Over the recent decades the number of Russians who attend churches has substantially increased. The most popular ritual is lighting a candle; both Orthodox Christians and non-believers observe this ritual.
MOSCOW, February 27, 2012. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing how often Russians go to churches, and what they usually do there.
The number of Russians who visit churches (mosque or synagogue) has increased from 57 to 71% over the latest sixteen years. Seven percent of Russians go to churches at least once per month; 30% - from time to time, 34% - seldom. Simultaneously, the number of those who do not go to churches has substantially decreased (from 42 to 26%).
Every tenth elderly person, every tenth resident of Moscow and St.Petersburg (11%), and only 5% of young Russians and rural area residents visit churches less than once per month.
As to Orthodox Christians, 83% of them go to churches. Moreover, 11% of non-believers report they visit churches from time to time.
The most frequently observed ritual is lighting candles in the church; this ritual is equally observed by both those who visit churches rarely and those who do it regularly (80-82%). Besides, this ritual is equally observed by Orthodox Christians (86%) and non-believers (81%). The vast majority of parishioners (38%) just talk to God, 31% pray, 27% venerate the relics; 33% give alms, 29% give money to church. Those who come to church to consecrate things are in the minority (9%). All the rituals are observed mainly by those who visit temples at least once per month. Eleven percent of Russians report they just watch what happens.
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted February 18-19, 2012. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
How often do you go to church (mosque, synagogue)? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
1996 | 2012 | |
Never | 42 | 26 |
Very rarely | 32 | 34 |
From time to time | 20 | 30 |
At least once per month | 5 | 7 |
No answer | 1 | 3 |
How often do you go to church (mosque, synagogue)? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||||
| Total respondents | Orthodox Christians | Followers of other religions | Believers outside of confessions | Vacillation between belief and disbelief, non-believers |
Never | 26 | 15 | 32 | 53 | 86 |
Very rare | 34 | 40 | 21 | 19 | 9 |
From time to time | 30 | 35 | 29 | 11 | 2 |
At least once per month | 7 | 8 | 13 | 6 | 0 |
No answer | 3 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 2 |
When you come to church, you usually... (close-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who go to churches) | ||||
Total respondents | Visiting churches very rarely | Visiting churches from time to time | Visiting churches at least once per month | |
Pray | 31 | 20 | 40 | 54 |
Just seat and watch what is happening | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
Talk to God, pray using your own words, ask for yourself | 38 | 30 | 44 | 48 |
Light candles | 81 | 80 | 82 | 82 |
Give alms | 33 | 25 | 38 | 48 |
Give money to church | 29 | 21 | 35 | 38 |
Venerate relics | 27 | 19 | 34 | 39 |
Consecrate things | 9 | 8 | 9 | 17 |
Other | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Hard to tell | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
When you come to church, you usually... (close-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who go to churches) | |||||
Total respondents | Orthodox Christians | Followers of other religions | Believers outside of confessions | Vacillation between belief and disbelief, non-believers | |
Pray | 31 | 31 | 47 | 8 | 5 |
Just seat and watch what is happening | 11 | 11 | 10 | 23 | 5 |
Talk to God, pray using your own words, ask for yourself | 38 | 39 | 32 | 8 | 10 |
Light candles | 81 | 86 | 26 | 62 | 81 |
Give alms | 33 | 34 | 29 | 31 | 14 |
Give money to church | 29 | 29 | 21 | 31 | 10 |
Venerate relics | 27 | 29 | 14 | 15 | 14 |
Consecrate things | 9 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 10 |
Other | 2 | 2 |
| 8 |
|
Hard to tell | 4 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 14 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!