<html> <head> <title>Local News | The Morning Journal | Article</title> </head> <body bgcolor=#ffffff link="990000" vlink="000066" alink="ff6600">  <center> <pre><img HEIGHT=38 WIDTH=21 src="/images/news/adtab1.gif">[an error occurred while processing this directive]<img HEIGHT=38 WIDTH=21 src="/images/news/adtab2.gif"> <img HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=560 src="/images/news/topbar.gif"> <img HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=20 src="/images/news/lefttab.gif"><a href="/jrc/papers/MorningJournal/FrontPage/index.html"><img border=0 HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=87 src="/images/news/news.gif"></a><a href="/jrc/papers/MorningJournal/Sports/index.html"><img border=0 HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=87 src="/images/news/sports.gif"></a><a href="http://classifieds.morningjournal.com"><img border=0 HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=87 src="/images/news/class.gif"></a><a href="http://www.personalspage.com/personals/utility/mva/ohioclus/info_screen.htm"><img border=0 HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=87 src="/images/news/personals.gif" alt="Personals"></a><a href="/info.html"><img border=0 HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=87 src="/images/news/info.gif"></a><a href="/index.html"><img border=0 HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=87 src="/images/news/hometop.gif"></a><img HEIGHT=20 WIDTH=19 src="/images/news/righttab.gif"> <img HEIGHT=7 WIDTH=560 src="/images/news/midbar.gif"> <img border=0 HEIGHT=18 WIDTH=108 src="/images/news/home.gif"><img HEIGHT=18 WIDTH=351 src="/images/news/papertop.gif"><img border=0 HEIGHT=18 WIDTH=100 src="/images/news/homer.gif"> <img border=0 HEIGHT=17 WIDTH=108 src="/images/news/space.gif"><img HEIGHT=17 WIDTH =351 src="/images/news/papermid.gif"><img border=0 HEIGHT=17 WIDTH=100 src="/images/news/space.gif"> <img border=0 HEIGHT=17 WIDTH=108 src="/images/news/space.gif"><img HEIGHT=17 WIDTH=351 src="/images/news/paperbot.gif"><img border=0 HEIGHT=17 WIDTH=100 src="/images/news/space.gif"> <img border=0 HEIGHT=21 WIDTH=108 src="/images/news/space.gif"><img border=0 HEIGHT=21 WIDTH=70 src="/images/news/space.gif"><img border=0 HEIGHT=21 WIDTH=69 src="/images/news/space.gif"><img border=0 HEIGHT=21 WIDTH=69 src="/images/news/space.gif"><img border=0 HEIGHT=21 WIDTH=69 src="/images/news/space.gif"><img border=0 HEIGHT=21 WIDTH=74 src="/images/news/space.gif"><img border=0 HEIGHT=21 WIDTH=100 src="/images/news/space.gif"></pre> <hr width=85%> <table width=540 height=350 border=0> <tr>  <td width=80 align=left valign=top> <IMG SRC="/images/news/subsect.gif" HEIGHT=26 WIDTH=77> <IMG SRC="/images/news/vline.gif" ALIGN=RIGHT WIDTH=1 HEIGHT=330> <a href="/ritalin/"><img src="/images/genrx.jpg" border=0 width=71 height=41 alt="Ritalin"></a></td> <td valign=top width=460>  Mon., July 20, 1998 General turns from Communism to God: Speaks in Elyria By JOSEPH L. WAGNER, Morning Journal Politics Writer ELYRIA -- Retired Russian General Vycheslav Borisov was all military as he marched into the room, saluted his hosts and told a reporter, as if inspecting his troops, to wipe the remnants of a glazed donut off his cheeks. He then launched into a candid appraisal of post-Soviet Russia, denouncing Communism in a strident fashion that a decade ago could have landed him in Soviet prison. The Church of the Open Door was the last stop on a preaching tour of Northern Ohio and Michigan for Borisov, who said he is raising cash to supply Bibles for all 2.5 million Russian soldiers. Greater Elyria residents did not disappoint him, digging deeper for a second offering and buying videotapes and other Russian Army memorabilia. It was a surrealistic moment in one of Lorain County's most fundamentalist Christian churches. Here was a Soviet military commander, who butchered Muslims during the Afghanistan war and who worked with the KGB to extinguish whatever sparks of religious worship flared up within the Soviet Army, preaching love of God to Americans. He was in full dress uniform, resplendent with battle ribbons and insignias. The irony peaked when Borisov showed a video of the Red Army choir, some playing accordions and balaikas (a Russian string instrument) singing "The Battle Hymn of The Republic.'' Borisov resembles deposed President Mikhael Gorbacev except for his waves of gleaming white hair and no birthmark. He speaks abruptly and with humor, as his interview begins. Communism is dead in Russia except for "sick and crazy people'' whose spin now is that "Communist No1 was Jesus,'' he said. Speaking through his interpreter, Demetri Nosarev from Moscow, Borisov said the Russian government is so indifferent toward its people, that it doesn't even care about the revival of religious worship on such a large scale in the once atheist Soviet state. "But, the government should care,'' he insisted. "The government should care more about the spiritual needs of the people. Russia has had a long history of Christianity.'' During the interview and his sermon before hundreds of Sunday worshippers, he bitterly criticized Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, calling their message of a world socialism and atheism a lie and saying that the real hope of Russian salvation is through Christianity. "I used to tell my soldiers: There was a Marx. There was a Lenin. But, there is no God.'' He changed his mind, however, in 1984 when his helicopter was downed by enemy fire in Afghanistan. He alone among 11 Soviet officers survived. His total recovery from paralysis was hailed in Moscow as a tribute to the skills of Soviet doctors. "I knew who did it...it was our heavenly Father,'' he said pointing upward. Borisov said that during a recent visit to the Pentagon, he met with American Army and Naval commanders who told him they were incredulous that he had survived the helicopter crash. "One American general came up to me and said "I need to touch you...you are alive,'' joked Borisov. Then American commanders, he said, joked that they spent $1.5 million on a contract to kill him and appeared as though they wanted the money back. <a href="#top">BACK TO TOP</a> <a href="/jrc/papers/MorningJournal/FrontPage/index.html">SEE ALL FrontPage Stories</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=2 align=center>  <a href="/jrc/papers/MorningJournal/FrontPage/index.html">Local News</a> | <a href="/jrc/papers/MorningJournal/Sports/index.html">Sports</a> | <a href="http://classifieds.morningjournal.com">Classifieds</a> | <a href="http://www.personalspage.com/personals/utility/mva/ohioclus/info_screen.htm">Personals</a> | <a href="/info.html">Information</a> | <a href="/index.html">Home</a> (c) 1998, The Morning Journal <A HREF="http://www.journalregister.com"><IMG SRC=/images/news/jrclogo.jpg WIDTH=85 HEIGHT=18 BORDER=0 HSPACE=0 VSPACE=1></A> </td> </tr> </table> <form name="me"><input type="hidden" value="/jrc/papers/MorningJournal/FrontPage/MJ07203074.html" name="what"></form> </center> </body> </html>