The Evangelical Russian Church () is an Evangelical church in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
History It was founded in Leningrad by , who, together with a group of adherents separated from the Evangelical Christians-Baptist community on . The first service was held in December 1990. The denomination sought to combine Protestantism (where preaching and community life are central) with the traditions of Russian spirituality and elements of Orthodox liturgy. Distinctive features of the Evangelical Russian Church's services include the wearing of vestments by the clergy, the use of candles and icons, and the singing of Orthodox hymns.
From 1993 to 2003, the Church operated . During this period, the station broadcast from St. Petersburg on medium wave, covering Moscow at 1134 kHz and St. Petersburg at 1089 kHz. Addtionally, from 1998 to 1999, Church pastors hosted the television program Мы говорим о вечном... (We are talking about the eternal...) on the regional cable channel Петроний (Petronius). The political party Союз христианского созидания (Christian Union for Edification), created on the initiative of Nedzelsky in 1995, was affiliated with the Church. In the 1995 Russian legislative election, the party nominated one candidate in the Eastern constituency, but he failed to win. In the 1996 Russian presidential election, the party supported Yeltsin's candidacy and campaigned for him.
Although founded as an ecumenical organization, it criticizes various new religious movements (e.g., Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Scientology, and the ) for distorting fundamental Christian doctrines.
According to some sources, at the turn of the century it was the largest community of evangelical Christians in St. Petersburg.
The Evangelical Russian Church has never had own premises. Throughout it history, services have been held in various locations: 1990–1991: 1991–1994: Railway Workers' Palace of Culture (demolished in 1996) 1994–1995: Felix Dzerzhinsky Palace of Culture Militsiya 1995–?: In 2002: 2009–2012: Since 2012: St. Michael's Church (services held every Sunday).
Sexual abuse
In 2003, allegations of sexual abuse by Nedzelsky against female parishioners emerged. This led to his resignation as a presbyter of the Church. He was subsequently excommunicated after selling to the Christian Broadcasting Association Radiotserkov for several hundred thousand US dollars. Nedzelsky appropriated all the proceeds for himself, leaving the community with nothing. After Nedzelsky's expulsion, the Church's activities sharply declined.
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