Recently, not thanks, but rather, contrary to the development of popular culture, we are witnessing a phenomenon when a variety of people are more and more attracted by traditional spiritual activity. At the present stage, the Russian Orthodox Church complies with 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 is reduced to the acceptance by the parishioners of the gospel with their whole being. After all, this is the only way for a person to feel the presence of God. Further, the spiritualization of the whole society should take place, for which God who returned to the souls will become the "bread of life."
If we turn to the sources, then this mission was originally accepted directly by the apostles, therefore it is also called apostolic. Its source is the Holy Trinity. It is realized through the message of the Father of God to his only begotten son Jesus Christ and the sending of blessings to the Apostles.
The preaching of the Church, like prayer, must not stop "until the end of the age." So the spiritual activity of the Russian Orthodox Church is regulated by the timing of its implementation. This eschatology closely interconnects the spiritual activity of the Church with the world, the consistent and steady sanctification and renewal of the surrounding macrocosm, including man ("Field is the world"). In this case, the missionary’s field is represented by the space of the struggle of light with shadow. It, this field, is not smooth, ideal. On the contrary, there are germinated 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 Russian Orthodox Church for the first time in 800 years of existence, the need arose for the Ecumenical Preaching on such a scale. This paradoxical situation can be interpreted as the second Christianization. At the same time, the Church welcomes national cultures, their works that do not contradict Faith, transforming them with their holiness into a means of salvation. In this regard, it is relevant to compare the preacher with a sower who throws seeds of faith and tears out tares.
Back in 1918 Tikhon wrote to Patriarch Herman V of Constantinople about the sowing in the hearts of Russian people of enmity, about the incandescence of envy and pride in the hearts of people, about the imposition of godless thoughts in them about a graceless arrangement of life.
Recall one of the evil names - Corrupting meanings. So is it not his task to turn God's world into an accumulation of spiritually devastated people deprived of the purpose of life? The "meaningful" monologues of politicians who do not solve problems, the empty monologues of one-day "stars" can only confuse the common man, and as a result deprive society of the proper dynamics. Or glamor, disorienting youth for life, throwing shiny dummies at them instead of real values. After all, all this is paid and forcibly introduced into our consciousness!
What forms of spiritual activity are known to us? Undoubtedly, the main form is associated with religion. The mission assigned to the Russian Orthodox Church is every possible contribution to the speedy activation of the processes of community unity, its spiritual and moral purification through testimonies of the Truth. Close attention is paid to the Christianization of national cultures, to the initiation of social reforms to protect the socially vulnerable 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 towards one's profession that helps people. Thinking people subconsciously discard the dead-end branches of spirituality and seek constructive ones.
The real paradox of today's spiritual modern society is the recognition by adults of the Christian foundations of Russia, the religious features of national culture, but they are not parishioners. Was this the case in past centuries? The spiritual activity of the church is precisely aimed at restoring this continuity, restoring the spiritual and spiritual integrity of parishioners.
In the future, the spiritual activity of all people should become an indispensable rule of society. Russia will return to the basics of its spirituality. Recall the call of St. Peter to God with a request to give an opportunity to approach the Creator by water. How should this allegory be understood? After all, the Gospel is 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 as their souls, will be given great power to build and heal along with faith. Recall from the Gospel of Mark of God the words that those who believe will be given everything that they ask in prayer.