Concept of missionary activity of the Russian Orthodox Church, page 2

The topic of missionary activity and the role of preachers in the spread of Christianity is always touched upon when studying the history of religion and the church. Jesus Christ is considered the first representative of this movement.

To become a real preacher, sincere faith is not enough. You still need to know a lot in order to be able to not only tell spiritually alien people about God, but also convince them of the truth of Christian teaching.

What is missionary work?

The word itself comes from the Latin mission, which means “order” or “message”. In the traditional sense, a missionary is a person who wants to convey his religion to other believers. At the same time, two types of envoys are distinguished: some work exclusively on the territory of their country, and others try to achieve success beyond its borders.

It should be noted that missionary work is considered a common norm for most world religions. However, it is best developed in Christianity, Islam and Buddhism.

Missionary Law

In July 2021, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed a package of anti-terrorism bills presented to the State Duma by deputies Irina Yarovaya and Viktor Ozerov. Among them is the “Law on Missionary Activities.”

Essence and content

The document, known as the “Yarovaya Law on Missionary Activities,” takes the form of amendments to the Federal Law “On Combating Terrorism.” According to the new edition, the concept of missionary applies only to religious organizations, but not to private individuals preaching exclusively on their own behalf.

Activities of invitation to a particular community, distribution of religious literature are recognized as missionary if they come from the name of the church. It must be carried out in accordance with legal requirements.

Restrictions and prohibitions

The work of the mission can only take place unhindered in premises owned by the community or rented. The contract must indicate that the premises are rented for religious activities in accordance with the organization’s charter. At the same time, the transfer of real estate to a non-residential fund for subsequent use by a religious organization is prohibited.

It is prohibited to hold meetings, perform rituals, or study holy books in apartments or private houses if nonbelievers are present at these events. Outside religious buildings, in the media and on the Internet, only priests can preach. Other members of religious communities must have written permission from their church.

All distributed materials, including literature, video and audio recordings, even editions of the Holy Scriptures, must contain references to the full name of the organization involved in their distribution.

Religious associations of the Russian Federation are fully responsible for the actions of their preachers. In case of illegal activity on the part of a person authorized by the church, the responsibility falls on the entire organization.

The corresponding article of the law concerns foreigners. A citizen of another state has the right to preach and perform rituals only subject to an officially issued invitation and an employment contract. Otherwise, foreign citizens may participate in religious ceremonies, but not lead them.

Responsibility and punishments

For the absence of a full name on distributed materials, a religious organization will be forced to pay a fine of 30 to 50 thousand rubles. Foreign citizens for preaching without appropriate permission can be expelled from Russia.

The following penalties are provided for violators of the law:

from 5 to 50 thousand - to individuals;
from 100 thousand to 1 million - to organizations;
from 30 to 50 thousand rubles - for foreigners.

Deputy Irina Yarovaya, defending her bill, referred to the uncontrolled propaganda of Islam and the equally uncontrolled actions of preachers of various sects calling themselves Christian.

First missionaries

The Bible assures us that the first missionaries were the apostles of Jesus Christ. It was they who created the doctrine that later turned into an entire religion - Christianity. The most famous of them is the Apostle Peter. According to legend, he brought the good news to Samaria, Caesarea, Babylon and Rome.

Almost everywhere he appeared, Christian communities began to emerge. Some even credit him with founding the first Roman church. But historians refute this statement, since the existing chronicles say nothing about this. Scientists are also confident that Peter is the author of the Gospel of Mark.

Russian Orthodox Church

The document was approved by the resolution of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church dated December 27, 2011 (magazine No. 152).

The mission - preaching the Gospel to convert people to Christ - is an integral part of the service of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, to whose shepherds and children the Lord Jesus commanded: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). The Church is called Apostolic not only because it was established on the foundation of the Apostles (Eph. 2:20) but also because through it the preaching of the holy Apostles continues to this day. Witnessing faith outside the church fence is one of the main duties of all Christians, in fulfillment of the Lord’s commandment: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Orthodox mission has the goal of bringing a person to the faith of Christ, introducing him to the Orthodox way of life, imparting to him the experience of communion with God and involving him in the mysterious life of the Eucharistic community.

Missionary activity in the Russian Orthodox Church has its own structure and is carried out at the following four levels:

General church level

At the general church level, the Synodal Missionary Department is responsible for the organization and implementation of missionary activities. The tasks of the Department include:

research of the missionary field on the canonical territory of the Russian Orthodox Church;
development of church-wide missionary programs and coordination of their implementation;
preparation of methodological materials in certain areas of missionary activity, taking into account regional characteristics and distribution of these materials in dioceses;
providing assistance to the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church in the organization and activities of missionary camps, sending missionary clergy and students of theological schools to serve in them in agreement with the diocesan Right Reverends and the Educational Committee;
monitoring and analysis of the activities of sectarian and schismatic formations on the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate; publication of relevant missionary materials;
together with the Educational Committee - training missionary personnel of the Russian Orthodox Church in theological schools and conducting regular seminars for missiology teachers;
creation of methods and teaching aids for conducting classes at the diocesan, deanery and parish levels to prepare active lay people for missionary service;
publication of missionary literature;
exchange of experience with foreign Orthodox missionary organizations, analysis of the missionary experience of other faiths;
organizing and conducting all-church missionary congresses, conferences and seminars;
conducting church-wide targeted financial collections for missionary activities;
together with the Synodal Information Department and the Synodal Department for Relations between the Church and Society - supporting the missionary work of the Church through information activities and contacts with public associations;
in cooperation with the Synodal Information Department - cooperation with the media in order to provide them with materials of missionary value and organize programs with the participation of clergy and missionaries;
together with the Synodal Commission for Monastic Affairs - assistance to monastic monasteries in organizing their missionary activities;
Monitoring the implementation of the definitions of the Local and Bishops' Councils, His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' and the Holy Synod in the field of missionary service.

Diocesan level

The general management of missionary activities is carried out by the diocesan bishop. To organize the relevant work in the diocese, there is a specialized diocesan department or, where it is impossible to create one, a specialized responsible diocesan employee, who in their work are guided by church-wide regulatory documents, instructions of the diocesan bishop, and recommendations of the Synodal Missionary Department.

Employee salaries, organizational expenses, programs and events of the relevant diocesan department are paid from the diocese budget and raised funds.

The tasks of the relevant diocesan department (responsible diocesan employee) include:

coordination of all missionary work in the diocese in cooperation with the Synodal Missionary Department;
distribution of methodological and information materials prepared or approved by the Synodal Missionary Department and intended for teaching various types of missionary work;
determining the directions and priorities of the missionary activities of deaneries and parishes;
on the recommendation of the dean - determining the extent of participation of parishes in missionary activities, based on their location, the number of parishioners, the level of their church membership and material wealth, as well as the presence of schismatic and sectarian threats;
conducting training seminars on organizing missionary work, as well as training courses for parish missionaries;
placement of missionary materials in the media, on city streets and public places;
carrying out missionary work in educational institutions, enterprises and within public associations;
creation of a quickly updated department website;
creation of a database on schismatic and sectarian formations operating in the diocese, timely monitoring of their activities;
assistance in strengthening the material base of diocesan, deanery, parish and monastic missionary programs at the expense of church and borrowed funds;
a petition to the diocesan bishop to encourage individuals engaged in active missionary work;
conducting diocesan targeted financial collections for missionary activities;
attracting students of religious educational institutions to missionary work;
coordination of missionary work of brotherhoods and sisterhoods operating in the diocese.

Deanery level

At the deanery level, the general organization, coordination and control of missionary work is carried out under the direction of the dean. The direct implementation of this work should be entrusted to the full-time person responsible for missionary work in the deanery. The person responsible for missionary work in the deanery is appointed to the position and dismissed from the position by the diocesan bishop upon the proposal of the dean, agreed upon with the chairman of the missionary department of the diocese. The person responsible for missionary work in the deanery is assigned to the staff of one of the parishes of the deanery with a salary according to the staffing table. The person responsible for missionary work in the deanery reports to the dean and coordinates his activities with the chairman of the relevant diocesan department (the relevant responsible diocesan employee). The dean is responsible for raising funds for specialized programs and events in the deanery.

The responsibilities of the person responsible for missionary work in the deanery include:

research of the missionary field of the deanery, development of the main directions of missionary service;
promoting inter-parish cooperation in missionary work;
planning, coordination and control of missionary activities of parishes;
study and analysis of parish reports in the part reflecting missionary activities;
drawing up a draft report from the deanery on missionary work, which is approved by the dean and sent to the ruling bishop;
regularly improves his qualifications, in particular at diocesan refresher courses.

Parish level

At the parish level, the general organization, coordination and control of missionary work is the responsibility of the rector. The direct implementation of this work should be entrusted to a full-time parish missionary, in those parishes where it is possible to create such a position. The decision to exempt a parish from the need to have this staffing unit is made by the dean on the recommendation of the rector, with a subsequent report to the diocesan bishop. Such a decision can be made in relation to small parishes, primarily those located in rural areas and small towns.

The parish missionary is appointed and dismissed by the rector, enrolled in the parish staff with a salary in accordance with the staffing table, reports to the rector and coordinates his activities with the chairman of the relevant diocesan department (the relevant responsible diocesan employee) and with the person responsible for missionary work in the deanery.

Parish Missionary:

forms a group of parishioners capable of conducting missionary activities and organizes their training in the basics of the Orthodox faith and mission methods;
with the support of the parish rector, takes care of the financial support of parish missionary initiatives;
draws up an annual work plan and an annual report on activities, approves them with the rector and submits them to the person responsible for missionary work in the deanery;
regularly improves his qualifications, in particular at diocesan refresher courses.

A parish missionary must have a firm knowledge of the fundamentals of Orthodox doctrine and be able to “give an answer to everyone who asks” (1 Pet. 3:15).

As part of missionary work, the following types of activities can be carried out in the parish:

conducting educational conversations with those coming to the temple;
consulting church employees who have constant contact with parishioners - candle box workers, attendants;
missionary activities in educational, youth, social, cultural and other similar institutions located within the parish;
monitoring schismatic, sectarian, occult and atheistic activities within the parish, countering them, protecting people from their harmful influence;
attracting the laity to active church work through the fulfillment of specific missionary assignments, including participation in missionary expeditions, work on preparing those wishing to receive Baptism, duty in the church, participation in discussions on the Internet, television and radio broadcasts;
distribution of educational leaflets, literature and videos of spiritual and educational content among unchurched people;
interaction with educational and cultural institutions to implement joint projects for missionary purposes.

Missionary societies

Missionary societies (movements, brotherhoods, sisterhoods or centers) are associations of clergy and laity of one or more dioceses, created to participate in the missionary service of the Church and to support it. In their activities they are called upon to be guided by the definitions of the hierarchy.

The charter of the missionary society, as well as its head, are approved by the chairman of the Synodal Missionary Department in agreement with the diocesan bishops of those dioceses where, according to the Charter, the society will operate. In cases where a society is called upon to operate within one diocese, the charter and head of the society are approved by the diocesan bishop.

Missionary societies send an annual report on their activities to the diocesan bishops and the chairman of the Synodal Missionary Department. Events carried out by missionary societies on the territory of a particular diocese are carried out in agreement with the diocesan bishop.

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The task of preaching the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, being one of the most important in church service, remains unchanged at all times, just as the Hero of our Salvation is unchangeable, Who is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). And therefore, not only staff members of missionary structures, but also all Orthodox Christians are called to participate in this God-ordained work, remembering the words of Holy Scripture: God “wants all people to be saved and to attain the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4).

Development of preaching activities

Many people mistakenly believe that the peak of missionary development occurred in the Middle Ages. In fact, it was quite the opposite. After all, frequent crusades led to the fact that the Moors and Saracens could not stand Christian preachers. For them, a missionary is the same invader who, at best, was not listened to, and at worst, was sent to the pike.

Therefore, in the Middle Ages, Christian monks sought to travel far to the east. They reached China through the Silk Road. Here the new teaching was not perceived so aggressively, but still there was no obvious progress. The reason for this is too great a difference in culture, as well as the fact that only the most gifted were able to master the Chinese language.

But Muslim missionaries at this time were only strengthening their positions. Their main target was nomadic peoples who did not have a totalitarian religion. Such tactics led to the fact that the Muslim world began to overcome the Christian world, despite the fact that the latter had a significant head start in time.

Age of Colonization

After the strengthening of the colonial policy of Europe in the 15th-16th centuries, the second dawn of missionary work began. Catholic preachers, together with the Spanish conquistadors, set off to conquer the New World. However, at that time their goals were far from Christian.

Faith was just a pretext to start another war with the Indians. And the missionary is the main weapon in this war. After all, it was he who offered the wild tribes a new religion and, if they refused, accused them of paganism and heresy. But killing heretics was not considered sinful.

Missionary "conquests"

Missionary work is especially popular among representatives of the Catholic Church. Catholics knew who a missionary was back in the fifteenth century, when the mass formation of the Portuguese and Spanish colonies began.

A missionary in those days was one of the colonialists. Together with the military, missions from churches arrived in the “captured” lands in order to sow the seed of faith there.

The legalization of Catholic missionary work occurred in 1622, when the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith was created. In conquered countries and colonies, separate missionary communities were created. In the seventeenth century, when Great Britain embarked on the path of colonization, the Protestant Church also began sending missionaries to the colonies.

As for missionary work among the Muslim religion, merchants and merchants most often served as the main executors of the mission.

Famous missionaries

Preaching activity has always been associated with great risk. Firstly, they had to walk thousands of kilometers, which often resulted in serious injuries and illnesses. Secondly, most pagans reacted aggressively to the new teaching, sometimes even going so far as to kill the messengers.

And yet, from the position of the church, a missionary is a holy man. Therefore, many Christians willingly took such risks. Some of them even earned a special place in history because they were able to do the impossible.

For example, Polycarp is considered one of the most famous missionaries. At the beginning of the first century, he carried the light of Christianity throughout most Asian countries. At the same time, he repeatedly found himself on the brink of death, but never retreated back.

No less famous is the Scot Mary Slessor. At the end of the 19th century, she was the first to go to Nigeria in order to teach the local people the Holy Scriptures. She later founded a free school there that helped poor children gain much-needed knowledge.

Dangerous path

The missionary has always been considered a respected person among the believing community. It was the missionaries who went on long journeys in order to attract people and preach the faith among dissenters.

But missionaryism has always been a dangerous “profession.” History is replete with facts when missionaries were not accepted, misunderstood, beaten, expelled and even killed. For example, in 1956, when Protestant church ministers attempted to convert Indians, the mission was unsuccessful. The five missionaries were not simply driven out by the indigenous Ecuadorian Huaorani tribe. They were killed and then (according to the laws of the tribe) eaten. A similar story happened with the ministers who arrived on the island of Vanuatu.