MISSIONARY CAMPS AS A SPECIAL FORM OF ORGANIZATION OF SPIRITUAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH: HISTORY AND MODERNITY

Potapchuk Vladimir Iosifovich, Dobrykh Alexey Vyacheslavovich, Selivanov Alexander Arkadyevich

This article is devoted to the issues of a comprehensive understanding of the historical experience of the educational activities of the Russian Orthodox Church based on the use of a special methodology for such work – the organization of missionary camps. The formation of this methodology is considered in a fairly broad historical context, taking into account both the events of the prehistory of the origin of the missionary camps, and the main factors that naturally led to the emergence and development of this complex and variable church educational institution. The article substantiates the fact of a fairly stable effectiveness of the functioning of the missionary camps against the background of historical changes in the life of Russian society. It is emphasized that this flexible form of implementation of spiritual and educational strategies proved to be quite successful both in the 19th century and in the current Russian conditions. Nevertheless, the authors of the article pay special attention to the fact that difficult and difficult modern conditions do not allow real and potential subjects of spiritual and educational activities to always and everywhere achieve success in their work based on the use of missionary camps.

Keywords:missionary camp, strategies of missionary work, spiritual and educational activities, indigenous peoples, ethnocultural traditions, inculturation, transformation of lifestyle, socio-humanitarian aspects of mission