TOP 10 Orthodox communities on VKontakte
VKontakte is one of the most popular social networks in the CIS, including among Orthodox Christians. We spend a lot of time searching social networks for interesting and useful information and do not always find what we are looking for.
To make the work of our readers easier, we present to them a selection of ten VKontakte communities that may be useful or cheer up, which can also be very important:
1. “I Believe † Orthodoxy” is considered the most popular Orthodox community on VKontakte. Its creators delight the community’s subscribers, of whom there are already more than 700,000, with quotes from the holy fathers, stories about holidays, churches and spiritual life, the work of church writers and other interesting materials. The community has only one significant drawback - it is public, which means you can only read it, but you won’t be able to communicate here.
2. The group “Orthodoxy † Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία“ is devoid of this drawback. In addition to a variety of interesting content, a discussion function is available here and you can communicate on current topics in the area of your own spiritual life, as well as share interesting materials with other participants by posting them on the wall. The group’s motto: “Judge not, lest ye be judged” encourages participants to have conflict-free communication, which is why there are already more than 85,000 members.
3. “Orthodoxy” group is also one of the most popular communities of believers on VKontakte, with more than 80,000 members. Among the additional advantages of the group is the opportunity to ask participants for help or ask their questions to the priest. Drawing or literary competitions among participants are also often held here.
4. “Orthodox woman” - thematic community. This is a group not only for women, but also about women, which reveals to the world the soul of an Orthodox Christian. There are many touching stories from the lives of saints or the Christian experience of each of us. Also in the group you can often find articles from the Orthodox online magazine “Matrony.ru”.
“Orthodox Woman” is also a kind of dating club where you can find your soulmate. There are more than 80,000 people in the community.
5. “Orthodox psychology” is a thematic group dedicated to our inner world, interpersonal and family relationships. More than 55,000 participants who have the opportunity to solve their mental problems using the advice of priests and professional psychologists.
6. “†LENTEN MEAL. ORTHODOX LENTING RECIPES†“ - a group for those who want to learn how to cook Lenten food and, in general, a variety of Lenten dishes, learn about the essence and meaning of fasting, and also receive benefits for their soul, gleaned from patristic sayings and speeches of modern shepherds. The interest in this topic is evidenced by the number of subscribers, which has exceeded 90,000 people.
7. “Orthodox people are joking!” is the largest Orthodox humor group on VKontakte, which already has more than 80,000 members. Community members are offered funny pictures and photos, as well as short funny stories and jokes. The humor is high quality and decent. There is also the opportunity to offer something interesting yourself, chat with friends or ask for prayer support.
8. “[APS] Academy of Decent Seminarians” is a group with more than 15,000 members that positions itself as a “community of adequate Orthodoxy.” Her materials are mainly humorous or missionary in nature.
9. “Typical Sexton” is another good humorous group of Orthodox Christians. As the name suggests, its founders and main participants are clergy and Orthodox youth. Here you can not only read something funny, but also ask for advice on church life. They will definitely help you!
10. “Overheard in the Temple” is a group that is also dedicated to church humor, jokes and funny stories, with more than 6,500 members. The format of the popular public “Overheard” involves the anonymous publication of various stories, but in this community it has undergone some changes. Group members share events from their lives, ask each other for advice, and also publish various pictures and videos that seem funny to them.
Andrey Szegeda
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TOP 10 best YouTube priest bloggers
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill has repeatedly called on the clergy to preach on social networks and using other modern Internet platforms. After all, time does not stand still and today you can address the flock not only from the church pulpit, but also through the global network.
Today, not all priests have sufficient knowledge and training to open their own channel, but of those fathers who still decide to do this, many achieve a real warm response from the flock because they talk to people about the main issues in life. Some clergy blogs are real pearls of the Internet in terms of the internal richness of the content presented to viewers.
In today's TOP we have collected for you the ten best blogs from Orthodox priests. In our TOP, we will not divide blogs into the best or worst and the numbers will only mean the serial number in the review. Subscribe to channels, share subscriptions and received information with friends!
1. “Svyatoslav PRESS”
Priest Svyatoslav Shevchenko from Blagoveshchensk opened his channel “ Svyatoslav PRESS ” on YouTube relatively recently - in 2021, but has already collected more than 5,000 subscribers. He also has an additional channel “ Priest Svyatoslav Shevchenko LIVE ”.
As Father Svyatoslav himself notes, the purpose of the blog is “to show how the thought of an Orthodox person works, and also to try to update Christian ideas that are already more than 2000 years old.” And he does it successfully.
In his videos, the priest mainly reviews clips of modern singers, elections, “LGBT Christianity,” school shootings, computer games and many other news items of our time.
He also talks about the ancient treasures of Christian thought - the Beatitudes, the meaning of the Church, the correct way of fasting, etc.
A person accustomed to considering Christians as some kind of strange community, closed in on themselves, will undoubtedly be surprised by Father Svyatoslav with his education, breadth of outlook and hobbies. If he criticizes something, it is always to the point, based on arguments and with references to sources.
It is worth noting the good quality of Father Svyatoslav’s content. A journalist by profession, he has mastered video editing tools quite well. “Don’t be defeated by evil, conquer evil with good,” is the motto of the Svyatoslav PRESS channel.
2. "PopBlogger"
The next hero of our review will be Priest Vladimir Panarin from Chelyabinsk. The motto of his channel is: “Eternity begins now!”
Father Vladimir has enough for a multi-platform blog. Since 2012, he has been posting some of the content on his YouTube channel “ PopBloger ” in the form of videos, and the other part on the Yandex Zen platform in the form of text articles on a channel with a similar name “ PopBlogger ”.
Father Vladimir’s YouTube channel has already collected more than 21,700 subscribers, and the channel on Yandex Zen has even more - 344,500 people.
The topics of the channels vary somewhat. On YouTube hosting these are streams, sermons, chants, simple answers to questions about the Church and a few videos about personal attitudes to cultural phenomena and modern problems.
On the Yandex Zen platform, the priest publishes many articles in the “interesting facts” format. I can tell you from personal experience that some articles are interesting even to a person with a higher theological education. Here are articles about the practice of modern Christian life.
The material on Yandex Zen is of excellent quality. Videos on YouTube sometimes suffer from small video flaws, but Father Vladimir can be forgiven. On his shoulders is also the care of the Chelyabinsk center for helping mothers in trouble “ Bereg ”.
3. “Archpriest Sergei Voronkin”
The blog of Archpriest Sergius Voronkin was registered on YouTube in 2021 and has already gained almost a thousand subscribers. Father Sergei serves as rector of the Archangel Michael parish in the village of Ust-Tarka in the Kain diocese of the Novosibirsk Metropolis.
On his channel, Father Sergius runs the “Good News” section, where he talks about the events of the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ and his disciples. In the “Word” section, the priest explains church terminology. Also on the blog, he answers questions from subscribers and talks about current events of our time.
In the information about the channel, the priest honestly warns: “Our channel is still very young and is experiencing difficulties in development; for a higher quality video, various accessories are required that cost some money, as well as other associated difficulties,” but despite this, he takes on difficult things the business of online preaching.
4. “Alvian Tkhelidze”
Priest Alvian Tkhelidze is a clergyman of the Akhtubinsk diocese of the Astrakhan Metropolis.
In his blog on the YouTube video hosting site, the priest maintains three main sections: “PopStop” - about his travels, including hitchhiking, “Local Churches” - about Orthodoxy in different countries, and “On the topic of the day” about everything that may seem relevant to us today.
Father Alvian is working on the quality of the content. Since the creation of the channel, his video editing skills have noticeably improved and the latest releases can be noted positively in terms of the visual component, which today viewers pay a lot of attention to.
Alvian Tkhelidze channel on YouTube was created in 2009 and during its existence has collected more than 2,700 subscribers.
It is worth noting that the priest also strives to build a multi-platform blog and publishes his content, partly different from the YouTube channel, and partly the same, in the “ Priest Alvian Blog ” on the Vkontakte social network. Here he has more than 4,900 subscribers.
5. “Priest Pavel Ostrovsky”
Many people know Father Pavel Ostrovsky by sight from his appearances in many programs on the Spas TV channel. He serves in the Sretensky Church in the city of Krasnogorsk, Moscow region.
his YouTube channel “ Priest Pavel Ostrovsky ” in 2021 and already has more than 16,300 subscribers. He also has pages on VKontakte and Instagram .
Father Pavel’s VKontakte account is used mainly as a platform for publishing programs from the Spas TV channel, but the Instagram page is a real text blog that complements the YouTube channel.
Among the videos on the priest’s channel, one can highlight polemical topics - answers to atheists, Muslims, Protestants, other priests, gamers, businessmen, as well as some individuals personally. For example, Alexander Nevzorov.
The second direction that Father Paul develops is revealing to his subscribers the practice of church life: preparation for confession and baptism, the practice of prayer by agreement, the essence and meaning of the Gospel, the meaning of fasting, etc.
The priest also answers popular questions from the audience. For example: how does the Church feel about IVF, do tax identification numbers and biometric passports threaten the salvation of the soul, why does the Church need money, what do the clergy think about the bill on domestic violence.
6. “Priest Konstantin Parkhomenko”
One of the most productive YouTube blogs among the Orthodox clergy in terms of the number of subscribers, today there are already more than 73,000, is run by a cleric of the St. Petersburg Metropolis.
Archpriest Konstantin serves in the Cathedral of the Holy Life-Giving Trinity of the Life Guards Izmailovsky Regiment in St. Petersburg, teaches at the seminary and university, broadcasts on two radio stations, writes books and articles for various publications, and also raises five children.
Despite being so busy, the priest maintains a multi-platform blog. his YouTube channel “ Priest Konstantin Parkhomenko ” in 2013. His text channel “ Konstantin Parkhomenko ” on Yandex Zen is also successfully developing and has already collected more than 52,700 subscribers.
“Why does a woman cover her head in church?”, “Briefly and clearly about the Liturgy,” “Why can’t a mother be present at baptism?” and other answers to popular questions from believers about the practice of church life form the bulk of the content published by Father Constantine.
The other part of the videos is educational. Father tells the audience about the Church Slavonic language, the Psalter, the features of different types of Liturgy, church holidays, etc.
Father Konstantin makes recordings for the channel not only from his home. The archpriest answers many questions of Orthodox Christians while in the most sacred place of each church - in its altar.
7. “Alexander Mitrofanov”
his blog “ Alexander Mitrofanov” as “Thoughts out loud.” Many videos on his channel, created in 2010, are marked with this category.
Since 2006, the priest has served in the village of Bogorodsk, Kortkeros district of the Komi Republic, as rector of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and conducts an active online sermon.
In addition to his YoTube channel with more than 8,900 subscribers, Father Alexander acts as an editor in the well-known VKontakte community “Orthodox are joking!”, participates in broadcasts on the “Father Online” channel, writes test articles in “Live Journal” and willingly communicates with the media .
Father not only has a good sense of humor, but is also quite musical. On his channel, he provides subscribers with the opportunity to listen to songs performed by him.
Among the popular topics touched upon by Hieromonk Alexander are: a review of modern films and cartoons, as well as the priest’s attitude towards certain personalities and problems that receive wide coverage in the media.
A separate small section on the channel is devoted to interpretations of the Holy Scriptures.
8. “Priest Nikolai Babkin”
How to prepare for Communion? What if I believe in my soul? Is it worth getting married with registration at the registry office? Is it possible to sit in the temple? A priest from the Belgorod Metropolis answers these and other questions on his channel “ Priest Nikolai Babkin
Father Nikolai not only runs a YouTube channel with an audience of more than 2,000 regular viewers, but also a popular Instagram account with more than 153,000 subscribers.
The channel “Priest Nikolai Babkin” was created in 2021 in addition to the previously existing channel “ Biblical Movement ”, where Father Nikolai separately analyzes the Holy Scriptures.
The priest’s personal channel contains his sermons and interviews, live broadcasts, answers to questions, as well as a small video diary of a father with many children. Some of the videos on the channel were cut from programs on the Orthodox TV channel “Spas,” in whose studio the priest is a frequent guest.
One of the positive aspects of Father Nikolai’s channel is the good quality of the picture and sound. The videos he recorded are pleasant not only to listen to, but also to watch.
9. “Orthodox channel Bogolyub”
In 2010, a channel was created by priest Konstantin Maltsev, who serves in the Church of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in the village of Umanskaya (Leningradskaya) in the Krasnodar Territory.
“ Orthodox channel Bogolyub Father Konstantin Maltsev ” today already has more than 13,200 subscribers. Father Konstantin’s Instagram account has another 19,900 subscribers.
On his channel, Father Konstantin often changes locations, talking about the holy places he visited: Athos, Diveevo, Bari, Azov, Israel.
In his “home” videos, he, like many priests, reveals to subscribers questions from the practice of church life, analyzes current news stories and cultural phenomena. One of the most popular videos on the channel was “one day in the life of a priest.”
“The issue of faith is very acute for every person. In the modern era, when there is a decline in moral principles, the breakdown of families and constant economic crises, it is the Orthodox faith that can give hope for the future. To convey the commandments of Christ to as many people as possible, it is necessary to use modern technologies. Therefore, the creation of channels for the Orthodox is mandatory,” the Krasnodar priest says about his blog.
10. “Priest Andrei Dolgopolov”
Father Andrei Dolgopolov serves in the Grado-Khabarovsk Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God. In Khabarovsk, the priest heads the youth “Brotherhood of St. Andrew the First-Called”.
In 2021, the priest opened his YouTube channel “ Priest Andrey Dolgopolov ,” where more than 2,500 subscribers have already been registered. In addition to this channel, Father Andrei maintains a personal account on Instagram with an audience of 172,000 people.
The originality of the content of the Khabarovsk priest is given by a series of videos, which he devotes to the topic of family relationships. How to truly love your child? How to find your life partner? How to live happily ever after in marriage? The priest is helped by his significant other, Mother Olga, to answer questions from the audience.
Here Father Andrei Dolgopolov publishes his sermons, reads aloud and analyzes the Holy Scriptures, and also answers questions from believers.
It is also interesting that Andrei’s father can often be found behind the bar in the Khabarovsk cafe “Two Fishes”. This cafe is not only for the Orthodox public. Anyone can come here. The priest is ready not only to brew the ordered coffee, but also to answer the visitor’s questions about God and the Church if he asks them. Many media outlets have already covered this missionary idea of Father Andrei.
Dear readers, our TOP is complete! Outside of it remained the Sober Father channel and many other priestly video blogs, the history of which has just begun. For you, we have selected the most interesting and useful YouTube channels of priests. Subscribe so you don't miss anything!
Andrey Szegeda
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