Foreword by the Editor-in-Chief

Abstract

FOREWORD BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The last few years in Russian theological scholarship have been marked by an increased interest in questions of canon law. This cannot be explained by practical issues alone: the crisis of inter-Orthodox relations, the new understanding of the principles of canonical hermeneutics, including the conflict of interpretations of church legal norms. Gone are the times when it seemed necessary to justify the legal beginning in ecclesiastical life and to substantiate the legitimacy of including canonics in a number of legal sciences.

The activities of the Justinian (MDA), Barsovsky (SPbDA), and Berdnikovsky (KDS) readings of the leading ecclesiastical schools of our Church devoted to issues of church law demonstrate the need to continue research even in those areas of canonics that seemed or appear to have long been studied and reached a scientific consensus.

Praxis magazine contributes to this welcome trend to the best of its ability.

In this issue readers will find articles on marriage law, the history of the study of canon law in Russia, the regulation of missionary activity and cultural policy in today's Russia, and the status of individual clerics and their authority.

Archpriest Alexander Zadornov,

Head of the Department of Church Practical Disciplines at the Moscow Theological Academy

Moscow Theological Academy