  terentyev-vi-vestnik-2026-2.pdf |
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- Issues of comparing Orthodox and Catholic missions in contemporary Mongolia
- Terentyev V.I. Issues of comparing Orthodox and Catholic missions in contemporary Mongolia. Vestnik of Kostroma State University, 2026, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 58–64. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.34216/1998-0817-2026-32-2-58-64
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.34216/1998-0817-2026-32-2-58-64
- УДК: 271.2:272
- EDN: OVQZHF
- Publish date: 2026-03-24
- Annotation: This article presents a comparative analysis of Catholic and Orthodox missions in contemporary Mongolia, where the population is predominantly Buddhist, shamanistic, or adheres to syncretic ideas. It also examines the theoretical feasibility of such a comparison. The study focuses on the methods and approaches of the Roman Catholic Church and Russian Orthodox Church, operating in a complex cultural and religious context. Common features of these missions are described: educational and charitable activities, the principle of inculturation, and efforts to overcome the language barrier. Key differences are also highlighted: the scale of presence, the systematic nature of catechesis, and the rural mission of the Catholic Church, while the Orthodox Church focus on internal missions aimed at converting and bringing the Russian-speaking diaspora into the Church. The article concludes that quantitative indicators (number of converts, material, financial, and human resources) cannot adequately reflect success. It would be more productive to analyse the qualitative aspects of missionary strategies, their adaptation to local conditions, and the unique experience of Catholic and Orthodox missions in Mongolia.
- Keywords: Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Russian Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, sermon, missiology, mission.
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