MOSCOW, March 4 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Orthodox Church has developed a liking for cutting-edge technologies. Many parishes and monasteries have long established their web sites. The Monastery of Our Lady of Iberia at Holy Lake has made even more spectacular progress. Based in Valdai, a beauty spot in European Russia's north, the monastery is collecting charitable donations in an on-line regime, and promises to mention donors in monks' prayers.
The information comes from Pyatnitsa (Friday}, a weekly based in Irkutsk. St. Alexander Nevsky's Church in that major Siberian city is also contacting the world through the web. That is an endeavor of Elena Lutsenko, parish bursar. She says the Internet has made business contacts much easier than ever. The parish Sunday school has gained much with computers, to say nothing of church funding.
As for on-line sermons, Ms. Lutsenko does not think the arrangement is quite Christian. She is afraid people won't go to church with it. Perhaps, former parishioners eager to revisit their old church will be the only on the congregation. However, a true Christian ought to regularly visit services, Elena insists.
