It is important for us to analyze the relations between Russia and Rome throughout history. Already at the dawn of Russia’s conversion to Christianity (at the end of the 10th century), the Pope sent his emissaries to Korsun, in order to deflect Prince Vladimir from a union with Orthodox Byzantium. Emissaries were also sent to Kiev for the same purpose. The Pope tried to influence Russia through the Polish and Czech kings, and also tried to make use of the strife between the Russian princes. When the Tatars invaded Russia, the Pope simultaneously sent the Swedes, Crusaders and Hungarians to attack it. After being defeated by the holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, the Pope offered his aid in fighting against the Tatars. Upon being told by the Prince: “God is not in force, but in truth,” – the Pope replied with armed invasions in the 13th century, and again in the Time of Troubles – 1605-1612.

Rome’s aggressive stance in relation to Orthodoxy remained uninterrupted throughout the entire course of Russia’s history. The Pope declared Poland to be “missionary territory,” where the main form of missionary work was through violence. In our century, from 1919 to 1929 the Roman Catholics seized 43% of Orthodox churches. From the first quarter of our century, a new vehicle for converting the Orthodox to Catholicism has been the “eastern rite” (the Uniates}.

In 1926 and in 1928, the eastern Catholic representative went to Moscow to work out a union with the revisionist church and establish contact with the Marxist Communist Party. Facts confirm that Vatican’s aggressiveness towards Orthodoxy continues to this very day.

The main differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism are as follows:

• Catholicism has introduced a series of new dogmas which do not accord with apostolic teaching and the decrees of the Seven Ecumenical Councils. The most serious deviations from truth are the Catholic dogmas on the issuance of the Holy Spirit also “from the Son” and on the primacy and infallibility of the Roman Pope.
  
• Contrary to apostolic tradition, celibacy (unmarried state) is imposed upon the clergy of the Catholic Church.
  
• The sacrament of communion is not performed according to apostolic tradition, because oblates are used instead of bread and wine (the laymen are deprived of the Blood of Christ in communion). The sacrament of baptism is performed only by pouring water upon the head (instead of full immersion in the water).
  
• The Orthodox Church does not accept the idea of a “purgatory” (a middle ground between heaven and hell, where souls are supposedly cleansed of sins), does not accept indulgences, condemns the cruelty of the Inquisition and the forced conversion of the Orthodox populace into Catholicism.