Catherine Lvoff, who started RBR after visiting family
in the Soviet Union in 1979 traveled to the USSR as everyone did in those days
bringing useful gifts. Her relatives, however,
told her that what they needed more than food or clothing
was spiritual foodprayer books and Orthodox
spiritual reading material which were impossible for them
to obtain. Inspired, Katia started RBR,
becoming a smuggler, as she often described
herself. She recruited other smugglers
to risk carrying a few Bibles and prayer books in their
luggage when they went to Russia as tourists or students.
As the years went on, RBR translated, published and
distributed books by Fr. Alexander Schmemann, Fr. John
Meyendorff and Fr. Thomas Hopko, thanks to donors who
supported RBR from its earliest days. With Perestroika,
books could be sent to Russia more easilybut at
considerable expense. The end of the Soviet Union in
August 1991 presented RBR with the possibility of
printing books in Russia so that money could be spent on
more books rather than on shipping costs. In 1991,
Catherine Lvoff fell asleep in the Lord. Sophie
Koulomzin, an expert in the area of children's religious
education, took on the leading role. She devoted enormous
creative energy to RBR during her final decade of life,
writing new books: Lives of Saints, a church history for
young people and a childrens catechism and prayer
book.
RBRs Moscow office became a reality when Helen
Dorman was recruited as Representative in Russia. Helen
knows the people and their needs and has the contacts to
arrange publication of our books on site. She rented
space to serve as a warehouse and distribution center for
the books which, as always, are provided free of charge.
Helen receives requests for books from individuals living
in distant villages, from people responsible for
religious education programs in orphanages, prisons and
schools, and from priests in parishes all over Russia.
Gifts by patrons of RBR during the 90s were instrumental
in publishing several of Mrs. Koulomzins new books
as well as more writings of Frs. Schmemann, Meyendorff
and Hopko, and in purchasing books by Metropolitan
Anthony Bloom and other Western Orthodox thinkers. These
books certainly contributed to the spiritual liberation
of the Russian people during that decade of political
change.
After the repose of Sophie Koulomzin in September 2000,
Vera Bouteneff assumed the leadership of RBR. The
board membership has remained fairly constant over the
years. The volunteer board helps maintain continuity and
focus on RBRs original purpose of contributing,
through an extensive network, to the spiritual support of
Orthodoxy in Russia by providing essential religious and
theological books and writings. RBR continues to
distribute these books without chargecatechisms,
prayer books and serious theological readingto as
many needy people and organizations as we can. And entering the digitial age,
RBR now also supports online organizations like Christian.ru that
distribute books digitally, greatly expanding the number of people
gaining access to such works.
Most of the physical barriers we faced in our early days are
gone. Our greatest limitation today is a financial one.
The hard work and creativity of RBRs authors,
leaders, board members and Moscow representative have
brought spiritual enlightenment to many thousands of
people only with the gracious support of our
long-time friends and patrons.
We ask again for your generous contribution as we look
forward to our continued work for Russias spiritual
renewal. |