Orthodox monastery reports mass baptism amongst Northern Osetia
citizens. Osetins, ancient inhabitants of North Caucasus were baptised
in 10 century. Some memorials are still from first centuries of
Christianity. Now about 20% of Osetins are islamised, 70% are
Orthodox. After severe act of islamic terrorism in Beslan monastery
reports mass convertion of muslems into Orthodox Christianity.
news n Russian
http://www.pravoslavie.ru/news/050923114245
Our Lady of Fatima told us to pray for Russia. Many have speculated that the Russian Orthodox Church will play a key roll in the conversion of the Muslim world to Christianity. This story is very interesting, and brings this old speculation back to mind.
I usually never express my deep intuitions, but they often prove to be correct. When Pope John Paul II was shot for example, I sensed an attack was coming six months before it happened (I told my friends it was coming), not by some sign from God or anything like that, but because of the ways that cultural and counter-cultural currents were flowing.
(It was the culmination of a cultural barbarism that started with the hammering of Michelangelo’s “Pieta” and the slashing of Rembrant’s “Nightwatch” in the Rijksmuseum years before the shooting. This particular current is no longer running although it is still replicated on a small scale in places such as Chris Orlifi’s piece in the Brooklyn Museum about five years ago, etc. Put another way, this current has been mainstreamed. It is part of popular culture now.)
I have the same sense about the Muslim world. I believe we will see conversions to Christianity on a scale that will surprise the world. I’ve been watching for this for over a year now. The western Christian world by and large will not be able to comprehend it, but third world Christianity probably will. Time will tell my hunch is correct.
History teaches us that any ideology based on hate and fear will inevitably and ultimately fall when confronted by a faith based on love and hope. The message of Christ and power of the Holy Spirit are an awesome force for changing human hearts. Christianity offers tremendous hope and consolation to those seeking escape from the spiritually empty and oppressive ideologies or value systems.
I agree that Christianity is on the verge of unprecedented expansion, but only if we do not intefere by attempting to hitch the message of Christ to political or national agendas or discredit our faith through acts of violence or cruelty of our own.