The Time Is Favorable... A Conversation with a Priest of the Russian Orthodox Church

This document is a transcript of a conversation between Gennadiy Batygin, deputy chief editor of the journal Sotsiologicheskiye Issledovaniya, and Innokentiy, a candidate of theology and teacher at the Leningrad Seminary for Monastic Priests. The dialogue, published in 1988, explores the changing landscape of religious and social life in the Soviet Union during the era of glasnost and perestroika. The participants discuss the historical suppression of religious expression, the need for a re-evaluation of cultural and religious heritage, and the challenges of integrating religious belief into a secular Soviet society. Batygin reflects on his own past, noting that as a student, he and his peers had only vague, often stereotypical views of the church. Innokentiy emphasizes the importance of spiritual renewal and the preservation of historical monuments, while both parties acknowledge the complexities of navigating the relationship between the state, the church, and the individual. The conversation touches upon various social phenomena, including the rise of informal youth groups, the interest in alternative beliefs, and the lingering effects of ideological propaganda. The document serves as a record of the intellectual climate in the late 1980s, highlighting the tension between traditional religious values and the evolving political and social structures of the USSR.