What's New - Summer 2004

RACU Hosts Fourth Annual Volga Boat Trip

Although Russia has few European seaports, one of the best and most unique ways to visit significant religious and historical sites of the country is by water. On June 8, 2004, twenty friends of RACU from across the United States began a journey through Russia’s waterways to experience the country’s culture and to learn about its fascinating history.

Arriving at the St. Petersburg airport on June 9, RACU’s touring guests were met and transported to the “floating hotel” that would be their home for the next two weeks: the m.s. Yesenin, a modern river ship named after a 20th century Russian poet and writer. Joining the RACU tour group were 70 other passengers, including a group of 20 from Deyneka Russian Ministries. From June 9-21, the two groups got to know each other well, as together they toured Russia’s largest cities, oldest churches, and small riverside villages. On-board lectures and entertainment were augmented by RACU-led discussion groups that provided opportunities to learn more about God’s work in Russia and to discuss the country and culture that was being seen and experienced along the way.

For the art-lover, St. Petersburg calls to mind the Hermitage, a beautiful palace housing one of the world’s most significant art collections. The Hermitage was one of the highlights of the visit to Peter the Great’s capital city, which was built out of marshland in the early 1700’s; other highlights included Catherine’s Palace in Pushkin. This summer palace of the tsars was looted and decimated by the Nazi’s, who literally stole a room--the Amber Room, whose walls were made from exquisite amber. The palace and grounds are being restored and the famous Amber Room is once again stunning in its beauty and opulence.

Russia’s Christian roots date back to 988, and the RACU tour group visited numerous churches of historical significance – architectural, spiritual, or both. One of the most beautiful churches in Russia is St. Petersburg’s Church on the Spilt Blood, built on the assassination site of Tsar Alexander II. The exterior brings Moscow’s famous St. Basil’s Cathedral to mind; the interior is breathtaking, with over 800 mosaics depicting Old and New Testament scenes. The most extraordinary church, only accessible by boat, is Transfiguration Church, a wooden church with 22 shimmering domes on Kizhni Island, built without a single nail.

For the RACU travelers, however, the most moving times took place with fellow believers: the young church planters at Red Village, outside St. Petersburg; the new Protestant church building in Yaroslavl, which houses a congregation started by a young man from Siberia, who was led by God to this ancient city to spread God’s word, despite Khrushchev’s claim that this city would be a “Christian-free zone”; and the Baptist church in Dyedovsk, outside of Moscow, where the RACU group joined Russian Christians for Sunday worship and shared a meal with the founding pastor, Peter Rumachik, who spent 18 years in gulag prisons for his faith during the 1970s and 1980s. “I had the privilege of serving my Savior in this way,” he explained with a smile.

The m.s. Yesenin sailed smoothly through Europe’s two largest lakes (Ladoga and Onega), beautiful rivers (most notably the mighty Volga), narrow canals and 19 locks, stopping each day along the way at a city or village that played a significant part in Russia’s history. The final stop, Moscow, included excursions to Red Square and the Kremlin, and visits with RACU faculty and students.

Dividing into small groups, RACU visitors had time to visit over a meal with their Russian student “guides.” This provided a wonderful opportunity to hear about their families, home life, and their impressions of RACU. Before the students took their groups around Red Square, through St. Basil’s Cathedral, and for a ride on Moscow’s famous metro to the circus that evening, they were able to introduce several of their professors—both Russian and American—who spent time answering questions and sharing their vision for training young Russian Christians.

The final RACU visit was to a beautiful park-like setting: the land purchased by the university to be the site of its new campus. The day was clear and crisp as the visitors learned about the building soon to be built; they then bowed their heads and prayed for God’s richest blessings on the land they had learned to love, its people, and the Russian-American Christian University.

“What a wonderful combination of learning, experiencing, relaxing and growing in Christ this has been! I highly recommend this ‘vacation’ to all who are able to come,” was the enthusiastic summary of one RACU traveler.

This is the fourth river cruise sponsored by RACU for friends of the university. Because of responses such as these, RACU plans to provide more Russian travel opportunities in future years. For information about future trips, please e-mail us at racuus@aol.com.