Charismatic communities of St. Petersburg: history, church organization, specifics of the religious doctrine and social service

The article is dedicated to Charismatic churches and communities of St. Petersburg. Te concept of Charismatism as the modernist branch of Pentecostalism is exposed. Information about the history and current state of some communities in St. Petersburg is given. Specifics of the religious practice and internal structure of Charismatic churches, some aspects of their moral doctrine and branches of social service are considered. Te data obtained by the author, which are the result of personal interviews with pastors and atendants of St. Petersburg communities, are introduced for scientific use. Works of domestic religious scholars and data from the Internet are used. In the author’s opinion, Сharismatics are carriers of the western values in their conservative option, combining social activism with a support on the rigid moral principles. Te author also comes to a conclusion that 1990’s were the period of the greatest rise of the Charismatic movement in St. Petersburg and all over Russia. Nevertheless, even at the present moment this movement is far from the state of decay and crisis