Why do so many Mennonites come from Russia?

So, as I promised . . . a history lesson . . .

In the 16th century, the European state and religious structure, namely the authority of the Pope, was being challenged by the Protestant movement headed by Luther. If you have seen the movie, you will remember the agony this monk went through as he searched the scriptures for truth and courageously stood up against the false doctrines of the church. Upon being demanded to retract his teachings, he declared, "Unless I am being convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures ... I cannot and will not retract anything." Other priests followed suit in their search and complicated matters even more when they found that it was adults who were baptised on the confession of their faith. As this teaching and practice spread, King Charles V ordered these people to be put to death by torturing, drowning, burning or imprisonment. Many gave their lives or fled, leaving homes, property and farms. These people were called Anabaptists (re-baptizers) and were a threat to the social structure, because it was through infant baptism that an individual became a member, not only of the church, but of the state. It was during this time that a priest by the name of Menno Simons began to struggle with his belief and couldn’t help but be impressed by the lives of those who were willing to die for their faith. After his own brother was killed by government troops in 1535, he decided to make a public declaration and he renounced the priesthood.

For the next 25 years Menno ran from authorities while serving as an evangelist and strengthening believers with his writings. Having studied as a priest, he could understand the Latin scriptures and explain them to the average person. One of his favorite Bible verses was, “For no one can build a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11) Menno Simons died in 1561, but his biblical beliefs lived on in these people who were by now being called Mennonites. Persecution eventually forced them to move to Prussia where they were allowed to stay because they were hardworking farmers who knew how to work the swampy land. Eventually, however, their religious convictions were threatened by increased pressure on their young men to join the army (something they resisted) and they began to look for a new place to live.

In 1786 two Mennonite delegates left Danzig by invitation from Catherine the Great to come and farm land that had opened up in the Ukraine. After this many followed in large groups, setting up colonies and villages, with their own schools, hospitals, banks, shops and churches. For more than 100 years, Mennonites were able to make a peaceful living in this area. They farmed and built mills and factories that produced bricks and machinery to be sent throughout the land. They were good for Russia’s economy but, because they were not allowed to proselytize, they remained a group to themselves, possibly growing more in number than in faith. However, considering the challenges of their day, they did not let go of their strong fundamental convictions and backed them up with practical Christian living.

It was about 1870 when, due to pressure from Russian peasants who became increasingly critical of the special privileges granted to the colonists, Russia revamped their military structure and the fear of mandatory military conscription caused many Mennonites to leave Russia for Canada and the United States. Those who remained negotiated a mutual agreement with the government, whereby their young men could serve their time in forestry camps. During World War I the service was expanded to include medical work and road building.

In 1918, Russia lost control of the Baltics, Poland and the Ukraine (which included many of the Mennonite colonies) to German forces. When Allied Forces made the German troops withdraw the Mennonite colonies were left undefended in the struggles that came up after that. While revolution and civil war raged in the land, they tried defending themselves, but this only made matters worse for them. It was during this time that Mennonites appealed to Canada and United States for help, and MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) was organized, bringing food and other supplies into Russia. Again, many emigrated to North America.

In 1922 the Union of Soviet Socialistic Republics was established and, after a lengthy struggle for leadership, Stalin became the Dictator in 1929. Small farms were combined into large collective farms to be controlled by the government. Many citizens opposed Stalin’s policies and were sent to labor camps. This not being enough, Stalin began a program in which secret police snuck around and arrested people, often for unknown reasons shooting them or sending them to prison. Many Christians, including the Mennonites, became the targets of these atrocities. It was under these circumstances that those who could find a way fled the country to Canada and to South America. This time, the ones who stayed, did so against their own choosing.

In the coming months, I will tell some of the personal stories of my great-grandparents and grandparents as they lived through these times. Maybe you have a grandparent who could tell you some of your own history as well. I would encourage you to take the time to ask questions while you can.

Credits: Map above reproduced from the Mennonite Historical Atlas by William Schroeder and Helmut T. Huebert. The atlas is available on line and at Mennonite Historical Societies.
I gathered most of the historical information from several sources a number of years ago, for personal use.