Faith and Systema

Many senior instructors of Systema (notably Mikhael Ryabko and Vladimir Vasiliev) will point to their Russian Orthodox faith as the philosophical foundation of Systema. As the Byzantine (latter Roman) empire began to fade in influence, the conversion of the Russian people to the Orthodox faith through Byzantine missionaries was just beginning. Emerging from that tumultuous time, the Russian people came to think of themselves as the guardians of the Byzantine/Orthodox faith. The steppe warrior Cossacks further embodied that belief in their devotion to the Russian crown as the continuation of the Byzantine traditions.

The history of Systema is somewhat shrouded in mystery as with many martial traditions, but it seemed fitting to provide some information on the faith generally associated with Systema and the churches that have supported the Richmond area training partners groups. These resources are intended as an overview and not as an endorsement of specific doctrines or differences in doctrines of these denominations. Adherance to any particular faith is not a prerequisite to studying Systema but knowing something of the Orthodox faith in particular can greatly enhance your training.

Local Systema-Friendly Churches	Russian Orthodox Resources
Hickory Grove Baptist Church, where the Richmond training partners first met and host of a Systema seminar United Christian Presbyterian Church, an occasional meeting place of the Richmond training partners and host to a Systema seminar.	An Exposition of the Orthodox Faith by St. John Damascene provides a good overview of Eastern Orthodox (actually late 7th century church) doctrine. A classic must-read for anyone interested in early beliefs of the church. St. Basil the Great, an Orthodox Church in the Kansas City, Missouri area Orthodox Christian Information Center, provides a great resource for answers to questions Orthodox Church in America, provides many resources on the Orthodox churches in the United States Russian Orthodox Church in America, for information on the Russian Orthodox Church specifically in America Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, provides many resources including a fair collection of online media Light and Life, "largest Orthodox supplier" of books and more The Orthodox Church, by Timothy Ware provides a great overview of the history and theology of the Orthodox church Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells, by Matthrew Gallatin is a challenging and interesting look at the personal journey of one prominent Protestant to conversion to the Orthodox faith Rome Sweet Home, by Scott and Kimberly Hahn is another challenging and interesting look at the personal journey of a prominent theologian and his wife to conversion to the Roman Catholic faith
General/Non-Denominational
Christian Martial Arts Network Blue Letter Bible Study Christian Classics Ethereal Library, provides a wonderful collection of Christian classics online for study Early Christian Writings provides even more Christian classics online