Church History

Perhaps someone may deem it strange, but this path began in Ukraine, in the
ancient city of Kamenets-Podolsk. This marvelous city is positioned on a rocky land
virtually wrapped by the waters of Smotrich River on all sides. A single narrow neck
of land connects it to the continent. The city is the unique creation of nature and
people! It is an antique city from the 11th century. Besides the natural protective
belt, the city is surrounded by a high stone wall with combat towers. Currently it’s an
object of international tourism.
So, near the city of Kamenets-Podolsk, Gampot village (presently Dolzok) is located,
where in 1864 Nikolay Aleksandrovich Zelinsky was born. In 1928, he became the
first pastor of the Russian Bryte church here in California.
He was the son of a bankrupt Polish count. At the age of 22, he came to faith
through Ukrainian “Shtundists”.
The official date of Baptism’s birth in Russia was the baptism of Nikita Isaevich
Voronin, a Molokan’s pastor. Since Baptist churches were persecuted in this country,
his baptism took place at night of August 20, 1867. Unfortunately persecution
became Russia’s defining feature: oppress, drive, and root out the so-called
sectarians. During the tsarist time, the Russian Orthodox Church inspired the
persecution. The royal authority was the executor. Thus, the rapid birth of Baptism in
Russia took place almost in the “Forbidden Zone”.
In April of 1884, the first Russian Baptist congress was held in St. Petersburg, where
the gendarmes interrupted the congress and arrested many. Thus started and rolled
onward the history of Baptism in tsarist Russia: from thawing to persecution.
To force them to renounce the new faith, medieval tortures and cruelties were used
against evangelical believers: they were beaten with rods until unconscious, the
bodies were burned with hands and beards squeezed in a vice, women’s nipples
were squeezed to bleeding, there were even cases of rape and murder of believing
sisters. The exile to penal servitude in Siberia was the “Legitimate” measure. They
were sent on foot in iron chains, formed in units of 400-800 convicts, with wives and
children often following them.

To be continued…