Experts on the parish activity of Orthodox believers

At the end of December 2011, the opinions of historians, sociologists and historians of religion, as well as the clergy, were published regarding the results of the survey of the “Sreda” service. The survey data showed that no more than 15% of believers participate in the life of Orthodox parishes.

Alexander Agadzhanyan, a professor at the Center for the Study of Religions of the Russian State University for the Humanities, believes that “ a low level of participation in parish life - with high self-identification with Orthodoxy - is a special case of a low level of social participation of people in general, their lack of voluntary social skills ,” however, it indicates both “ a predominantly symbolic Orthodox identity not associated with churching ” and about “ the non-communitarian (non-social) orientation of the Russian Orthodox Church itself as an institution .”

Sociologist of religion Ivan Zabaev (Higher School of Economics - PSTGU) draws attention to the fact that “about the same number of people actively participate in parish life as take communion several times a month, that is, churchgoers, practicing Orthodox Christians.” He is convinced that if the question had been asked more correctly (for example, different types of parish activities would have been listed), the percentage would have been higher.

Sergei Lebedev, sociologist of religion, teacher at Belgorod State National Research University, emphasizes that “ for objective reasons, the overwhelming majority of human social connections in modern society are formed outside the institution of the Church, in the secular sociocultural space ” and that “ even after becoming a church member, an Orthodox Christian a person can limit his church life mainly to religious activities (regularly going to church, confessing, receiving communion, reading spiritual literature, even communicating with a confessor), without participating in any joint activities with other parishioners outside of worship .”

Priest Fyodor Ludogovsky reminds us that parish activity can be multidirectional: directed inward, to the needs of the parish, or taken beyond its boundaries. “ Participation in parish life can be confined to the church itself (singing in the choir, standing on a candlestick, cleaning the church, etc.), the priest said, - or, a little more broadly, at the parish (legal support for parishioners, seeing a homeopath for one’s own, etc. .) or have a focus on the “outside world” (orphanage, hospital, nursing home, etc.). However, it is clear that the social (as well as missionary) effect of working exclusively inside the church and for the church is not equal to the effect of “going to the people,” of serving people outside the church fence .” He is convinced that if survey data showed that 1% of those actively involved in parish life direct their efforts “outside the parish,” “there is hope for positive change” in the Church.

Sources

• Parish life: Expert comments on the results of the survey // Official website of the "Sreda" service. 2011. December 30.