Hello brothers. Today I'd like to discuss the endurance and triumph of the Orthodox Church, particularly in the former Soviet states of eastern Eurasian. In particular, I'd like to compare this in a Catholic perspective.
This question is mostly regarded towards Catholics, as well as Orthodox, but others are free to comment.
> Why is it that the Orthodox Church has suffered so much recent persecution, and has perservered with faith in Christ?
The Orthodox Church suffered the meaningless slaughter of tens of millions at the hands of the red devilry Communism, and its empire built on the backs of hopeless, tormented slaves. It stretched across a quarter of the world and sought to stamp out the faith and memory of Christ Jesus forever. It had unstoppable earthly amd material power, yet that was all it had. The power of the Holy Spirit kept the faith alive in Russia and Eastern Europe, even when the threat was torture and death. The Orthodox Church now sees a Great Revival, with millions of new Christians in Russia alone.
> inb4 graph of church attendance
Russia is still becoming a Christian nation after recovering from very recent militant atheism. Many of its people are clinging to the old Soviet days, but they will be forgotten. Countries like France have been Catholic uninterrupted for centuries, and yet they're facing a rapid decline in Christianity, same with most of Western Europe. Catholicism is growing mostly in Central Africa, Australia, and parts of Latin America.
However, why is it that the Catholic Church never had to suffer such extreme and disgusting persecution in recent times, yet it is the one that is declining at a rapid rate, while Orthodoxy is growing at an equally rapid rate? And don't bring up persecutions in Biblical times, as Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and all other denominations can take credit for that, as there was only one single movement at the time.
How is Orthodoxy so triumphant, and how is it that it is resisting western decadence, liberalism, and atheism?
Thank you in advance