Orthodox Christianity is the leading religion in the countries of the former Soviet Union. In recent decades, various sects and denominations have begun to declare themselves openly. One such area is Pentecostal. Who are they and what religion do they preach?
The Pentecostal Church is a
religious organization of Christians of the gospel faith. It is based on the doctrine set forth in the book of Acts of the Holy Apostles. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, on the fiftieth day, the Holy Spirit descended on the
twelve apostles in the form of tongues of flame, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and for the first time began to speak in other languages, having received the gift of prophecy, they began to preach the Good News to all nations.
Pentecostal Christians currently number between 450 and 600 million. This is the largest Protestant denomination, which ranks second in number among all Christians. There is no single Pentecostal congregation; there are many local churches and associations.
Pentecostal - who are they, and when did this movement begin? In 1901, the "Holiness Movement" began in the United States. A group of students, studying the causes of the decline of faith among Protestants, came to the conclusion that this is a consequence of the lack of the gift of “speaking the tongues” among Christians. To receive this gift, they indulged in earnest prayer, which was accompanied by the laying on of hands, after which one of the girls present spoke in an unfamiliar language. The simplicity of receiving a gift and unusual experiences while speaking languages became the reason for the rapid spread and widespread popularity of the emerging direction.
So the Pentecostal Christians appeared. They first learned who they were in Finland, which at that time (in 1907) was part of the Russian Empire. The Pentecostal Church in Russia was first created in 1913 in St. Petersburg, when some groups of believers began to experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit and received the gift of speaking with tongues. During the Stalinist persecution, the Pentecostal movement went underground. But neither the actions of the authorities to destroy the Pentecostals, nor the attempts to dissolve them in other communities led people to abandon their faith.
Modern Pentecostal Christians - who are they, what are their theological characteristics? They believe that the baptism of the apostles by the Holy Spirit on the fiftieth day after the resurrection of Christ is not only a historical fact, but also a phenomenon that every believer should experience. In our country and in some other countries
Pentecostals call themselves the
Church of Christians of the gospel faith. They believe that the only, most reliable, infallible guide for the life of Christians can only be the Bible, claiming that it is available for reading and study to any person. Preachers and pastors urge you to believe the
Holy Scripture, read and independently study it, and build your life according to it. Pentecostals hold prayer meetings, baptisms, organize
Sunday schools for children, and engage in charity and missionary activities.