Preface of the Chief Editor

Abstract

FOREWORD BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

In 1950, the German jurist and legal theorist Carl Schmitt recorded: ‘The comprehensive international legal unity of the European Middle Ages came to be called Respublica Christiana and Populus Christianus. It had a clear localisation and strict orders. Its nomos is defined by the following elements: the land of non-Christian, pagan peoples is the domain of Christian missionary activity’ (Nomos of the Land).

Alas, looking at the formerly Christian world of Europe today, we realise that it is the province of missionary activity today. Whether this missionary activity will be a rearguard action for Christian values or will become the vanguard of something greater - time, the Providence of God and the efforts of Christians themselves will show.

The articles in this issue of Praxis are devoted to canonical and liturgical issues: the practice of hierarchical transfers in the Hellenic Church, the teaching of canonics at the Kazan Theological Academy in 1911-1922, the main types of legal status of the Russian Orthodox Church in the post-Soviet states, the status of clergy within the framework of labour relations in religious organisations, and the role of bishops' assemblies in the countries of the Orthodox diaspora. The student papers demonstrate the continuing interest in church legal topics among a new, hopefully new, generation of researchers.

Archpriest Alexander Zadornov,

Head of the Department of Church-Practical Disciplines

Moscow Theological Academy