Известия высших учебных заведений. Поволжский регион: Гуманитарные науки (Mar 2021)
Interaction of the Samara diocese with the security forces of the Russian Federation in 1993–2011
Abstract
Background. The history of the interaction of the Samara diocese with the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions at the present stage seems to be an urgent task since educational work in these structures starting from the beginning of the 90s. 20th century is based among other things on the pre-revolutionary experience of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1991 the reform of the political workers institute in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation began into the institute of officers-educators. An ideological vacuum arose after the CPSU loss leading role in society. The former communist ideology where atheism was a part ceased to prevail including the power structures: in the army, law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions. In this regard, it was decided to turn to the historical experience of pre-revolutionary Russia where the institution of military and naval clergy existed and Orthodoxy was a part of the state ideology. At the first stage, until 1995 that work was not carried out systematically, the priests were admitted to military units and correctional institutions as an exception, everything depended on the commanders of military units and chiefs of correctional institutions, their will. To streamline this work, in 1995 the Synodal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate was created for interaction with the armed forces and law enforcement agencies. Since that time similar departments had been instructed to create in all dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church. Since that time systematic work with the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions began in the Samara diocese that continues nowadays. The article analyzes the directions of that work and its main results. The purpose of the study is based on a comprehensive analysis of the situation and activities of the diocesan departments for interaction with security forces (armed forces, law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions) of the Samara diocese in 1993–2011. To investigate the formation and development of these departments, to reveal the nature of changes in their organizational structure, to study the activities of the departments. Materials and methods. The implementation of research tasks was achieved through the use of documents extracted from the funds of the current archive of the Samara diocesan administration. A special place is occupied by the reports of the ruling bishop of the Samara diocese to the Moscow Patriarchate. The methodological potential includes: a comparative historical method, the use of which allows us to compare the functions of the military clergy of the pre-revolutionary and the period under consideration; a statistical method, the significance of which is obvious for the analysis of data related to the construction of temples in military units and correctional institutions in 1993–2011. Results. The forms of interaction of the Samara diocese with military units and law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions in 1993–2011 are considered. The mutually beneficial nature of such cooperation has been proven, since the Samara diocese managed to raise its authority in society, and the power structures were able to rely on its centuries-old experience, which was very important in those years in the search for ideological paradigms. It is said that as a result of working together, there are fewer incidents of hazing. Conclusions. The clergy activity in military units and law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions served to real growth of the authority of the Russian Orthodox Church among employees of military units, law enforcement agencies, convicts, contributed to the improvement of the moral and moral climate, the formation of stable and time-tested life goals and values, so in correctional institutions it led to the consolidation of spiritual rehabilitation in the period after serving sentences.
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