Recently, not thanks to, but rather contrary to the development of mass culture, we are witnessing a phenomenon when a variety of people are increasingly attracted to traditional spiritual activities. The Russian Orthodox Church at the present stage conforms to the traditional concept of Orthodox missionary activity. The main idea is to preach the Gospel throughout the world, calling people to hear God with their immortal souls.
In other words, the content of the spiritual activity of the Church comes down to the acceptance by the parishioners of the Gospel with all their being. After all, only in this way is it possible for a person to feel the presence of God. Further, the spiritualization of the whole society must take place, for which God, having returned to the souls, will become the "bread of life".
If we turn to the origins, then this mission was originally accepted directly by the apostles, so it is also called apostolic. Its source is the Holy Trinity. It is realized through the message of the Father God to his only-begotten son Jesus Christ and blessings upon the Apostles.
The preaching of the Church, like prayer, should not stop "until the end of time". This is how the spiritual activity of the ROC is regulated in terms of its implementation. This eschatological nature closely interconnects the spiritual activity of the Church with the world, the consistent and steady sanctification and renewal of the surrounding macrocosm, including man ("The field is the world"). At the same time, the missionary's field appears as a space of struggle between light and shadow. It, this field, is not smooth, ideal. On the contrary, there are sprouted tares - the sons of the Evil One.
At the turn of the third millennium, millions of people were freed from the shackles of godless ideology. Before the ROC for the first time in 800 years of existence, the need arose for the Ecumenical Sermon on such a scale. This paradoxical situation can be interpreted as a second Christianization. At the same time, the Church welcomes national cultures, their works that do not contradict the Faith, transforming them with their holiness into a means of salvation. In this regard, the comparison of the preacher with the sower, throwing the seeds of faith and pulling out the tares, is relevant.
Back in 1918, St. Tikhon wrote to Patriarch Herman V of Constantinople about the sowing of enmity in the hearts of Russian people, about the inflamed spirit of envy and pride in the hearts of people, about planting in them godless thoughts about the graceless arrangement of life.
Let's remember one of the names of the evil one - Corrupting meanings. So isn't it his task to turn God's world into an accumulation of spiritually devastated people, deprived of the purpose of life? "Meaningful" monologues of politicians, notsolving problems, the empty monologues of one-day "stars" can only confuse the common man, and as a result, deprive society of its proper dynamics. Or glamor, disorienting young people in life goals, throwing them shiny dummies instead of real values. After all, all this is paid and forcibly introduced into our consciousness!
What forms of spiritual activity do we know? Undoubtedly, the main form is connected with religion. The mission entrusted to the ROC is to contribute in every possible way to the speedy activation of the processes of unity of society, its spiritual and moral purification through testimonies to the Truth. Close attention is paid to the Christianization of national cultures, to the initiation of social reforms to protect the socially unprotected population.
Another form of spiritual life is the activity of creative people working in the field of culture, their creativity. A special form of spirituality is a spiritualized attitude to one's profession that helps people. Thinking people subconsciously discard dead-end branches of spirituality and look for constructive ones.
The real paradox of the current spiritual modern society is the recognition by adults of the Christian foundations of Russia, the religious features of the national culture, but they are not parishioners. Was it the same in past centuries? The spiritual activity of the church is precisely aimed at restoring this continuity, restoring the spiritual and spiritual integrity of the parishioners.
In the future, the spiritual activities of all people shouldbecome an immutable rule for the existence of society. Russia will return to the foundations of its spirituality. Let us remember the call of St. Peter to God with a request to give the opportunity to approach the Creator on the water. How is this allegory to be understood? After all, the Gospel was written not only for us, but also about us. It was given to us not just for idle reading, but for understanding that we, Christians, who have accepted God with their souls, along with faith, will be given great power to build and heal. Let us remember from the Gospel of Mark God's words that believers will be given everything they ask for in prayer.
