Orthodox Church Research Articles

Eastern Orthodox War Justification and Ecclesial Dilemmas Arising from the War in Ukraine

The escalation of ecclesial and religio-political conflicts since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has further complicated the convoluted ecclesial situation in Ukraine and has been addressed in a series of sermons, formal statements and documents issued by senior Russian and Ukrainian ecclesiastical figures. Their ideological and theological rhetoric demonstrates the active participation of senior Russian Orthodox clerics in the justification of the Russian military effort which represents some radical ruptures in Eastern Orthodox ecclesial involvement in war-making and mobilisation. The Moscow Patriarchate’s war-legitimisation stances and policies have major repercussions for the current debates on and reconceptions of the Christian just-war tradition in the frameworks of just peace, peacebuilding and reconciliation, as well as the potential key role of Christian religious actors in these processes.

Land use and land cover changes, and woody vegetation status of the Tsimur Gebriel Monastery in Northern Ethiopia

Ethiopian Orthodox churches are significant habitats for endemic and threatened plant species, yet their vegetation status and the land use systems impacting them, are little known. Therefore, this study assessed the land use and land cover changes (LULCC) within a 3 km buffer area and the woody vegetation status of the Tsimur Gebriel Monastery in the Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. The United States Geological Survey's multi-dated (1986, 1999, and 2018) Landsat imagery was used for LULCC analysis. A supervised classification technique was employed for image classification using a maximum likelihood algorithm. Systematic sampling techniques were used to collect vegetation data (tree species, height, and DBH), using 20 sample plots (20 × 20 m) distanced 100 m apart. The results highlighted that among the five identified LULCC types in the buffer zone of the monastery, the farmland area has expanded from 56 to 78 % at the expense of shrublands between 1986 and 2018. At the monastery, 19 woody tree species from 13 families were identified, with an evenness of 0.5 and a Shannon diversity index of 2.4. The stem density was 336 stems per hectare, and the forest cover was approximately 65 %. Olea europaea was the dominant tree species, while Juniperus procera showed a lack of regeneration at the monastery. Despite the fair natural regeneration, the monastery exhibited lower species diversity, richness, and evenness. However, the monastery remains an important habitat for rare and threatened tree species and may supply seeds for the restoration of degraded lands. Therefore, establishing exclosures in the buffer zone, strengthening stone walls and enrichment planting of degraded tree species should be implemented to ensure the sustainable conservation of valuable tree species.

Editorial: Orthodox Christian Churches and War Politics in Ethiopia and Ukraine: Historical, Ecclesial and Theological Reflections

Editorial: Orthodox Christian Churches and War Politics in Ethiopia and Ukraine: Historical, Ecclesial and Theological Reflections

Christian Orthodoxy as the Spiritual Foundation of Russian Culture

Christian Orthodoxy as the Spiritual Foundation of Russian Culture

Government Policy towards Sectarians and Its Implementation in Tobolsk Province in 19th Century

This article examines the process of establishing the legal framework for the state’s relations with representatives of religious sectarianism, focusing on the peculiarities of the Russian Orthodox Church’s policy towards sectarianism in Tobolsk Province. A comprehensive analysis of published and unpublished archival materials is conducted, highlighting the efforts of central and local governing bodies to prevent and suppress the activities of sects that had spread in Tobolsk Province during the second half of the 19th century. By examining judicial records and periodical publications, the effectiveness of government measures in Tobolsk Province during this period is evaluated. It is demonstrated that improving the legislative basis was closely linked to gathering information about the beliefs and ritual practices of sectarians and refining the typology of religious sectarianism. The conclusion is drawn that measures to curb the spread of sectarian doctrines involved imposing penalties such as deprivation of all rights and exile of sectarians to remote regions of the country (Caucasus, Western and Eastern Siberia). The implementation of a comprehensive set of antisectarian measures by secular and ecclesiastical provincial governing bodies resulted in changes to the ritual practices of sectarians, making it difficult for authorities to identify sect affiliations, indicating a low level of effectiveness of the government’s actions.

Russian Orthodox Churches “Under the Bells”: Semantic Features and Origin of the Worldview

The religious foundations underlying the construction of Russian Orthodox churches “under the bells”, and the meaning and role of this notion, are analyzed with reference to the traditional worldview. Architectural features of such churches are described. They belong to a rare type, and have been constructed in Russia from the 14th century to the present time. Their multiple meanings, influenced by Byzantine and European traditions, related to the key Orthodox notions, are analyzed. The most basic of these was the idea of the ladder, symbolizing spiritual growth, as evidenced by dedication of churches “under the bells” to the Stylites, to preachers developing key Orthodox notions, and to converts engaged in spiritual maturation, as well as to miracles believed to influence human life in a profound way. Dedications to miracles and miraculous icons, associated with military glory, and to canonized warriors, patrons of the military, are based on the idea of the victorious and life-giving cross. The image of the bell as a divine messenger is embodied in the tradition of placing bells right above the liturgical space, making perception of the “voice of God” by the flock more direct. A conclusion is reached that the pillar-like edifices of churches “under the bells” represent the most meaningful elements of the Russian worldview, marking the Orthodox cultural landscape, whose central idea is that of spiritual maturation and triumphant Christian faith.

Russian World in Yakut Heroic Epic Olonkho

This article evaluates the impact of Russian culture on the Yakut epic, Olonkho. The emergence and evolution of the Russian character in Olonkho are analyzed. Texts from various local traditions and time periods of Olonkho serve as the research material. The study employs a historical poetics approach, showcasing the evolution and changes in the portrayal of the Russian character in Yakut epic texts, considering the territorial and temporal differences in the texts and the individual characteristics of storytellers. It is determined that the semantics of this character transform from “foreign” to “native”. The Russian character in Yakut heroic epic texts initially appears through epic formulas, comparisons, and epithets, manifesting foreignness and alienation. Subsequently, the Russian individual becomes a character participating in the Olonkho plot. A transition from “foreign” to “different,” “other” is observed: intermediary zones (the meeting place of heaven and earth, forests, mountains) start resembling objects belonging to Russians. When Russian material culture aligned with the life and customs of the Yakuts, objects adopted from Russians began resembling parts of the main hero’s (bogatyr) body, vividly demonstrating the incorporation of the Russian character into the category of “ours.” References to certain realities of Orthodox Christianity are also made in Olonkho. Images of Baba Yaga, Zmey Gorynych, the forest spirit, motifs of path selection are borrowed from Russian fairy tales and myths. Russian names, names of Russian cities and places, among others, are mentioned.

Stylistic and architectural art trends of worldwide experience in designing orthodox churches and complexes

Currently, in the scientific and practical space of Ukraine, there is no substantiated and systematized concept of the sacred architecture of the Balkan countries and the countries of the near abroad. Many countries have experienced a number of important changes and transformations over the last fifty years, which undoubtedly influenced the development of sacred architecture. In this study, the author proposes to consider the modern development of Orthodox churches and complexes of the specified countries of world Orthodoxy. In order to solve the tasks, literary sources were analyzed, highlighting the peculiarities of the analysis of sacred architecture. The fundamental researchers of the analysis of modern architecture include: C. Jenks, O. E. Gutnov, V. L. Hight, A. V. Ikonnikov and others. Modern researchers in the field of design and analysis of sacred objects include the works of O. S. Sleptsova, Yu. I. Kryvoruchko, M. Yu. Kesler. Taking into account the diversity and multifacetedness of the studied sacred objects, this analysis helped establish the directions and criteria for the analysis of Orthodox churches. The article presents the results of the analysis of the practice of sacred design of temple buildings of the countries that are included in the list of Orthodox autocephalous churches of the World Orthodoxy, in particular the temple architecture of the countries: Poland, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Cyprus, Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Belarus. Most of the general finishing has close ties with historical prototypes and stylistic polyphony of development, primarily Byzantine architecture, South Balkan and other architectural schools of a certain region. Also, isolated cases of modern and innovative searches for the modern image of the national temple have been established. As illustrative material, the article is supplemented with images with an analysis of the influence of historical prototypes on modern samples, as well as a table indicating general trends.

Особенности положения Калининской и Кашинской епархии перед началом хрущевских гонений (1954–1957 гг.)

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of church life in the Kalinin and Kashin diocese for three years before the start of Khrushchev’s “thaw”. Until 1954, taking into account the consequences of the persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1930s, a series of church and administrative transformations of the Kalinin diocese in the last years of the Great Patriotic War and the post-war period, determined by the needs of the Church, as well as the activities of diocesan bishops in 1935–1953, Church life in the Kalinin region was in decline. The revival of the Kalinin and Kashin diocese was initiated by Patriarch Alexy I (Simansky). By appointing as diocesan bishop an outstanding hierarch from the widowed clergy, who had an academic theological education and was imprisoned in the Solovetsky camp for special purposes, Bishop Barsanuphius (Grinevich), the patriarch, with the assistance of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, ensured non-interference in the activities of the bishop authorized by the Council for the Kalinin Region V.I. Hebronov, who was distinguished by his irreconcilable position towards the Church. In such conditions, Bishop Barsanuphius managed to achieve outstanding results in the revival of the diocese in three years: to increase the number of registered churches, to resume services in churches remote from Kalinin, where services had not been held for a long time, to increase the number of parish clergy, to stabilize the state of their morality, to ensure remote rural churches by clergy, to carry out repairs in them. Considering that the population of the Kalinin region was recognized as religious, the events of 1954–1957. were characterized by the patriarch, clergy, believers of the Kalinin region and even the authorized Hebronov as a revival.

Architectural and planning features of wooden orthodox Churches of Bukovyna using the example of the assumption church, 2 Novoushytska street, Chernivtsi

Wooden churches are an important part of Ukraine's cultural heritage. A significant portion of them has been identified, included in the State Register, and thus is under state protection. It should also be noted that the wooden architecture sites of western Ukraine were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013 (nomination "Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine"). A characteristic feature of the Moldavian-Bukovinian type churches is a plan in the shape of an Orthodox cross. They also feature a high and steep wooden tent roof. The plan consists of three parts: the narthex, the nave, and the altar part. Above each part is a spherical vault in the shape of a half-sphere. The walls are made of wooden beams. The length of the wooden beam’s ranges from 3 to 6 meters. The entrance to the church is always located on the south facade. The prototype of all wooden churches of this type is considered to be the wooden church of the Putna Skete from the 14th century. The architectural monument of national significance, the Assumption Wooden Church, is an outstanding example of folk architecture. The church has retained its authenticity and has been located at its historic site since 1876. Its architectural and planning features lie in the preservation of the traditions of medieval folk architecture of wooden Orthodox churches in Bukovina, serving as a unique authentic example for researchers and restoration scientists The article provides an analysis of the architectural and planning features of the wooden Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church, one of the four wooden churches of national architectural significance located in the city of Chernivtsi. The impact of historical, cultural, and social factors on its architecture is analyzed. Methods and approaches to the preservation and restoration of wooden churches are considered, particularly the use of modern 3D scanning technologies for recording the state of the object and creating its phantom model. The article is illustrated with architectural drawings: site plan, floor plan, and elevations, and provides photographic documentation of facade and interior fragments.

Миссионерская деятельность Тобольско-Тюменской епархии на севере Западной Сибири в 1990–2010 гг.

The article examines the main directions, forms and methods of missionary activity of the Tobolsk-Tyumen diocese among the indigenous population of the North of Western Siberia in 1990 – 2010. The research was based on publications in the diocesan periodical press, the works of the Tobolsk Theological Seminary, field materials of the authors. The article examines the state of Orthodoxy among the indigenous population by the early 1990s, the specifics of the organization and implementation of the diocesan mission in the territories of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (KhMAO) and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YANAO). It is shown that in the post-Soviet period, in the conditions of changing relations between the state and the Russian Orthodox Church, the restoration of its missionary activity and the expansion of the Orthodox space in the historically nurtured territories gradually took place. It is concluded that educational, apologetic, informational forms of work were the most common in the missionary activity of the Tobolsk–Tyumen diocese in the North of Western Siberia in 1990 - 2010. The fulfillment of socially significant functions by the diocese contributed to the expansion of the Orthodox presence in the territory. In the 1990s, the missionary activity of the diocese among the indigenous population of the North was limited due to insufficient material and financial situation, lack of personnel and premises for religious rites, parish work. In the 2000s, in the context of establishing stable ties with government administrations of various levels, missionary activity acquired a large-scale character. The article notes that the practice of the Orthodox mission has led to the development of recommendations for the organization of missionary work among the indigenous population, and the specifics of the activities associated with the remoteness and inaccessibility of the northern territories – to the emergence of new forms of missionary expedition.

Проблема перехода иноверцев Российской империи в православие во второй половине XIX века по публицистическим источникам на примере М. К. Кабановой и Е. В. Мелковой

The article is devoted to the problem of the conversion of non-believers of the Russian Empire to the Orthodox faith in the second half of the XIX century. These gentiles had to resist their society in particular, their families, or break social ties. Based on journalistic sources, the author reconstructs the activities of Maria Kosminichna Kabanova and Ekaterina Vasilyevna Melkova, who show examples of individual missionary service of women carried out in the 1870s-1890s in the Orenburg and Samara dioceses, respectively. The article highlights the ways in which missionaries carried out their activities and examines the features of their interaction with the structure of the Orthodox Missionary Society. Basing on the example of the missionaries’ service it is noted how important it was for the Russian Orthodox Church to organize shelters for the newly converted orthodox people so that they could safely establish in their faith. Because of this, the emphasis is put on the fact that the shelters created by the missionaries were not an artificial phenomenon, but arose in response to an existing need. M. K. Kabanova and E. V. Melkova indicated with the help of their service, which occurred at the same time, certain changes which took place in the society because of the Great Reforms. It is seen both through the tendency of the people to acquire the desire to serve the Church and the mission and through the newly opened possibility to change their social status of women.

Теоретико-методологические основания педагогического понятия «традиция православной культуры»

In the present article, the author attempts to identify and substantiate the theoretical and methodological foundations of the pedagogical concept of the tradition of Orthodox culture. The article substantiates the relevance of the stated topic by the close attention of the Russian Orthodox Church and the policy pursued by the President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin.The works of domestic and foreign scientists who paid close attention to the study of the phenomenon of "tradition" and defined the concept of "tradition" are analyzed. In the article, these concepts are considered in relation to educational practice, namely the process of designing classes on spiritual and moral education. The expected results of such classes are indicated. The definitions of tradition given in the article are summarized. On this basis, the pedagogical concept of "traditions of Orthodox culture" is formulated.The article considers the traditions of Orthodox culture as a cultural and historical way of life of a certain group of people and the people as a whole, which preserves, transmits and reproduces in rituals and rituals, habits and skills, goal-setting and experience: moral categories of good and evil, spiritual and material values, examples and guidelines for moral choice and value self-determination; defines the ideal of personality and the means to achieve it, the foundations of unity and the rules of interpersonal relations, behavioral stereotypes and human ideas about the world, human life, people; reflected in scientific and creative human activity.The stages of entry into the tradition by a student are indicated from the lowest – the recognition of values, to the highest, at which the student builds a life strategy of his life path. The main conclusion of the article was the position that the theoretical and methodological foundations of the pedagogical concept of "traditions of Orthodox culture" are rooted in the "spiritual practice" of Orthodoxy - the experience of knowledge of God and, as a result, knowledge of the world and self–knowledge.

Священномученик Анатолий, пресвитер Марийский: творчество и судьба

This article is a description of the life path of the Holy Martyr Anatoly Ivanovsky (1863-1918), presbyter of Mari. It attempts to show this new martyr of the Russian Church as a musician, singer and church composer. Therefore, the article pays special attention to the facts of the biography of Priest Anatoly, related to this particular creative side of his life.The article covers the period of his life, and this is the end of the XIX – beginning of the XX century. Historical events, the mood of the society of that time – all this was reflected in the destinies of people, in the fate of a rural priest, a man musically gifted by nature. Having grown up in a pious family of a priest, who loved church singing from childhood and had a wonderful voice, he did not abandon clerical obedience throughout his childhood and youth, right up to his marriage and ordination. Further, Father Anatoly set an example of a zealous and caring pastor, a hard worker, a talented teacher and leader, the father of a large family of gifted children like him, as well as a musician, a connoisseur and connoisseur of church singing.The beginning of the XX century is a time of deep upheavals of the entire Russian society. The terrible persecutions inflicted on the Russian Orthodox Church revealed to the world the true ascetics of piety. In the atmosphere of betrayal and denunciation that engulfed people, they had to make a difficult choice: stay with Christ, faithful to death to Him, or break down under the pressure of the Bolsheviks. The steadfastness shown by priest Anatoly in the most difficult events of his fate showed the world the holiness of this simple village priest, who currently, standing before the Throne of God, is the intercessor and prayer book of all those who turn to him for help.

Prawo małżeńskie osobowe Drugiej Rzeczypospolitej na ziemiach wschodnich dawnego zaboru rosyjskiego

The article describes the problems facing the marriage law in the eastern parts of the Second Polish Republic. These issues are mainly due to the lack of codification of matrimonial law throughout the territory of the Republic of Poland and the fact that exclusively civil jurisdiction in matrimonial matters was not implemented, as it was envisaged in Lutostański’s proposal. The decisions of ecclesiastical courts led to the creation of substantially invalid marriages and the spreading of legal bigamy. Failure to observe state regulations concerning the jurisdiction of ecclesiastical courts in dissolution or nullity cases, as well as mutual non-recognition of judgments of the ecclesiastical courts contributed to the creation of areas called “divorce meccas”. These designations referred to the Eastern Orthodox and Calvinist Church existing in the eastern territories of the Second Polish Republic. Taking into account the above, the article is intended to compare factors destabilising marriage law in the areas in question. To analyze this issue, primarily the historical and legal method was used.

The Romanian Orthodox Church – History, Organization and Institutional Relationship with the Romanian State

The Romanian Orthodox Church – History, Organization and Institutional Relationship with the Romanian State

Религиозная лексика в современном русском и польском языках в переводоведческом, лексикографическом и лингвокультурологическом освещении

During the first quarter of the 21st century, Polish and Russian linguistics have been experiencing an intensification of research into the languages of various Christian denominations. In Poland, it is usually the language of the Polish Catholic Church, traditionally associated with the Polish language; in Russia, it is the language of the Russian Orthodox Church, speaking of which, Church Slavonic and Russian are usually meant. Due to the ongoing geopolitical processes, wellknown classical parallels or connections such as “Polish – Catholic”, “Russian – Orthodox” and directions of this kind of research are undergoing changes. In the Polish Orthodox Church, whose ministers and parishioners until recently used mainly Church Slavonic and Polish, today they increasingly turn to Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian and other Slavic languages in their daily lives. Therefore, against the background of the predominance of Catholicism and the Polish language, problems arise with the correct interpretation and correct understanding of basic religious names by representatives of various Christian denominations speaking related Slavic languages. As a result, there are studies of parallels and connections such as “Polish, Russian, Ukrainian – Orthodox”, and questions arise, the answers to which can be tried to find in lexicography.

Theology of John of Damascus on The Antichrist in the Eighth-Century Orthodox Church

This study explores the theology of John of Damascus on the Antichrist within the context of the Eighth-Century Orthodox Church. Addressing a gap in existing scholarship, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of John of Damascus's eschatological views, particularly his depiction of the Antichrist, and examines their theological, historical, and cultural implications. Employing a historical-theological method, the research involves a detailed textual analysis of John of Damascus's works, contextualization within the Byzantine era, comparative analysis with contemporary and preceding theologians, and interpretation through theological frameworks. The study reveals that John of Damascus articulated a clear and systematic portrayal of the Antichrist, integrating it within his broader eschatological framework. His views were shaped by the historical and political milieu of the Eighth Century, notably the rise of Islam and internal theological disputes within Byzantium. John of Damascus emphasized the Antichrist as a significant heretical threat, advocating for vigilance and steadfastness in faith among the Christian faithful. His teachings were deeply woven into Orthodox doctrine, reinforcing the eventual triumph of Christ and the necessity of maintaining orthodox beliefs against heretical challenges. The findings underscore the lasting impact of John of Damascus's theology on the Antichrist in the Orthodox tradition, influencing subsequent theological developments and the Church's understanding of end-time events. This study highlights the importance of his eschatological perspectives, demonstrating how they were both reflective of and responsive to the theological and historical challenges of his time.

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) among holy water users in Amhara regional state Orthodox churches, Ethiopia, 2024: institutional based cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Sanitation is the quality of living that is expressed in a clean home, a clean firm, a clean business, and a clean community to prevent disease and promote health. Poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) negatively impacts health, development, economic and social growth, and significantly hinders poverty alleviation. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding water, sanitation, and hygiene among holy water users in Amhara regional state Orthodox churches, Ethiopia, in 2024. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2023 in five randomly selected Orthodox Tewahido churches in the Amhara region. The study employed an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire to gather data from 423 study participants. The response rate was 91% and 219 (57% of the respondents) were female. Good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practice on WASH was found in 39.2, 42.5, and 47.2%, respectively. In conclusion, Ethiopian Amhara Orthodox Tewahido churches, holy water users frequently lacked information, had an unfavorable attitude, and practiced poor WASH. This demands for immediate effort to raise knowledge about health education and hygiene in order to impact holy water user's attitudes toward personal and communal cleanliness and sanitation.

Geometric Parameters to Enhance the Perception of Architectural Spaces

The challenge in obtaining objective parameters for evaluating the aesthetic appeal of buildings is what we try to explain through a case study, presenting a pioneering methodology that can be applied and adapted to different architectural styles. Our focus is on a substantial investigation of Romanian Orthodox churches in the Wallachia region, which exhibit striking similarities from their early stylistic developments in the 16th century to contemporary examples. By examining the geometric relationships within their interior spaces, we aim to derive objective insights that enable an alternative classification. This classification, in turn, helps us measure the emotional impact these spaces have on users or visitors, influencing emotions based on spatial proportions. Through these relationships, we can evaluate the importance of different buildings of the same category, classify them and, objectively explain their differences. Applying the findings of this study, along with specific variables, to other architectural contexts allows us to address user preferences more effectively to enhance architectural designs by improving comfort and the quality of life.