Prapor
Active member
Was just watching a show about religious sects in Russia. In particular, they talked about the so-called Church of the Chosen. It was started 20 years ago by a former policeman named Sergei Torop, who now calls himself Father Vissarion and declared himself to be the new incarnation of Jesus Christ.
This... community, I guess we will call them, has over three thousand members now, and is based deep in rural Siberia. Thier main doctrine is that in 6 years or so, this world as we know it will end, "God's wrath will fall upon sinful humanity" and only ones who will be spared will be the members of this sect.
Probably the most famous member of the sect (besides, of course, Father Vissarion himself), is Svetlana Vladimirskaya
10 years ago, she was a well-known pop singer. Her 'My Boy' was a hit, country-wide. It was a media sensation, when she quit her soaring career and moved off to Siberia to join this sect. But, apparently, she is happy there. It is there that she found her husband, an artist and fellow sect member, Evgeny Korniltsev
Now they are raising four beautiful children together
(here with Evgeny's parents, also members of the sect)
Svetlana today mostly performs for the sect, and, sometimes, goes on 'tours' of neighboring villages. They do love her. She is also a sort of spokeswoman for the sect, using her fame to promote the sect, appearing on TV, in shows where they talk about religion and sects, and constantly refuting any bad claims about the sect.
Here is a video: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y9FYQ3TnB8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y9FYQ3TnB8[/ame]
Svetlana Vladimirskaya about their City of Sun (that is what the sect calls the town where they all live).
Father Vissarion, meanwhile, has become a wealthy man. Although he, like all members of his community, maintains a simple, ascetic lifestyle, it is said he has millions of dollars in different Swiss banks. Also, one would think that the community's extensive security team must be well-paid (10 big, black SUVs with tanned windows patrol around the village. Strongly build men in Adidas suits have also been seen following, and apparently guarding, Father Vissarion himself and his wife and five children. It is assumed they are armed).
I think he is a narcissistic sort of man, he likes people paying attention to him, looking up to him like that.
The members of the sect believe Vissarion's every word
In daily conversation, they refer to their leader as 'Uchitel' ('Teacher'). They worship him, absolutely. I think if he'd told all of them to end their lives right this moment, they would do that, without hesitation.
I simply do not understand it. How can one man hold such power over 3000 people?
He must have some kind of psychological, hypnotic abilities, just to control his followers the way he does.
Another video, about a woman who, with her three children, ran away from Saint Petersburg to join this sect: http://1000-tv.ru/peredacha/per-prosm.php?id=31
This... community, I guess we will call them, has over three thousand members now, and is based deep in rural Siberia. Thier main doctrine is that in 6 years or so, this world as we know it will end, "God's wrath will fall upon sinful humanity" and only ones who will be spared will be the members of this sect.
Probably the most famous member of the sect (besides, of course, Father Vissarion himself), is Svetlana Vladimirskaya
10 years ago, she was a well-known pop singer. Her 'My Boy' was a hit, country-wide. It was a media sensation, when she quit her soaring career and moved off to Siberia to join this sect. But, apparently, she is happy there. It is there that she found her husband, an artist and fellow sect member, Evgeny Korniltsev
Now they are raising four beautiful children together
(here with Evgeny's parents, also members of the sect)
Svetlana today mostly performs for the sect, and, sometimes, goes on 'tours' of neighboring villages. They do love her. She is also a sort of spokeswoman for the sect, using her fame to promote the sect, appearing on TV, in shows where they talk about religion and sects, and constantly refuting any bad claims about the sect.
Here is a video: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y9FYQ3TnB8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y9FYQ3TnB8[/ame]
Svetlana Vladimirskaya about their City of Sun (that is what the sect calls the town where they all live).
Father Vissarion, meanwhile, has become a wealthy man. Although he, like all members of his community, maintains a simple, ascetic lifestyle, it is said he has millions of dollars in different Swiss banks. Also, one would think that the community's extensive security team must be well-paid (10 big, black SUVs with tanned windows patrol around the village. Strongly build men in Adidas suits have also been seen following, and apparently guarding, Father Vissarion himself and his wife and five children. It is assumed they are armed).
I think he is a narcissistic sort of man, he likes people paying attention to him, looking up to him like that.
The members of the sect believe Vissarion's every word
In daily conversation, they refer to their leader as 'Uchitel' ('Teacher'). They worship him, absolutely. I think if he'd told all of them to end their lives right this moment, they would do that, without hesitation.
I simply do not understand it. How can one man hold such power over 3000 people?
He must have some kind of psychological, hypnotic abilities, just to control his followers the way he does.
Another video, about a woman who, with her three children, ran away from Saint Petersburg to join this sect: http://1000-tv.ru/peredacha/per-prosm.php?id=31
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