Alexander V. Kondyakov, 33°
Grand Minister of State, Supreme Council of Russia
c/o George Dergachev, 33°
Box 18, Moscow 109377
Translated by Illustrious Robert G. Watkins, Jr., 33°

Semiofficial contacts during Grand Commander Kleinknecht's recent visit to Russia promise continued improvement of Masonry's status in Russia.

Freemasonry in Russia has a long history dating back to the early seventeenth century. However, Russian governmental institutions, under the autocratic Romanoff monarchy, never allowed the Craft to develop freely and independently. In 1917, Masonic activity in Russia was terminated altogether when the Communists came to power. Forced into exile, Russian Masonry clung to a tenuous existence in France throughout the period of Soviet Communism.

The reinstitution of the Grand Lodge of Russia and the Scottish Rite Supreme Council, 33°, in the mid-1990s marked the renewal of Masonic activities in a nominally democratic Russia. Since that time, a total of 15 Lodges have been established, and Russian Masons now number a little over 200 members. Masonry has grown only moderately since 1995 largely due to continuing anti-Masonic prejudice and general misunderstanding about the Fraternity among both the general public and governmental institutions. A significant step toward reversing this situation was taken recently when Sovereign Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, accompanied by his wife, Gene, visited St. Petersburg, the former capital of Russia, on June 20–21, 2001.

While this was ostensibly a tourist visit, the Supreme Council of Russia quietly organized a separate program of semiofficial meetings between Grand Commander Kleinknecht and several cultural and governmental leaders. These meetings hold great potential for the future development of Russian Masonry. Among the Russian Brethren participating in these visits were: Ill. Alexey Koshmarov, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council of Russia; Ill. George Dergachev 33°, Lieutenant Grand Commander; and myself, Ill. Alexander V. Kondyakov, 33°, Grand Minister of State.

The first of these meetings took place on June 20 when Grand Commander Kleinknecht and the Russian Brethren noted above met with Mr. G. Piatrovskiy, Director of the Hermitage, one of the most prestigious museums in the world. Although Mr. Piatrovskiy is not a Mason, he ascribed great significance to the activities of Masonic institutions in Russia and gave a high assessment to the role and influence of Masonry in the world, past as well as present.

Mr. Piatrovskiy presented the Russian and American Brethren with a unique opportunity to view a closed collection of historic Masonic items that have never been exhibited to the public and which are housed in a separate building from the Hermitage. The collection contains a number of unique historic items, including Masonic regalia, medals, jewelry, medallions, and ritual pieces dating from the early 18th century. The items were assembled by the famous Russian industrialist Burylin, a Mason. The exhibit contains personal items of individual Brothers and objects of Lodge activity from the Supreme Councils of France, Germany, England, Scotland, and Russia as well as other countries. This group of American and Russian Masons was the first to see the collection, except for museum staff and experts charged with its care, since it became the property of the Hermitage.

Also, on June 21, Grand Commander Kleinknecht, along with the Russian Brethren, met with Mr. Vladimir Yakovlev, Governor of St. Petersburg. The small, but distinguished, delegation was officially received in the Governor's office. Mr. Yakovlev is a well-known and influential figure in Russia and is a political ally of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. In the course of the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, Ill. Kleinknecht, at the request of Governor Yakovlev, described the history and philosophy of Freemasonry, the various activities of Masons, and pointed out the potentially significant contributions Masonry can make to the advancement of Russian society. Governor Yakovlev indicated that he has, for some time, been interested in Masonry and that he considers the Fraternity to be one of the more important phenomena in the development of world history. This interest notwithstanding, in the course of the conversation, Mr. Kleinknecht communicated a great deal of new and valuable information about Freemasonry to the Governor, including practical instances of Masonic support for official government institutions and democratically elected leaders.

It is interesting to note that Governor Yakovlev's office is located in the same building where Vladimir I. Lenin established his offices after the Communists came to power in 1917. The Communist government prohibited Masonic activity in the country for almost a century afterward. It seemed to all present that history, more particularly the history of the development of Freemasonry in Russia, has come full circle and that there is now a bright future for Freemasonry in Russia.

Governor Yakovlev stated his sincere opinion that Freemasonry should develop actively in Russia because it could aid in the solution of many problems and challenges that Russia is now encountering. The Governor of St. Petersburg indicated his readiness to render appropriate assistance to the processes of establishing Masonry in his city, as well as in Russia overall.

Governor Yakovlev, from his official position, wanted to call the attention of Masonic organizations, in various countries and especially in the United States, to a historic cultural event of international significance. That is the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg, which will be observed in 2003. Governor Yakovlev said that he would like to count on the assistance of Brethren in Masonic organizations in Russia, as well as in other countries, in the organization and development of various social and cultural events dedicated to the anniversary.

Immediately after the conversation with Sovereign Grand Commander Kleinknecht and the Russian Brethren, Governor Yakovlev went to a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in St. Petersburg at that time. Governor Yakovlev proposed mentioning his meeting and conversation with Mr. Kleinknecht and the Russian Brethren to President Putin.

The visit of Sovereign Grand Commander Kleinknecht to St. Petersburg and the meetings with noted political and cultural leaders was, by itself, an important event for Russian Masonry and the activities of the Russian Supreme Council. Undoubtedly, subsequent events extending from this visit will also be of great assistance to the Russian Supreme Council in organizing and conducting further plans for the advancement of Freemasonry in Russia, the strengthening of the Craft's structure, and the promoting of a positive public understanding of Masonic activities in Russia.