<burlega@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:7cdcf80c-8791-49e7-a891-a98cf5f267b2@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On May 15, 2:42 pm, Sound of Trumpet <soundoftrum...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> wrote:
>> http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1988353/posts
>>
>> Former Soviet Leader Admits He is a Christian
>>
>> The London Telegraph ^ | March 19, 2008 | Malcolm Moore
>>
>> Posted on 03/19/2008 1:46:50 PM PDT by rrstar96
>>
>> Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Communist leader of the Soviet Union, has
>> acknowledged his Christian faith for the first time, paying a surprise
>> visit to pray at the tomb of St Francis of Assisi.
>>
>> Accompanied by his daughter Irina, Mr Gorbachev spent half an hour on
>> his knees in silent prayer at the tomb.
>>
>> His arrival in Assisi was described as "spiritual perestroika" by La
>> Stampa, the Italian newspaper.
>>
>> "St Francis is, for me, the alter Christus, the other Christ," said Mr
>> Gorbachev. "His story fascinates me and has played a fundamental role
>> in my life," he added.
>>
>> Mr Gorbachev's surprise visit confirmed decades of rumours that,
>> although he was forced to publicly pronounce himself an atheist, he
>> was in fact a Christian, and casts a meeting with Pope John Paul II in
>> 1989 in a new light.
>>
>> Mr Gorbachev, 77, was baptised into the Russian Orthodox Church and
>> his parents were Christians.
>>
>> In addition, the parents of his wife Raisa were deeply religious and
>> were killed during the Second World War for having religious icons in
>> their home.
>>
>> Ronald Reagan, the former United States president, allegedly told his
>> close aides on a number of occasions that he felt his opponent during
>> the Cold War was a "closet believer".
>>
>> Mr Reagan held deep religious convictions himself. However, until now
>> Mr Gorbachev has allowed himself to express only pantheistic views,
>> saying in one interview "nature is my god".
>>
>> After his prayers, Mr Gorbachev toured the Basilica of St Francis and
>> asked in particular to be shown an icon of St Francis ****traying his
>> "dream at Spoleto".
>>
>> St Francis, who lived in the 12th century, was a troubadour and a poet
>> before the spiritual vision caused him to return to Assisi and
>> contemplate a religious life.
>>
>> Even in his early days, St Francis helped the poor, once giving all of
>> his money to a beggar. As well as spending time in the wilderness, he
>> also nursed lepers and eventually became a priest.
>>
>> "It was through St Francis that I arrived at the Church, so it was
>> im****tant that I came to visit his tomb," said Mr Gorbachev.
>>
>> "I feel very emotional to be here at such an im****tant place not only
>> for the Catholic faith, but for all humanity."
>>
>> He also asked the monks for theological books to help him understand
>> St Francis's life.
>>
>> Father Miroslavo Anuskevic, who accompanied the former Soviet leader,
>> said: "He was not recognised by any of the wor****ppers in the church,
>> and silently meditated at the tomb for a while. He seemed a man deeply
>> inspired by charity, and told me that he was involved in a project to
>> help children with cancer.
>>
>> "He talked a lot about Russia and said that even though the transition
>> to democracy had been very im****tant for the world, it was very
>> painful for Russia. He said it was a country which has a great
>> history, and also a great spirituality."
>>
>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> TOPICS: Catholic; Orthodox Christian
>> KEYWORDS: catholic; mikhailgorbachev; orthodox; russia
>>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> This is a wonderful conversion story, being re****ted during Holy Week
>> no less.
>> We should all wish the former Communist leader a grace-filled
>> spiritual journey he appears to be taking in earnest.
>
> Admitted? Very good! Now it is time for exorcism!
>
> Regards,
> http://andriusblo.blogspot.com
i wonder why he waited so long...
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