Spiritual and moral education of believers by metropolitan Ioann (Snychev) in the Kuibyshev Diocese in 1965–1990

The paper examines spiritual and moral education of believers in the Kuibyshev Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1965–1990 as one of the key areas of the episcopal activity of metropolitan Ioann (Snychev). The author studied such sources as reports of the authorized agent Council for Religious Affairs in the Kuibyshev Region, diary entries of metropolitan Ioann (Snychev) and people close to him, as well as the memories of believers. Metropolitan Ioann (Snychev) was not initially a talented preacher, but thanks to his studies and constant practice he was able to achieve success. The main tools of spiritual and moral education were sermons during worship services and personal communication with believers. In the conditions of preaching activity control by the office of the authorized agent for Religious Affairs, the bishop was forced to focus on moral issues. But despite the restrictions, metropolitan Ioann (Snychev) managed to conduct an active preaching activity. In private communication with believers, metropolitan Ioann (Snychev) unobtrusively taught Christian virtues. Metropolitan Ioann’s (Snychev) high moral qualities helped him to gain love and respect of the believers. The result of the spiritual and moral education of believers by the bishop was the growth of his authority and the constant influx of parishioners to the Church.