CONCEPT OF PROFESSIONALISM IN THE MODERN ORTHODOX CLERGY SERVICE

Abstract

The paper provides an analysis of the Russian Orthodox Church strategies aimed at the development of the clergy’s professional skills in educational and social work; the (non)contrariety of the ROC’s course of clergy modernization is problematized; the concepts of “professionalism” and “service” being part of the notion “clergyman” are considered by the author. The first concept implies certain knowledge, skills, and the performance of certain functions in the society; the second one refers to the sincerity of the religious belief and religious self-abnegation. A combination of the required professional competencies and personal spiritual qualities in the same person is difficult to put into practice due to (1) insuperable contradictions between the principles of secular and religious education, (2) contradictory competency requirements, and (3) ROC’s resource limitations. The methodological basis of the study is a comparative analysis of the approaches defining the place of the “Orthodox Christian clergy” community in the structure of the Russian society, and a conceptual analysis of the notions. The empirical basis is a document analysis and a social research secondary analysis.