Authors

Anastasia Mitrofanova¹;  ¹ Personal capacity, Russian Federation

Discussion

This presentation is dedicated to a lay Orthodox community that claims a 200-year history of separate existence within the Russian Church. Currently concentrated in a village in Samara Oblast, this community traces its roots to the teachings on spiritual life provided by St. Seraphim of Sarov. External observers often characterize the community's way of life as a "lay monastery." Since 1835, the Besedniki (derived from the Russian word "beseda," meaning "talk") have been spiritually guided by a succession of lay elders, with the exception of two who were ordained as priests. In total, there have been nine elders, including one woman, who have followed each other. At present, the community is guided by its tenth elder, whose name and location are not disclosed to the public. The most prominent figure in contemporary Besedniki history was the ninth elder, Fr. Pavel Aleksakhin, a charismatic personality who gained popularity beyond the confines of the community. This presentation is based on the author's fieldwork conducted among the community during the summer of 2023. The presentation is part of the Religion and Spirituality in Russia and Eastern Europe Study Group.