In their confusion and bewilderment of the economic chaos that started in 1991, many Russians turned to the Orthodox religion for answers. Why was it very difficult for the Orthodox Church to provide new direction and inspiration for many Russians (and many Russians ultimately got alienated by the Church all together) ?

Question

Moshe Bradford

History

12 March, 15:51

In their confusion and bewilderment of the economic chaos that started in 1991, many Russians turned to the Orthodox religion for answers. Why was it very difficult for the Orthodox Church to provide new direction and inspiration for many Russians (and many Russians ultimately got alienated by the Church all together) ?

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Answers (1)

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Isis Levine · Answer 1

Orthodox leaders appeared to be highly conservative in outlook and unresponsive to Russia's socio-economic ills

Explanation:

Bolshevik Revolution threw Russia's church into chaos, effectively stranding the fledgling Russian Orthodox mission in America.

While the whole country of Russia was suffering from decaying infrastructure, the Church also got focused on "material" matters, trying to regain control of land and buildings taken away from them during the communist era.

The Orthodox Church in the 1990s suffered from weak leadership, that was moreover tarnished by collaboration of some clerics with the KGB during the Soviet era.