Percentage of Orthodox is down in Russia, but percentage of practicing Orthodox is up

[Not David]

https://orthochristian.com/155240.html
Those who have been “affiliated with Orthodoxy” have tended to move in one of two directions: to become active practitioners, or to stop associating themselves…

 

[Justin-H.S.]

It's the same as the "Christians" in America who identify as one, but don't actively practice/attend. Or who wear a cross because 2pac did.

 

[Dewi Sant]

this is wonderful news

I have little patience of inflating figures by nominal membership, it is those who practice the faith that matters. The Church of England for example, as the Established Church in England, always has a huge nominal membership, but visit any parish and you'll find this is not representative (sure, there may be the odd parish with high attendance, but that is an increasing rarity).

 

[ArmyMatt]

I remember when he was alive, Fr Hopko said something similar was happening in the States at a talk he gave. he pointed out that while Church membership might have dropped, those within it were doing more.

 

[E.C.]

Finally, a halfway honest poll from Russia.

I am curious on how they gathered this information. Did they just pull the first 1,000 people in the streets of Moscow, or did they actually get a large sample size from various regions in the country, even as far as Vladivostok?