http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=6932

12 February 2010, 16:26
Growing number of Russians find their way into Great Lent

Moscow, February 12, Interfax - Almost one third of Russians are going to observe Great Lent this year, while others do not want to restrict themselves, the poll says.

In spite of the fact that majority of Russians still ignore food limitations during Great Lent, this year their number has decreased from 83 percent to 62 percent if compared to 2008, sociologists of the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center told Interfax on Friday summing up results of All-Russian poll held in February.

According to it, among those who refuse fasting are respondents aged under 34 (67-71 percent) and atheists (87 percent).

However, the number of those who are going to observe Lent has increased from 16 percent to 32 percent for the recent two years.

Fascinating numbers. It is somewhat disheartening to see that a large majority of young persons will not be observing. This seems rather odd.

What is even more of an oddity is the statistic that, apparently, 13% of atheists are going to be observing the Fast?

Sometimes I wonder about Interfax. Anyway, interesting nonetheless.

Alexis

I suspect that 13% are likely in housholds with fast-observant Orthodox.

This is very interesting. I'm from the US but living in Moscow right now and have been quietly observing. I was not sure what level of faithfulness to expect but have happily found churches and monasteries filled with faithful for Liturgy when I've visited them. Of course, in such a huge city, this is not a majority, but it is heartening. Thank you for this information.

~Nzie

Aramis,

Interesting interpretation. Why not? Makes more sense than anything else I could figure out.

Many years,

Neil

Nzie,

Welcome to the forum.

Many years,

Neil

That is the same experience I have had when in Athens, Greece...perhaps not a majority where just about everyone is baptized Orthodox, but heartening, never the less.

Young persons tend to be the least observantly religious these days, especially in Europe...

True, Alice. But I find that out of those that are religious, they usually take their faith very seriously.

Alexis

Judging by the throngs that showed up to meet the Kurskaya Mother of God, I'd say things are looking pretty good.

[img]http://02varvara.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/kursk-icon-procession.jpg?w=1024&h=683[/img]

Alexandr

Dear Alexandr,

Are these all observant pensioners?

Glory to God!!

I have separated the posts discussing blue in iconography depicting the Theotokos and moved the resultant thread to the Iconography subforum.

Many years,

Neil