Review of Forms and Methods of Activities of Orthodox Parishes on VKontakte Social Network Based on Example of St. Petersburg Diocese

The article examines the largest parish communities of St. Petersburg Diocese on the VKontakte social network and presents analysis of the forms and methods of information activities of Orthodox parishes in St. Petersburg on social networks in the context of the current tasks set at the meeting of the Holy Synod on May 30, 2024 to be considered by the commissions of the Inter- Council Presence. The vector set by the Synod — involvement of laity in the daily life of the Church and promotion of Christian values in the modern world — can be successfully implemented through social networks. Eight VK-communities were selected for the study, and analysis of the information activities of the parishes on social networks and possibilities for expanding was carried out. The results revealed that although Orthodox parishes on social networks use modern communication tools and attract a wide audience, not all available tools offered by the VK social network are used even by the largest of them. Possibility of audience expansion to promote diverse forms of faith testimony in the online space, as well as to engage laity, still remains only partially realized.