Page:Ossendowski - The Shadow of the Gloomy East.djvu/168

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THE SHADOW OF THE GLOOMY EAST

ness will rule over the earth soaked in blood and Infected with sin."

Bolshevik papers at the beginning of 1920 were jeering at a priest-flogger, who addressed the following letter to the Soviet Government:

"Do you not behold Satan? Lo! he strides in the fire of conflagration which reddens with blood his hands, his face, he strives in his mantle purple with gore. His head reaches the black, high-soaring clouds pregnant with thunder and lightning; his heavy iron feet press human blood out of the earth, destroy cities, crush millions of innocent men, and threaten mankind with destruction. Do you not see, do you not hear the echo of his heavy foot resounding everywhere? Save the people, save the country, save yourselves before it is too late."

The Sectarians as well as the non-Sectarians behold Satan upon the soil of Russia. Perhaps they have reasons for their visions? Who knows. …

In Russian towns—from Petersburg and Moscow to the most obscure little provincial townships—everywhere one can find—now, during Soviet dictatorship—the newly founded worship of the Devil. Unofficially, this worship was fostered by Soviet authorities and certain private groups. Its aims are comprehensible: the crushing of Christianity, the destruction of the Church, of the old worships based on ethical foundations, so utterly hostile to the rationalistic ideology of Communism, The worship of the Devil was started