possibilities; I’m not a fearful person.  Thus, the official Russian portion of my trip began aboard an Aeroflot airline, direct from Kiev to St Petersburg.

Unsure how early to arrive at the airport, we erred on the side of “early is best”.  Finding out flight check-in times are regulated down to the minute, the corresponding airline desk opened only two hours prior to the flight departure time (despite lengthy security lines). Numerous agent “desks,” but no one present in them until the “allotted time“.  Is this how it will be in Russia?

Knowing luggage allowances vary by airline and country regulations always a bit differ, I still thought it would be similar…well apparently, not this time.  Only one luggage item allowed (beyond a small bag or backpack carry on).  My luggage caused additional difficulties.  Perhaps it’s because Aeroflot is 51% owned by the Russian government, or maybe their regulations just required it, or there’s a concern about weight distribution on the plane, but for a reason known only by the airline agents, I was sent me to a separate desk to pay in cash.  I returned back, with the required paperwork proving I paid the extra luggage charge, to the airline ticket agent .  Apparently I’m the only one knowing this requirement because other passengers used just ONE piece of luggage…not two.  (I thought to myself, “good thing I left one heavy suitcase in Paris for my return next week!”)

With nothing to declare, and just little carryon bag with me, going through customs was relatively simple considering I left Ukraine for Russia.  The custom lines are regulated.  Only one passenger is allowed into a glassed-in booth for questioning.  I’m sure when the Custom’s Agent looked on their computer monitor they learned everything about me and of course, I had the nicely stamped 3 year Russian Visa)  As in most countries outside the USA, boarding and disembarking the planes are far away from the terminal area–a required bus ride to a plane parked quite a distance from the terminals.  Still unable to carry luggage or maneuver easily up and down stairways (metal steps), I barely hung the metal hand rails in icy weather.  Just knowing Russia was only one flight away, my heart beat with excitement.

No polite chitchat by airline employees on this flight and only small cups of water and hot tea are served complimentary during the two hour flight.  Ushered off the plane amidst pushing from other passengers (where did manners go), and crammed into buses, we were ushered into a glassed-in reception area with one escalator (again, everyone pushing to move forward).  Upon reaching the second floor, two custom’s agents–one in military dress, the other in a suit–looking very serious as each passenger checked through Russian customs.  (If every country cared about those who entered, borders might mean something!)  After a few questions to answer (with nothing to do but stand there) it was on to the next phase of customs–baggage to be scanned.

Already aware of the strict Russian regulations, I imagined lots of questions concerning the electronics (camera, battery back ups, laptop, cell phones, printer, external hard drives and lots of cords) and I was prepared with answers.  One by one each bag went through x-ray.   No alerts or questions until one particular item caused a commotion.

One  lone Christmas ornament from London’s Westminster Abbey, in the shape of a cross, (padded with metallic thread and beaded decorations) caused the alerted reactions:  Seen on the computer screen:  a 5 inch by 3 inch image of a cross.   I wondered to myself, did it look like a weapon?  Three young women (dressed in starched, unwrinkled, perfectly worn military uniforms) stood there whispering to one another.  The agents shook heads, confused.

“What is this?” one agent asked pointing at the object on the screen.

I answered, “A cross…It’s a christmas ornament…to hang on a Christmas tree.”

“Christmas tree?” she asked.

“Yes, I bought it in London as a souvenir to hang on my Christmas tree.”

The three said something in Russian to one another.  Still questioning looks from all three, I kept attempting to explain:  Christmas, a tree with decorations hanging on it, presents underneath, opening them..even Santa Claus

“Oh presents” she nodded her head.  The women spoke to one another again and turned back to me, “New Years tree?”

Silly me, I continued to attempt correcting her understanding of Christmas versus New Years but to no avail.  No one heard of Christmas.  Unlike in the Ukraine where many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas, as a nation Russia doesn’t celebrate Christmas.  Instead presents are opened on New Years according to the Gregorian calendar adopted by Russia in 1918.

Seemingly unsatisfied with this answer, she wanted to see this ornament herself.  I had no idea where I’d placed such a small compact item, especially since I’d collected a few similar souvenir while traveling and tucked each one tightly into corners of my hard-sided suitcase.  Trying to help me find it, she pointed to the x-ray pictures.  After riffling through the suitcase I found the item in question:  a turquoise silk, padded ornament with “Westminster Abbey” embroidered onto one side and metallic threads, beads and sequins sewn along the edges.

Smiling, the ladies nodded their heads and repeated “New Years Tree”.  I smiled back.  None of the girls knew anything of Christ.  This generation of young people did not grow up worshipping Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Trees are not the only difference for Russians–even Santa Claus is quite different.  A Russian Santa Claus is called Father Frost and is accompanied by the fairy tale princess, Snow Maiden (his granddaughter).  He brings presents to children to place under the New Year’s tree. He carries a staff, wears a long coat trimmed in white fur, a Russian style cap,and  leather boots. He has no need of reindeer–he’s carried across Russia in a sleigh pulled by three horses.

Religion was removed by Marxism, Lenin, and Stalin.  Communism prohibited public displays of any religious act.  When the Bolsheviks took over Russia (calling themselves “Soviet Union”), they removed the Orthodox priests and religion from government.  Since Czars and priests were considered tightly knit together.  When the Czar and his family were killed, so were the priests.  The state replaced everything associated with the old autocratic state.  As the first state with an ideological objective to eliminate religion and replace it with universal atheism. From my first experience in Russia (the three women in customs) it seems to have worked.

“Mother Russia” protects, educates and often employs.  Science replaced God.  The twentieth century lacked any outward Christian worship for fear of reprisals.  I was unaware of this at the time, but it’s no surprise that the majority of Russians now consider themselves atheists.

Though this Old Testament passage talks about Israel, it is applicable to this land called Russia.  I see the blindness as exhibited by these three women in their twenties:  beautiful, intelligent, intuitive, aware and yet, live in the spiritual darkness about God.  A century of darkness and lack of understanding about true Christianity.

2 Chronicles 7:14, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

But I believe everything can change once a spark is ignited.  I pray for that spark.  God is everywhere, but is He worshipped as Lord and Savior?  Is he even acknowledged?

St Petersburg is considered the “Venice” of the Baltic Region.  Riding in the taxi I noticed canals and waterways everywhere.  Beautiful old bridges connect the small island with the historic district (where my hotel is located) to the newer parts of the city.

 

Strategically located–only a few blocks from Hermitage Museum (originally called “Winter Palace”), the famous “onion-domed” cathedrals (now museums) and the cultural art centers–the hotel’s location perfectly suited my needs.

It is winter.  Snow and ice are missing but not the icy wind blowing across the Baltic Sea.  Though it is very cold, I am prepared (at least I hope so) to spend the week immersing myself into this unusual city.  Boots, leather coat with down lining and a fur collar to tug up around my ears, a few sweaters to layer, heavy black jeans with leggings beneath, several pairs of gloves and a warm scarf.  As I look around, I think I fit in, but then I thought so in Istanbul and the Ukraine.

Christianity was darkened when the Tzar relied upon his riches and ignored the cries of the poor and oppressed in his cities.  It is doubtful Putin will embrace Christ as his Lord and Savior.  But if he did:

Isaiah 58:8-10, “Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday”